Video by Richard Harris

I inadvertently deleted this post and I can't reinsert it so I'm reposting it here.
During the 7th Fête des Saltinbanques aux Marolles in Brussels (saltinbanques - street performing acrobats or magicians etc, from the Italian "saltimbanco" he who jumps on a bench) the burlesque group O Quel Dommage makes everyone laugh. Belgian humor at its best! Unfortunately I didn't have my new camera when I shot this because it was much funnier in focus.

photo: Richard Harris

Statue people hard at work.

The art of the circus has been a growing business in Belgium over the last few years. One big boost was the work of Franco Dragone who created the look and many of the spectacles of the Cirque du Soleil and kept his headquarters in his native Belgium. 20 years ago there was only one circus school in Brussels, now there are a number and the ESAC (Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque) is considered to be in the top three worldwide. Different varieties of circus arts have proliferated and cultural centers all over the country feature circus spectacles. So, following in the footsteps of Circuscentrum in Flanders and En Piste in Québec, La maison du Cirque just opened its doors last week here in the nearby Sainte-Catherine neighborhood. It will be a window on the circus world for professionals and the general public, promoting work and performances as well as exchanges between the professionals. Check out their website (click above) to see an amazing variety of acts.
One of the acts they are promoting this month is French performer Jeanne Mordoj (photo above); She is a beard-wearing ventroloquist-acrobat-juggler whose unusual show has given her cult status. She will be performing her show Eloge du Poil (Praise Hair) at the Halles de Schaerbeek in Brussels on Feb 25-27 and at the Maison de la Culture in Tournai on March 3-5.