63a2b17b99798210VgnVCM100000e56411acRCRDapproved/thenational/Articles/Migration/2010-04Roar of success for a female lion tamer53a2b17b99798210VgnVCM100000e56411ac____Meet Faten el Halw, the Egyptian lion trainer charged with entertaining the crowds at the Khalifa Park circus.<p>After two and a quarter hours of strong men swallowing swords and long-haired ladies cracking whips, the audience at the European-Egyptian-Russian Circus is growing impatient with the seemingly endless procession of support acts. "Lions, lions, lions," is the shrill cry that fills the air in the green and yellow big-top occupying a corner of the capital's Khalifa Park, as first a couple, then tens of children, voice their collective desire for proceedings to move on from rounds of jugglers, acrobats and then clowns.</p> <p>Their calls are answered by the sounds of high-tempo music pumping through the tent's public address system. A stream of well-trodden classics of faux tension - 2 Unlimited's Get Ready for This, Europe's The Final Countdown - provide an early warning that the lions are soon to be among us. The backstage crew meanwhile, have moved to the front of house, and are busy screwing together a steel cage into which the stars of the show will be released.</p> <p>A quartet of lions and a tiger will later enter the ring followed by Faten el Halw, their Egyptian tamer. El Halw, dressed in what might reasonably be described as a glitzy catsuit, cuts a remarkable figure for at least a couple of reasons. A woman in a man's world - el Halw insists there are no other female lion tamers on the circuit - she is also renowned for using both male and female cats in her show. The conventional wisdom says it is considerably more dangerous to put lions and a lioness together in the same production. Goodness knows what happens to that logic when, as is the case here, a flighty tigress is added to the mix too.</p> <p>El Halw is nothing if not a seasoned professional. She has worked in the circus since she was nine years old, first performing acrobatics before moving on to snake-handling and finally graduating to lion training a few years later. She has roamed the world with her pride ever since. Now, more than 30 years later, she is also a grandmother and a prosperous businesswoman - she owns and operates four circuses in her home country.</p> <p>Does she ever get concerned by the considerable hazards that come with her occupation? "With the cats, it's like dealing with dogs," her interpreter says, without a hint of irony. "They can smell fear. She has to show them she is stronger than them. If she didn't, they would attack her." The act, when it arrives, is essentially a series of old-fashioned turns, culminating with the cats leaping through a flaming heart-shaped hoop.</p> <p>The stars of the show are corralled around the ring by el Halw and Rida, her faithful assistant. It seems a particularly risky occupation for a grandmother but, according to her interpreter: "As long as Faten has the power and is able to carry on, she will." Akram Sabry is the latter-day impresario who is responsible for bringing el Halw and the touring show to the capital. Where once ringmasters would be considered underdressed if their top coat was tailored in anything less than bright red silk, Sabry had earlier introduced the show wearing a pair of faded denim jeans and a green polo shirt. His look may be less Billy Smart, more smart casual, but this sartorial inelegance should not distract from his lofty aspirations. Like PT Barnum and all the other great showmen down the ages, Sabry has grand plans.</p> <p>"I have a dream to establish a permanent circus here. I think we can do it, we can build something very nice with the right support," he says. "When I was younger, everyone went to the circus - it makes you feel happy and excited. It lightens your mood. This is my target for Abu Dhabi, to create an experience not just for me, but for all the people - for everybody." For now, though, Sabry has a number of other events in the pipeline.</p> <p>"I have a very big strategy in mind. My dream is to bring more international shows to the capital." Those shows, he says, include Riverdance, Phantom of the Opera and, somewhat incongruously, professional wrestling. Today swaggering lions, tomorrow (perhaps) Jack Swagger and the superstars of the World Wrestling Entertainment organisation. Now, that really would be bringing the circus to town.<strong></strong></p>102,236YYREVIEW2010042200000020100422000000100ARhttp://adedit.ad.atl.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100422/REVIEW/70422997811AD20101070422997820100422100000000298ad04bf5b3f82e210VgnVCM100000e56411ac____53a2b17b99798210VgnVCM100000e56411ac____1070d6f9b5548210VgnVCM200000e66411acRCRD1207d8a4e2b898210VgnVCM100000e56411ac____53a2b17b99798210VgnVCM100000e56411ac____603dfe783a648210VgnVCM100000e56411acRCRDImageArticle Asset captionArticle Asset option1