CircusTalk would like to congratulate busker, school director, and long-time circus performer Donald Lehn on his retirement! Originally from New York, Donald has been based in Madrid for the past 40 years, where he founded Escuela de Circo Carampa. Donald began his career in the 1970s as a street performer, traveling through both the United States and Europe until he made his home in Madrid. His school, Escuela de Circo Carampa, went on to win the Premio Nacional de Circo in 2011, which is Spain’s highest cultural award. He was a member of the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools for 16 years and a founding member of La Federación Ibero Americano de Circo.
Donald Lehn has dedicated himself to the development of circus training projects in France, Kenya, Mexico, and Argentina, and has collaborated extensively with Clowns Without Borders. He also wrote the first book on the art of juggling in Spanish, titled Agáchate y Vuélvete a Agachar. Donald was named a “busker’s busker” in Patty Campbell’s 1981 book Passing the Hat.
Finally, we asked Donald what everyone’s wondering: “What’s next?”
“Good question – first, getting used to the idea of having time, and being able to pick and choose where to dedicate my energy, be it my rose garden or helping design a circus school building and program in Nairobi, Kenya. It will be a treat to have time for more frequent collaborations with Payasos Sin Fronteras and to be able to dedicate more time to one of my great passions in life – magic – and perhaps be more available to teach at the magic school here in Madrid. We’ll fill the time with that, until one of my kids decides to dump a grandchild on us and keep us busy with that! Not imminent, I’m afraid.”
We wish Donald Lehn well in his pursuit of leisure and service!
Main image is Donald Lehn on the FEDEC stage at the Circa Festival in Auch.
Felicidades–y Adios–a Donald Lehn
Donald Lehn se ha dedicado al desarrollo de proyectos de formación circense en Francia, Kenia, México y Argentina, y ha colaborado ampliamente con Payasos Sin Fronteras. También escribió el primer libro sobre el arte del malabares en español, titulado Agáchate y Vuélvete a Agachar. Donald fue nombrado “el músico callejero del músico callejero” en el libro de Patty Campbell de 1981 Passing the Hat.
Finalmente, le preguntamos a Donald qué se está preguntando todo el mundo: “¿Qué sigue?”
“Buena pregunta: primero, acostumbrarme a la idea de tener tiempo y poder elegir dónde dedicar mi energía, ya sea mi jardín de rosas o ayudar a diseñar un edificio y programa de escuela de circo en Nairobi, Kenia. Será un placer tener tiempo para colaboraciones más frecuentes con Payasos Sin Fronteras y poder dedicar más tiempo a una de mis grandes pasiones en la vida, la magia, y tal vez estar más disponible para enseñar en la escuela de magia aquí en Madrid. ¡Llene el tiempo con eso, hasta que uno de mis hijos decida dejarnos un nieto y mantenernos ocupados con eso! No es inminente, me temo.”
¡Le deseamos lo mejor a Donald Lehn en su búsqueda de ocio y servicio!
La imagen principal es Donald Lehn en el escenario de FEDEC en el Circa Festival en Auch.
This post was last modified on August 6, 2024 7:25 pm