IN PICTURES: Palestinian Circus School

Juggling clubs on the floor of the tent at the Palestinian Circus School, Bir Zeit, Occupied Palestinian Territories (Silvia Boarini /MEE)

Trainer Nayef Abdullah follows Hazar Azzeh on the flying trapeze. The school taught over 170 students in 2014. (MEE/Silvia Boarini)

The team uses improvisation techniques to develop performances. Three shows were produced in 2014 alone. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

Hamada Toqan and Hazar Azzeh rehearse an acrobatic routine. (MEE/Silvia Boarini)

Students exercise on the trampoline. Aside from training in the tent, classes also take place in Jenin, Hebron, Ramallah and Al Fara’ refugee camp. (MEE/Silvia Boarini)

Hamada Toqan began juggling in 2007 with the Palestinian Circus school. Here he trains young students. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

A student practices devil sticks juggling, also known as ‘Diablo’. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

The circus school performs throughout Palestine and abroad. Here a young audience follows a show in the Bir Zeit tent. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

The team practices an acrobatics routine for an upcoming show. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

The tent has been the permanent home of the school since 2011. It fills up at every performance. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

Young girls practice juggling. Older girls are still a rare sight at the school. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

“The hardest part is to be in control of every movement,” Hamada Toqan. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

Hazar Azzeh on the flying trapeze. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

A young student takes a break during Friday training. (MEE/ Silvia Boarini)

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