Chestertown International: Ethiopia, Circuses and Hope Clark

Lalibela is a town in Ethiopia, famous for its 13-century rock-hewn churches where up to 45,000 tourists come to see this UNESCO heritage site. Through the Lalibela Eco-trekking Company, Chestertown’s Hope Clark ventured into the surrounding mountainside where highlands reach over 12000 ft above sea level and communities live remotely without electricity. In the highlands, Clark taught children gymnastics in the fields with their animals and learned about the challenges to accessing education.

Hope Clark and friend

Hope was introduced to the local Circus school in the town of Lalibela where she exchanged teaching techniques on the dirt floor of a stone building with just a couple of lights. She saw the need for support and thought, with all the tourists coming to this town, a show could be created about Lalibela history, culture and community to develop sustainable income for the Circus School, and the community. “This could be a path for economic development that uses their cultural heritage as a means for income.”

The town of Lalibela is where the people of the highlands come for economic and educational advancement. The Circus School and the Lalibela Minister of Culture and Tourism agreed creating a show for the communities benefit was a good idea and joined her in a campaign to raise the money. The show will be performed in the Lalibela UNESCO Community Cultural Center. An Indiegogo campaign has been launched online where anyone in the world can contribute. Google ‘Lalibela Circus and Cultural Show’ or click on to this link where you will be able to see a short video about the project, and the budget details.

Before moving to Chestertown, Clark was a professional dancer in New York. Her choreography was presented at Celebrate Brooklyn, Danspace Project and Dance Theater Workshop, and was the Associate Artistic Director for STREB  She was recently featured in the documentary film, ‘Born To Fly’ available on Netflix.

While living in Chestertown, Maryland, Ms Clark received a Community Arts Partnership Program grant from Alternate ROOTS Inc. and worked with the African American Heritage Council to create a re-enactment of the Decoration Day Ceremonies originally performed by local members of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). She was Director of the Local Management Board for Children and Family Services in Kent County where she created a 2012 Needs Assessment and was the Lead Navigator to implement the Affordable Care Act in the five mid-shore counties for the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center.

Those interested in more information or to make a donation are invited to go here