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CNN Sunday Morning
Universoul Circus Expresses Urban Culture Uniquely
Aired April 08, 2001 - 10:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, a circus with soul. Forget the cotton candy because you're not going to have time. Instead, you'll be dancing in the aisles, dazzled by the daredevils and dynamic acts.
This African-American owned and operated circus is the only show of its kind in the world, and it's selling out state by state. Moved by hip-hop, R&B, gospel and reggae, acts from around the world express, like you're seeing here, urban culture like you've never seen before.
Casual Cal Dupree is ringmaster and co-founder and he joins us now, live from the ring in New York this morning.
Cal, good morning to you.
CALVIN "CASUAL CAL" DUPREE, UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS: Good morning. Welcome to the soul shack.
PHILLIPS: I know, it's hard to hear. Hey, Cal, if you can tell us, the reason why you started this circus? Give us a little history on why.
DUPREE: Well, we figured that African-Americans needed a family event that was very powerful, that was a part of the history of America, and we wanted to shock the world with something that was new, different, positive, high energy, and a circus that was far-left of any circus in the world.
PHILLIPS: And it definitely is. Now, we have to introduce the partner in crime next to you, Rerun. Great to see you, Rerun.
DUPREE: My partner in crime. I had to pull him out the closet, dust him off, and remind people we got a living legend around this country here, so that's why we brought Rerun to tour with us this year.
PHILLIPS: And, Rerun, we know that Rerun is brought in to be a real role model for this kids. You haven't ever touched a drug, a drop of alcohol, tell us the message you're trying to send out to these kids, especially African-American children.
RERUN: Well, it's that, well, that love is really the answer. Because of a lack of love, children and even adults get involved in all types of negative behavior, and I believe that if the kids would just say yes to love and yes to life, that they'll say no to drugs and I've spoken to over 10 million children in the past 14 years and I hope some of them use my words as guidance to their future.
PHILLIPS: Alright, before we move on, give us the hey, hey, hey. We got to see it, Rerun.
RERUN: Hey, hey, hey, hey.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Oh, yeah, bringing back memories.
Cal, introduce the act behind us before we let you go.
DUPREE: What was that again?
PHILLIPS: Introduce the act behind you. Tell us about it and we'll take it.
DUPREE: The group, the group behind me are from Central African, Gabon and they're called the Gabonese Acrobatic Children. These guys are truly circus. They help setup the show with the tent. They perform, they break down, they travel; they got the whole original circus blood all in them.
So, we're a pleasure to have them going around the country and performing their cultural dance and in the circus they do a performance called the teeter-board, which is like a sliding board, or what we say, a see-saw act. And they jump and they catch each other. So, it's quite unique to see them do both in a high energy circus with us here at the Soul Circus.
PHILLIPS: Alright. Well, high energy is definitely the word. Let's watch them. Cal, tell them to take it away. We'll watch them. And also...
DUPREE: Well, let's take a look.
PHILIPS: You got it. Anyone who wants to come see this circus, they are in New York right now, Universe Soul Circus, lots of soul and culture, as you can see, and you can catch them as they travel state by state. Let's listen in.
DUPREE: That's right. We're in Brooklyn Prospect Park, in fact, and the Gabonese are actually doing their dance, and you can see the drummers, and now they're all individually showing out, like break dancers did in the day on the streets, you know? This is good stuff.
And later on we're going to pull something else out of the closet for you, but right now these guys are having a ball. All for CNN. Look at them.
And of course, we'd like to thank our big time sponsors, Honey Nut Cheerios, Ford and Burger King for being so committed to making sure this circus touches communities around the world.
And now they're going to try what we call the pyramid with two men, and the third man being on top, look at there. Yes.
Also, this year is the first year in our eight-year existence that we're actually going international with this circus. We're going to Johannesburg South Africa to perform for Nelson Mandela at his birthday for the children's foundation which he heads up. So, we're pretty excited about the children of South Africa getting a rude, soulful awakening coming in July.
Now this is the good part. They're going to do two-man, and just as you thought they were where they should be, in comes a third man. And they're going to do this -- watch how, watch the move, one move. There you go. Wonderful. Rerun, let's try that.
RERUN: Yeah, I'm going to -- I'm next. I'm the fourth man.
DUPREE: You on top of me. You going to go on top, you're the fourth man.
RERUN: I'm the fourth man.
DUPREE: OK. I'll catch you. And it all comes tumbling down.
Now, let's take a look. Let's see if the guys will demonstrate the fall, because this fall is amazing. Keep your eyes on them. If you notice the balance and strength, just holding three guys up. Sort of like certain people's jobs. There we go. Oh! And there you have it.
RERUN: Bobo. Bobo. Bobo.
DUPREE: Hold it, we're going to show -- Bobo.
RERUN: Bobo. Bobo.
DUPREE: Come here. Show them, show them -- watch this. This is the greatest thing. Show them there, Rerun. There we go Bobo. Go! Oh, no. No, no, no. Rerun, Rerun, no, no, no. Good try, buddy, good try.
PHILLIPS: Cal, it's been an absolute pleasure.
DUPREE: Now, we have something special for you we'd like to try, let me see if they've got it ready yet. Not exactly?
PHILLIPS: Is it ready?
DUPREE: Yeah, it's ready. It's coming out here.
PHILLIPS: Alright. We're going to continue to watch the Universe Soul Circus here as they take us to our commercial break. Once again, that's the ringmaster, Cal Dupree, and Rerun, a flash from the past, there.
RERUN: Hey, hey, hey.
PHILLIPS: Thanks guys. RERUN: Thank you.
DUPREE: Yeah! Look at the guys. Alright.
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