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Carpa Trompoloco Restoration

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Hurricane Irma decimated the islands of Barbuda and Antigua; her powerful arms brutalizing the northeastern coast of Cuba before devastating the lives of millions of people in the state of Florida, here in the United States. One of the victims of this natural disaster was the "Carpa Trompoloco" Cultural Center, home of the Cuban National Circus to the west of the Cuban capital, home to artists from that country since its creation on August 13, 2005.

I had the opportunity to experience the wondrous spectacle of the CIRCUBA International Festival last June, a magical experience, made moreso, now knowing that the tent is no longer there.

Circuba is one of the oldest circus festivals and contests in the world, preceded only by the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo and the Cirque du Demain in Paris.

On Thursday, September 7, the tent began to be dismantled to avoid damage. Two days later, on Saturday night, the power of this hurricane of great intensity destroyed part of the roof of the tent in Havana and damaged many other cultural institutions. Once again in touch with my friends on the following Tuesday, I learned that the tent was damaged beyond repair.

Imagine the place where you create your special brand of magic, your creative home, your sustenance, missing or destroyed and it being no longer possible to continue giving joy to so many families, especially children.

According to José Manuel Cordero-Hernández, the General Coordinator of the Festival and Representative of Institutional Communication, “[Since the tent's destruction,] Artists have been performing in alternative venues such as cinemas, theaters and sports halls, but practically more than 50% can not work.” When I asked where the Circuba 2018 Festival would take place, Cordero-Hernandez replied: "Circuba 2018 should be done in the Trompoloco Tent. We have a lot of faith in this management and in that of so many people and fans who fight for this purpose that our circus, our main venue for presentations, can rise again like a phoenix.”

It is with this end in mind that I ask you, if you have had any relation with the Carpa Trompoloco or with the circus in Cuba, or if you simply love this legendary stage art, please help the Cuban circus family in efforts to rebuild/replace this magical space.

Every bit of help is valued in this noble purpose. This is an opportunity for you to take action demonstrating that people help international people and institutions, despite social and political differences.

The circus proves by its very existence that through determination, cooperation and hard work, the impossible can be realized.

We are counting on your help right now! Thank you!

Organizer

Johanna Vargas
Organizer
Chicago, IL

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