The 36th Sharjah International Book Fair’s children’s cultural programme features 22 countries, and is broadening the horizons of young minds with an array of creative activities, workshops and entertaining acts. The ‘Golden Circus’ performance by the Khulan Circus Group that has come in all the way from Mongolia is a sight to behold.

Unbelievable talent in the art of contortion, hand balance, acrobatics and areal lifts was displayed by a group of young performers, some of whom were as little as five. In their dazzling golden attires and traditional headdress, they slender silhouettes aligned perfectly, changing shape and form.

Effortlessly, they shifted shape from angry flames, to a blossoming flower and gentle waves of the sea. All this against a backdrop of colourful lighting and ambient tunes of Mongolian Khusugtun created a dreamlike aura in the theatre.

Khulan Circus Group was created in 2002 in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. The circus students start training as young as three years of age, and the Green Tara Group that gave this performce comprises girls aged between 5 and 14. Their acts won then the Grand-prix award in Mongolia, and they were one of the finalists at the ‘Super Kids’ TV show in Germany.

The Golden Circus will be showcased through the duration of the fair. This must-watch performance is just one among SIBF’s show-stopping list of entertaining acts, like ‘Aladdin’, ‘Windy’ – a play from Kuwait, ‘The Enchanted Seasons’ musical from Russia, ‘The Crazy Dunkers’ from France, and many more. SIBF 2017 runs until Saturday, 11 November at Expo Centre Sharjah.