The show and the idea

/www.afrika-afrika.com
Africa enchants, it glows in the colours of wonder. The rhythms of its dancers beguile; one hears the sound of the drums reverberating. Magical events seem about to occur at any time. Africa is more than a continent of hunger, war, sickness and the disasters reported by the media on a daily basis. It is also the continent of amazement, the world of ancient myths and a flamboyant zest for life, says André Heller. This other Africa has captivated the creative energy of the multimedia artist, the creator of the Crystal Worlds and of the Fire Theatre, the director of the opening and closing shows of the football World Cup 2006. The result is a magnificent show in which two worlds can be experienced simultaneously: the radiance of the cultural past, the royal elegance of the dark continent and its hunger for a future. The project is the result of cooperation with the EUMC, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia and the UN special representative, Doudou Diène, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.


The artists and the production
Between Mali and Morocco, between Egypt and South Africa, on all coasts and in the interior, as well as in the African diaspora, Heller's staff have discovered fascinating artists; dancers, artists, musicians and acrobats that can seduce their audience into an exotic world for hours.
Next to the great names, such as that of the choreographer, Georges Momboye, there are also those of young masters of their trade, graduates of the circus schools in Ethiopia, Guinea and Tanzania, as well as of centres of traditional dance. Together with them, André Heller has created a completely new type of circus: a theatrical event that addresses all the senses, with music and rhythm, with colours and masks, while simultaneously expressing tradition and breakthroughs of modernity. Through the poetic power of the production, the most varied impressions and plot fragments unite into a caleidoscope of amazement, into a tribute to the dark continent.



The tent and the furnishings
The location of the events, the arena, is also part of this holistic experience. In order to make it possible, a group of African tent palaces was specially created according to the plans of André Heller and African visual artists. Surrounding the arena, under the giant chapiteau, which is borne by four masts, there is space for 2,300 spectators, night for night, eight times per week. All of the seats are single seats upholstered with velvet. Moroccan carpets cover the floor. Covered passages lead to the surrounding VIP and banquet tents, which also provide space for up to 400 guests. One can stroll through a gallery of contemporary African art, and a little further on, in the Souk, one is enveloped in the aromas of exotic spices, fruits and dishes. Of course, the culinary offerings are also African. There is also a coffeehouse to visit.

Myths and legends are optically reflected everywhere in the furnishings; the guest can step into the fantastic backdrop everywhere. Various spaces around the large arena can be booked for company and private events.


The tour and its concerns
André Heller has created an experience for everyone with „Africa! Africa!", something meant to „equally fascinate children and adults, working people and intellectuals". The show, which extends over two 45 minute periods, is simultaneously a large-scale, classic theatre and a sensual, travelling circus. In many places it will stop for several weeks. Following the world premiere on the 14th of December of this year in Frankfurt am Main, it will come to Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Hannover, Düsseldorf and Vienna. Subsequent locations include Paris, Amsterdam and London. Almost a million spectators will be able to experience the event annually, with alternating attractions every six months. Some of these come directly from the circus school in Ethiopia, the setting up of which is being supported by the organisers of „Africa! Africa!"in a variety of ways. The declared objective of André Heller and of the producer, Matthias Hoffmann, is to promote courage for the future with the rediscovery of the other, the creative Africa. Within the realm of their possibilities, they wish to make a contribution to the overcoming of the problems of the dark continent.
They therefore developed their project under the patronage of the UN special representative, Doudou Diène, and of the EU racism agency EUMC. „The magical circus event from the continent of amazement "also wants to enchant in order to be able to help. One Euro from the revenues for each entrance ticket sold will flow into a fund for selected African aid projects. Not only medical or educational projects will thereby be supported, but also cultural activities, for which there are usually very few resources available




Organiser:

Afrikanischer Zirkus GmbH & Co. KG
Spiridon-Louis-Ring 25
80809 München

in cooperation with:

Deutsche Arena GmbH & Co.KG
Hessenring 13b
64546 Mörfelden
www.deutschearena.de

Contact persons:
Matthias Hoffmann
Geschäftsführer
Phone: 06105 / 97 54 23
Fax: 06105 / 97 54 55
Email: hoffmann@deutschearena.de

Sebastian Rottner-Hönicke
Projektleiter
Phone: 06105 / 97 54 33
Fax: 06105 / 97 54 55
Email: rottner@cirqueafricain.com

Martin Hocke
Marketing / cooperations
Phone: 06105 / 97 54 27
Fax: 06105 / 97 54 54
Email: hocke@deutschearena.de

Markus Theisinger
Marketing / cooperations
Phone: 06105 / 97 54 26
Fax: 06105 / 97 54 54
Email: theisinger@deutschearena.de