Lalibela Circus and Cultural Show
hands that work together
The play about early marriage developed out of the Lalibela Circus and Cultural Show Pilot Project and encompassed almost all the performers; dancers, musicians, circus artists and actors. In this video, Meseret Mengiste, a lead actor practices her part, a 15 yr old girls who gets married and pregnant and passes due to complications. Up to 45% of girls in the Amhara region of Ethiopia are married before the age of 18.
The play depicted life in the countryside outside of the city of Lalibela. In certain parts of the mountains there has never been electricity. The play depicted the life of the farmers, the work of the women and the culture of the community.
The female performers in this video rehearse the traditional movements of work with make shift props.