Cirkus - School of Acrobatic Arts for Children

In the town of San Miguel de Allende, there are about 83 NGOs who devote their efforts in the pursuit of social welfare. San Miguel could say that is fortunate to be a cradle of these initiatives, which have made their contribution in each sector where involved. You'd think they are more than sufficient to meet with the public administration all the social problems that emerge every day, but unfortunately society as a living organism that is transformed, it goes back and changes course, it needs to be understood by leaders and civil society proposals. It educates, intervenes and transforms with each project, and yet it is never enough - issues to improve are always present, and they appear in the eyes of those who live this reality.

Christian Baumgartner, actor, theater director and acrobat, is of Venezuelan origin. He arrived in Mexico 14 years ago to train in acting school in Mexico City, then he decided to live in SMA, a place that he has adopted as his home, and where he has given much of his professional, talented, versatile career. Recognized by the scenic community in this city, he is the sometimes clownish, alcoholic brother as he appeared in "Long Day's Journey into Night", imprisoned and transvestite in the "Kiss of the Spider Woman", or formal, liberal Mexican in his performance as the Necromancer, among many other roles he has played.

The stage of trials, to live day by day delivery to the life of the theater every day returns to its located in the community of Los Lopez home, road to La Cieneguita, where he lives among dusty streets, crossing between streets of nopalera , huizaches and mesquite. There where he has made his home, and he can sense the transition of life between country and San Miguel, and the few kilometers that separate them makes the difference. There are about 500 people in this community, and like Christian, working life for some of them is less than a few kilometers from their home. Lopez has schools, health center, public services each day are covering their basic needs, while they begin to live the new signs of modernity such as excessive phone use, little physical activity in children, video games and life tied to new devices, as the same thing is happening in other towns and cities.

In Los López, Christian teaches aerobatics for children and youth in the community, which has gradually been integrated with students who have private initiative. He has realized the great deficiency these children are having in psychomotor aspects and physical training. That is the purpose behind this initiative, that addresses this situation within their means, with the contribution of their talent, their space and efforts to achieve a circus school in this community. At the basis of "Cirkus" School is the cultivation of reactive body language, with education and training in the performing arts, especially aerobatics, leading to the long term goal of forming a circus company to sustainably present shows in other communities, and providing additional formal training to children and youth education at affordable prices. The goal is to fund 20 children to attend the school for a year. The cost per child is 3,600 MXN ($190 USD) , for a total of $72,000 MXN ($3,800 USD) This requires a support network and platform that can support the start of this project, and with the backing of the community, Christian believes it can happen.