Gandey World Class Productions

To celebrate International Women’s Day , we chatted to our fabulous crew member Omaima Debbach, from Morocco, about her experiences working and studying across the world as part of a circus family and as a young Muslim woman.   If you think Omaima looks a little familiar… it’s probably because her dad is long-standing Gandey World Class Productions employee Said Debbach, an acrobatics coach who has worked hard behind-the-scenes of Gandeys Circus and the Chinese State Circus , keeping our cast happy on tour for a number of years.   Father and daughter Said and Omaima Debbach Q: Hi Omaima, can you tell us a bit about yourself? I’m 21 and am on tour with Gandeys Circus in 2019, working front-of-house.  Although I’m from Morocco, I moved to Canada for the end of high school and to study at Saint Mary’s University Halifax because, as a woman, there were a lot more opportunities there, especially when it came to the education system.   Q: What wer...

200 BC – 200 AD – Han Dynasty, Sichuan Province – Juggler with balls and knives – Carving, stone of the “Hundred Games.” [source: Chinese Acrobatics Through The Ages, p15] The origins of the Chinese circus are not entirely crystal clear. There are debates and differing opinions when it comes to the exact history behind the circus, which is not a surprise when you take into account how long it has been around! First records of the Chinese circus - including carvings and mural paintings - date back more than 2,000 years to the Warring States period (475–221 BC), with evidence of performances developing further during the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC - 230 AD). Although it is believed that the art may have actually started around 3,000 years ago! One theory is that the acts originated in imperial courts, with performers entertaining the houses in a manner similar to western court jesters. However, it is more likely that the circus was a folk art that was later adopted by...

The following review was originally published on the Plutonium Sox Family Blog  and has been posted here with the kind permission of the author. ------------------------------------------------------- A breathtaking evening at the Chinese State Circus There aren’t many evenings out that are fun for the whole family. Entertainment after a certain time tends to be aimed at adults and whilst children are often welcome, it’s not necessarily much fun for them. One clear exception is the circus. And as circuses go, the Chinese State Circus is by some distance the best I’ve ever seen. About the Chinese State Circus The Chinese State Circus is world famous for skilful performances that wow the audience. The team comprises 30 acrobats, jugglers, aerial artists and Shaolin Warriors. Each act is a few minutes long before moving on to a different act. There isn’t a moment when the audience isn’t transfixed by the stage. Unlike many such shows, the Chinese St...

Saturday 29th April is International Dance Day !  Founded in 1982 by the Dance Committee of ITI , International Dance Day is celebrated every year on the 29th April, the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), creator of modern ballet. The intention of International Dance Day is to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language - dance.  The goals of International Dance Day are: To promote dance in all its forms across the world. To make people aware of the value of dance in all its forms. To enable the dance community to promote their work on a broad scale, so that governments and opinion leaders are aware of the value and importance of dance in all its forms and support it. To enjoy dance in all its forms for its own sake. To share the joy of dance with others. At Gandey World Class Productions, dance has always played a ...

The Chinese State Circus is currently touring the UK! You may already know this from our social media, or maybe you have seen and heard about it locally if it's heading to your area. You may even have caught the stars with Andi Peters on Good Morning Britain last week! How much do you actually know about the Chinese State Circus, though?  We decided to give you a rundown of everything you need to know, in bite-sized chunks! What is it? The Chinese State circus is currently touring with a new production - 'Dynasty'. The show brings an art form that has thrilled audiences for more than 2,000 years into a contemporary setting. It tranforms low-tech everyday objects into hi-tech acrobatic equipment. Hurtling porcelain jars...dynamically spinning plates...balancing upon gigantic pyramids of tables and chairs framed by the delicate strands of silk supporting cascading aerialists. Where does it come from? China! That's the short answer....

It's St Patrick's Day today – or St Paddy's Day, as it is sometimes more colloquially known. In Britain, it's notably a day when revellers wear fake ginger beards and over-sized green top hats to work, before retiring early to the pub for a pint (or several) of thick, dark Irish stout .  But do you know who St Patrick was? Or how other countries celebrate the day? Let's find out! The first thing you should know about St Patrick is that he is not technically a Saint – he was never canonised by the church. Nor was he born Irish. Nor was his name Patrick! So who was he? The generally accepted theory is that Paddy was born in Scotland and named Maewyn Succat , with Patricius being his Romanicised name – this was later shortened to Patrick. You may have heard the legend that St Paddy drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Whilst it's a good story, this does not seem to be true. Patrick was taken to Ireland as a slave, and during six years of slav...

Remember, remember the 5th of November... Thousands of people every year get out their finest hats and gloves, wrap their scarves around their necks and with sparkler and toffee apple in hand, head to the local fireworks display.  The 5 th  of November, or as it is more commonly known, ‘Bonfire night’ falls this Saturday and people all over the country will watch as our skies light up with colour from Fire Crackers and Catherine Wheels alike, whilst toasting their hands near a bonfire.  Each year we all get together to celebrate this event with great festivities, but where did the tradition come from? November 5 th  commemorates the failing attempts of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot.  Back in those days English Catholics were persecuted against by their ruler, King James the first. .  In order to get revenge, a small group of conspirators took shape in a plan to kill hose who were disrespectful to the English Catholics, including ...

It's back! The world famous and incomparable Chinese State Circus is back in the UK with a brand new production - DYNASTY - playing in theatres and under canvas this August 2016. This is the first time in just over 4 years that the production has visited the UK and it is now, as with our 2012 tour, back under the Gandey World Class Productions umbrella. The show is being presented and produced by it's original creators Carol &  Phillip Gandey. Carol & Phillip Gandey  The history of the Chinese State Circus spans 25 years when it was conceived by Creative Director Phillip Gandey who became the first Circus Director in Europe to obtain permission from the Chinese Cultural authorities to be allowed to tour a Big Top production of his own creation performed entirely by Chinese acrobats. Shaolin Warriors The decision to bring the production back the UK in 2016 was taken after a recent cultural delegacy mission which Phillip took to China. During th...