Fidler in the Hood: The daring young girl on the flying trapeze
Moldovan-born Angela Turcanu was part of the Soviet Union’s opening ceremony’s team of athletes.
HI THERE, once again. Eight editions to go to the much-needed Christmas break.
Moldova to Moscow
Quiz time: Where were the 1980 Olympics held? Come on, the games were only 38 years ago! To help you out: The games were held in Moscow, in the old Soviet Union; best remembered for a young Romanian gymnast, Nadia Comaneci, who won Olympic gold medals galore for her ‘perfect 10’ performances during her career. So what? you may ask.
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Well, living amongst us right here is another star gymnast who took part in those very same Moscow Olympics in 1980. Moldovan-born Angela Turcanu was part of the Soviet Union’s opening ceremony’s team of athletes. Her career as a young gymnast ultimately led her to join the world-famous Moscow State Circus, together with her sister and cousins, as part of a family act. Angela was the star performer and main attraction: ‘The daring young girl on the flying trapeze’, touring East European countries, including the Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
Three years in Brazil
From the Moscow State Circus, Angela spent a year in Japan ‘on the trapeze’, followed by three years in Brazil, South America, performing with Circus Garcia – famous throughout that continent. She toured the length and breadth of Brazil, visiting Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande regions and every Brazilian city in between.
The circus also toured Argentina and Chile where Angela was the star attraction.
Born to dance
In 1998, she joined the Boswell-Wilkie Circus in South Africa. Besides being a main attraction, Angela became ‘mainly attracted’ to one of the clowns, namely Italiano Marcello Di Lello, who was (and is currently) the star clown at uShaka Marine World in Durban. The couple married in 2000, making Shelly Beach their home. The talent in the family is also extended to Angela’s Moldovan-born daughter, Susanna, who was born to dance. She was the Latin-American ballroom dancing champion for Greece and danced in the 2008 world Latin-American championships in Blackpool, England – no mean feat.
In fact, you can see her on the internet, strutting her stuff in the famous Tower Ballroom, Blackpool. Understandably she was reluctant to tell her dancing story, preferring the limelight to be on her mum. She hopes to start a Latin-American dance studio on the Hibiscus Coast in the near future. Your scribe told Susanna that many moons ago he had obtained medals for dancing. However, the ‘Veleta’, the ‘Gay Gordons’ or the barn dance would hardly turn any heads – including Susanna’s.
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Fashion queens
Mother and daughter have put their many talents together to open a fashion boutique in Shelly Beach. Besides gymnastics and dancing, both women are top-notch fashion and clothing designers and apart from importing fashionable clothing from Italy and Poland, Angela has her own eye-catching designs. She sews and makes garments to suit customers’ personal tastes and special requirements. In these challenging economic times, it’s a brave step for them to make, but the boutique looks a sure-fire success. Good luck to you both.
Moondeckers: Crisis?
Disturbing news: last week’s eagerly-awaited monthly Moondeckers gathering was cancelled at the last moment. A pity, really, as the full moon came out in all its glory.
The sky was clear, the sea tranquil and shimmering – a wonderful sight. David Hallé of the Ramsgate Conservancy relayed the sad news. The winter period has seen a distinct falling-off of people who generally attend Moondeckers, so it has been decided to have a ‘wait-and-see’ period and hopefully interest will be rekindled.
It would be a sad day if Moondeckers fell off the social calendar – it’s one of those ‘must do’ events where people meet new friends – even if the full moon fails to shine from time to time.
One of the great things about living on the South Coast is the community spirit. If there’s a point of issue or concern why there has been a ‘fall-off’ in attendance, please let us know, but don’t disappear – your country needs you. Summer is here (almost). And remember: ‘Blue Moon: you saw me standing alone’.
See you, Rob.
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