The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THIS weekend, members of the Cirque Fever Junkanoo Carnival company will give the general public a sneak peek of what can be expected when the group hits the streets for the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in 2015.

Cirque Fever is a circus-based company participating in the highly anticipated event next year, and is one of the few that is not a Junkanoo affiliated group.

Cirque Fever is made up of professional performers and a cast of 25 Bahamian artists between the ages of 14 and 37, all born, raised and trained in the Bahamas.

For its official launch, the Cirque Fever group will host “Circus Playground” in collaboration with Emanji Circus Arts. “Circus Playground” will be an interactive circus event for children aged four years and up. It will be held at the Bahamas National Trust from 12pm to 5pm this Saturday.

Children will be able to try out and learn the basic skills of circus acts such as the trapeze, rola bola, juggling, walking the tight wire and doing the limbo. There will be roaming stilt walkers, bouncing castles, a dunk tank, a scavenger hunt, a costume parade, food and drink vendors and three mini circus shows.

Cirque Fever was founded by Jarvis Grant and his wife Dereka, who also established the first Bahamian circus, Emanji Circus Arts.

Emanji is a not-for-profit circus arts and entertainment company that presents live family entertainment.

The Grants have always been passionate about passing circus arts on to the youth and increasing the awareness and appreciation of professional theatrical entertainment in the wider Bahamian community, and the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is the perfect platform to do just that.

Interest in group has grown since Cirque Fever participated in the Carnival Costume Expo last month, according to a representative of the group.

“Since the costume launch many persons have registered to participate with the company on the Road Fever Parade. Also, we have been getting a lot of interest from the international circus community who would like to come and enjoy the Bahamas whilst being with us on the Road Fever Parade.

“We are offering a unique Bahamian circus experience. We are offering unique, classy and affordable Bahamian product-based costumes for the professional individual and for those family groups who want to participate in the Road Fever Parade. We are delivering compelling creativity with impeccable service at our upcoming Bahamian circus-themed events and on the Road Fever Parade. We are where the circus stage meets the Bahamian road,” the group said.