For once, language doesn’t matter, in a weeklong international festival of sophisticated circus acts to be presented in Guadalajara Saturday, November 18 through Sunday, November 26 under the banner of FiCHo, the Festival Internacional de Circo y Chou (International Festival of Circus and Show).
For the past five years, FiCHo has gathered mostly young performers from around the world to compete for acceptance in Quebec’s Cirque de Soleil, the famed circus that eschews animal acts for daring and highly creative human acts. The shows, open to the public, are set in various Guadalajara auditoriums – Alianza Francesa, Teatro Vivian Blumenthal, Teatro Alarife Martín Casillas, Teatro Experimental de Jalisco, Teatro Jaime Torres Bodet – and, while often unconventional, are regarded as suitable for family viewing. A few of the artists are tiny children and one, a former British punk rocker, is on the other side of the age spectrum.
Mexico, of course, is well represented among those doing mime, aerial techniques, juggling, dance, balancing, clowning, music and scenic and performance arts. However, most of the artists are from abroad: Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Finland, France, Portugal and other countries.
As in the past, Cirque de Soleil casting agent Samuel Roy will be on hand both to select performers and to offer master classes.
Check dates and times of the numerous performances at www.fichofest.com or the Facebook page of Fichofest under Events. Tickets are available at the door or from Ticketmaster by clicking on ticket links on their pages.