The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

BRINGING a pirate circus adventure to life was an exciting undertaking for Emanji, the first Bahamian circus, which last week presented its “Ahoy” production at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Emanji is not an American-style circus with animals and clowns, but rather one based on the older European style which is known for awe-inspiring acts of human ability, dexterity and bravery.

It started in 2002 as a one-man act at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort starring Jarvis Grant, an experienced circus performer.

He has an extensive background in performing and training and has been a member of prestigious performing troupes such as UniverSoul Circus and Cirque De Soleil.

Mr Grant was also a member of the travelling cast of the Broadway hit “Bring In Da Noise Bring In Da Funk”.

According to a spokesperson for Emanji, the pirate themed “Ahoy” show has been in the works since January.

“Every year we do a different show. We are in our fifth season, and this year honestly everything that screamed pirate was coming at us. We decided that it would just be a good fit – from attending Rum Bahamas to the re-enactments that are held on the Fort – and then we also drew our inspiration from everyday things around us. For some reason, almost every day there is a pirate show or movie on television,” said the Emanji member.

During last week’s production, guests saw a story enfold in front of their eyes that was told in the form of breath-taking aerial tricks as well as some ground acts such as a human balancing act, juggling, limbo and tumbling.

“It is a very exciting show. From the first show, the crowd received the cast well and thoroughly enjoyed it. People loved it because they also interacted as well. They got to choose who the pirate captain was at the end of the show. Everyone that attended became a part of that,” the Emanji spokesperson said.

Emanji’s overall aim, the representative said, is to provide professional entertainment in the Bahamas. The cast members in the Emanji shows are also a part of the group’s social youth programme.

“In the program, we train the students for free, teach them a circus art and we give them business skills. The kind of people that we usually find who are attracted to our social programme are those that are very creative and artistic, but they don’t fit in a regular type of job because they have that artistic brain,” the Emanji member said.

“Through us, they have been able to perform and be paid for their art. They are now making contributions to their homes as well as their communities. We do a lot of community work, like right now we are doing a summer school at CH Reeves Junior High for free.”

The students, the Emanji member said, learn discipline while taking part in the programme and summer school activities.

“We practice from Monday through Friday, from December to August. The ones you would see on stage are very dedicated and they are true artists in the making. They are ages 14 to 25, that very odd age, and we are trying to give them the alternative from the regular after-school programmes. We have planned a trip to Cuba, France and China, but we have to raise those funds,” the Emanji representative said.