“When I’m at the circus, I feel real freedom.”
Mohammad Khaled Hajj, eighteen years old, traces his family’s origins to the village of Tira Dandan, which was occupied in 1948 in the Ramla district. Today, his family’s story continues today in the alleys of Balata refugee camp in Nablus.
Mohammad joined the circus school in August 2024 after seeing an announcement on the Nablus Circus page about a training project that would culminate in a final public performance. From that moment, his journey with the Nablus Circus School began.
At the same time, Mohammad was in his final year of high school, preparing for the Tawjihi exams. Despite the intense academic pressure, he continued attending the training. He went weekly, turning the circus into a space to express himself and release his energy, emotions, and the stress of studying. Rather than being an obstacle to his success, the circus became a support system that gave him balance and strength. He graduated with a 93.6 average in the scientific stream and is now preparing to begin his university journey in the 2026–2027 academic year.
Since July 2025, Mohammad has specialized in aerial arts. Although he joined the circus at what he feels was a relatively late age—and wishes he had started younger—he now teaches children the basics and some simple movements.
Mohammad says:
“Despite the great passion that pushes me to continue, I face challenges commuting between my city, Nablus, and Ramallah for training, especially with checkpoints, closures, and sometimes a lack of safety—particularly since my training ends at seven in the evening.”
For Mohammad, the circus is the space where he feels belonging and comfort. As much as he wishes that he had started his journey at a younger age, he hopes to have a meaningful impact on the children's lives.
