In the midst of Fringe Festival abundance, Raphael Xavier’s circus-like extravaganza animated the heart of the city—City Hall’s Courtyard—for a full afternoon. A student fair pumped music onto an adjacent plaza and Philadelphians at leisure strolled in the summery heat. On multiple playing areas, acts of physical strength and daring wowed the crowd.

The flips and flops in Mathieu Bolillo’s slack line performance were more spectacular than my photos show, but you can see his hair flying and imagine how it would be to tumble onto the concrete below (which he did gracefully just once).

A slackline was set up for ordinary folks to try out.

LaMonte Good danced on his hoverboard too.

We could all dance to music from DJ Sonny James between acts.

A large-cast fable orchestrated by Xavier played three times during the six hour event. (Unfortunately my Fringe “dance card” prevented my being there to witness.) Members of his cast were extravagantly painted.

And others attending took advantage of face painting on offer.

Raphstravaganza by Raphael Xavier, Philadelphia City Hall Courtyard, September 10. http://fringearts.com/event/raphstravaganza-kinetic-experience/

All photos by Lisa Kraus