Circus at "Vael" with Andrea Agostini

Girls and boys, ladies and gentlemen: here is the Val di Fassa Circus, straight from the reign of King Laurin! The show starts with Andrea Agostini, from Padua, aka "Ago sul Filo", slackliner and tightrope walker by profession with over 10 years of experience in highline installations and tightrope shows in Italy and around the world. The search for aesthetics for his installations in natural landscapes, especially in the Dolomites, leads him to elevate his tightrope walking performance to unique and exclusive locations, where beauty and magic resonate. In recent years, he has walked suspended lines among the frescoes of historic Venetian villas, in the mountains of China for national TV, over the Arno in front of Ponte Vecchio, on top of the Moleson for the Swiss cable cars, and on many other Italian piazzas.

This is followed by "Mateete" (play!): balls, clubs and diabli take off from the hands of these young local "Circensema" artists, to amaze young and old alike. Ballistic feats and various acrobatics alternate in a stable balance of emotions, framed by the peaks of the Catinaccio and one of the most bewitching views in the Dolomites. Juggling becomes a means of aggregation and an opportunity to share, even at high altitude. As well as watching, you can also take part in a practical workshop to get closer to this art form.

At 2 p.m. on the "Ciampaz" saddle, near the Baita Marino Pederiva and Roda di Vael refuges. The locality can be reached on foot from Ciampedie (Vigo) or from Paolina (Costalunga Pass). The show is free of charge; cancelled in the event of bad weather.

"Dolomitic Highline" and "Mateete" are two of the shows of the "Circen Dolomites Festival". For a whole week, and to be more precise from 26 July to 2 August, Val di Fassa hosts prominent street artists and good international jugglers. Squares, museums, but also high-altitude locations, turn into exceptional stages for astonishing performances, both in ability and creativity. The festival is organised by Fassa’s group of jugglers "Circensema", founded in 2017 in partnership with the local association "Inout", which for some years has been practising the circus art and also training, together with professionals, some teenagers that perform in a few shows throughout the year, juxtaposing juggling and theatre.