埃塞俄比亚马戏团帮助年轻人兼顾生活

AS IT IS 2015-12-02 Ethiopia Circus Helps Youths to Juggle¹ Life 埃塞俄比亚马戏团帮助年轻人兼顾生活

Circus groups from seven African countries showcased their skills over the weekend at the first African Circus Arts Festival in Ethiopia.

Juggling², balancing, gymnastics and other circus tricks were on display.

The circus is an up-and-coming art form in Africa.

Most of the performers are young people who come from difficult backgrounds.

Sabrina Pezzei organized the event. She said it helps young people gain confidence in themselves.

“It gives them also the opportunity to be socialized. It gives the opportunity to perform on stage and to be proud of themselves. It gives them self-esteem, self confidence.”

One performer said he might have gotten into gangs and drugs, like some of his family members, if it had not been for the circus. He now specializes in the trapeze.

The circus groups call themselves “social,” this means they focus on attracting young performers who might otherwise have difficulty integrating into society.

One group from Ethiopia is called Circus Debre Behan. Some of its members are disabled, but that does not stop them from touring the world.

The group’s artistic³ manager said the members receive training, start to perform, and can earn money. With the money, they can change their life and the lives of their family members.

Eighty-five artists from all over Africa came to perform at the event. The circus was supported by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the European Union and other partners.

Words in This Story

circus – n. a traveling show often performed in a tent and includes trained animals, clowns and acrobats⁴

disabled – adj. not able to perform (such as walking or seeing) because of illness, injury, etc.

divert – v. to take attention from something or someone

festival – n. an organized series of performances

gang – n. a group of young people who do illegal things

showcase – n. an event, occasion, etc., that shows the abilities or good qualities of someone or something in an attractive or favorable way

trapeze – n. a swing high above the ground that circus performers perform athletic⁵ tricks on

up-and-coming – adj. becoming more successful, important, and well known

1 juggle   

v.变戏法，纂改，欺骗，同时做；n.玩杂耍，纂改，花招

参考例句：

• If you juggle with your accounts,you'll get into trouble.你要是在帐目上做手脚，你可要遇到麻烦了。
• She had to juggle her job and her children.她得同时兼顾工作和孩子。

2 juggling   

n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词

参考例句：

• He was charged with some dishonest juggling with the accounts. 他被指控用欺骗手段窜改账目。
• The accountant went to prison for juggling his firm's accounts. 会计因涂改公司的帐目而入狱。

3 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

4 acrobats   

n.杂技演员( acrobat的名词复数 )；立场观点善变的人，主张、政见等变化无常的人

参考例句：

• I was always fascinated by the acrobats at the circus. 我总是着迷于马戏团里的杂技演员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The acrobats' performance drew forth applause from the audience. 杂技演员的表演博得了观众的掌声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。