Circus features abused women as performers

MANILA, Philippines — On May 29, Filipino actress KC Concepcion will join “France Got Talent” 2016 third place finalist Alienette Coldfire, French actress Ouazani, a Cirque du Soleil acrobat and the former abused women performers of Cameleon in a fund-raising circus for the benefit of young Filipino girls who have suffered abuse.

In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Cameleon, a French-Filipino non-government organization (NGO) providing protection and rehabilitation to young Filipino girls who have suffered abuse, SM Mall of Asia with support from SM Cares, and the Zonta Club of Makati Ayala, present “Metamorphosis,” a circus show to be held at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Open to the public and donors, “Metamorphosis” features nine foreign circus artists coming from France and Canada. They will perform different acts like cyr ring, aerial ring, aerial silk, Chinese pole, hand to hand, acrobatics, tight wire, and Hula hoop. The lady beneficiaries of Cameleon will join the show to present their talent in contortion, diabolo and unicycle.

Luc Richard (stage director) and Patrick Mattioni (circus teacher) will create and organize the circus show. The show will be hosted by celebrity advocate KC Concepcion.

“Metamorphosis” will also showcase how circus can be a tool for therapy and professional integration.  Since the visit of the French Zanzibar Circus in 2004, circus has been fully integrated into the rehabilitation program of Cameleon, thanks to strong partnerships with the French National Circus School (ENACR) and worldwide circus companies from Peru, Canada, and Cambodia. 

Circus is part of the girls’ therapy as it allows them to come out their shells, feel well, trust others, have fun, and to build a positive image of themselves, Laurence Ligier said in a recent press conference for the show.

Ligier founded Cameleon in Iloilo 20 years ago to work with parents and families to help beneficiaries become independent.

Circus, according to her, has been an effective therapeutic tool in helping abused girls to build self-confidence as it is a mix of theater and sports.

Through the help of ENACR, a training gym in Iloilo has trained over 100 girls in the last 15 years. Fifteen of these former abused girls have become professional trainers.

Ligier said some girls are performing in schools and in SM Iloilo, and they are using circus as a professional and advocacy tool since before every performance, they give a talk about children’s rights and how to prevent abuse.

So far, Cameleon has helped over 7,000 beneficiaries, but Ligier admitted that the NGO constantly needs funds as it takes five to 10 years to help a girl legally, physically, and emotionally, among others.

She reported that sometimes, up to four sisters in a family, aged five to 18, are abused. Some of the victims are overseas Filipino workers’ children left behind by their parents in the Philippines.

If left without help, an abused child ends up in prostitution or in jail, Ligier said.

“Circus helps girls to release their tension. It is therapeutic to girls who have been victims of sexual and physical abuse. It helps them develop team work, unity, and individual skills,” attested Shaline Gamala, a Cameleon beneficiary who now has a master’s in English.

SM senior vice president for marketing and communications Millie Dizon said Cameleon is close to SM’s heart as Iloilo, where the NGO started, is also one of the first sites where SM opened a mall.

“SM’s hosting of ‘Metamorphosis’ gives another side to malling, which is giving back and making a difference,” said Dizon, who believes that for many young victims of abuse, “circus is a form of healing.”