'Myths about circus must be broken'

Beyond the veneer of the shiny varnish and the giggly songs, circus is really a realm of expert performance acts and athletic activities. And that is just what theatre expert Timira Gupta has set out to prove to the world for which circus is a term used loosely to denote red-nosed jokers and slapstick comedy.The actor, who also runs theatre workshops in several city schools for their therapeutic effects on children, says that this branch of performance arts can actually bring about positive changes in kids who suffer from emotional problems, ADHD and hyperactivity. Timira is also involved with a troupe of Italian artistes in Goa who work with kids from street shelters and teach them the nuances of circus arts including juggling, spinning poi, walking on stilts and performing malkham.The enthusiastic actress says, “Traditionally in India, we have had a lot of circus that has been seen as a very community-thing. There is little chance for outsiders to get into it. You see it but have no opportunity to learn it.”With global circus theare groups like Cirque du Soleil and professional circus schools becoming popular in the West, Timira feels it is time that a few stereotypes are broken. She points out, “Circus does not need to be stupid. When people go to watch circus, they laugh at it. It is high time we absorb circus arts in India into mainstream theatre.”Talking about her extensive work in circus arts with disadvantaged children, Timira points out, “Kids who train in circus arts learn the nuances of perseverance, patience and concentration.”While in Goa, Timira and her Italian troupe members put up a grand show after training the kids for a certain period of time, the actress feels it is about time that Mumbai and other cities have an indigenous circus theatre group. “While the city has a lot of potential today, to get your own Indian version of Cirque du Soleil, you need a lot more exposure,” she ends.