In August 2010, Circus Manduhai will make an expedition to Mongolia. I will be updating this page often, so please check back soon.
Explanation of the Expedition:
My name is Chimgee Haltarhuu. I am originally from Mongolia, and am now a US citizen living in Minneapolis. When I was in Mongolia I was physically and mentally abused. As a girl I became interested in acrobatics and earned a spot in the prestigious Mongolian State Circus College, and after graduating top of my class I joined the Mongolian State Circus. In 1991 Ringling Brother’s Barnum and Bailey Circus chose my act to perform acrobatics and bungee trapeze in the United States. I came with my son Tamir and performed for five years. I am now head coach at Circus Juventas and have my own family show “Circus Manduhai” as well. Even though things are better for me now, I am still suffering from the abuse of my younger days. Along with the emotional repercussions, I have had many painful and expensive operations to try to reconstruct my jaw and teeth. The abusers are not around me now, but their ghosts still haunt me with the pain of each of these operations. The story of my abuse is not pretty, but unfortunately it is not a unique one in Mongolia. It is accepted in Mongolia that the men control the women. If the women don’t obey they are beaten. Or sometimes they are beaten for no reason at all.
One in three Mongolian women have been the victim of domestic abuse, an obvious problem in Mongolia. But one in four American women will be abused in their lifetime. This abuse even continues with Mongolian immigrants who come to Minnesota; my American husband and I have witnessed it in our own home. The problem of abuse is known to the general public, and places to turn to in Minnesota are on billboards, TV and radio ads, news programs and are making a positive change in Minnesota, but where do you turn as a nomadic herder, where there are no neighbors...? Are there other ways to help in Minnesota as well as Mongolia? I have an uncommon approach to a common problem. Mission Manduhai will travel to the far reaches of Mongolia where there are no billboards, no television, no electricity or running water for that matter. I will lead a talented group of circus performers to perform for these nomadic herders, and during and after our performances we will raise awareness in these herders the problem of domestic abuse. Partnering with National Center Against Violence (NCAV), these women will be given a strong positive message, information about how to get out of a dangerous situation, and resources to help them to a better life. Upon returning to Minnesota, Mission Manduhai will continue its work, promoting awareness through lectures/presentations/performances at local schools libraries and working with NCAV to help Mongolian women with ongoing missions to Mongolia.
12/21/09
Description of the expedition:
I would like to give you an idea about my trip to Mongolia next summer. I am planning a 2-4 week long trip, combining my passion for traditional Mongolian culture and arts with a mission to fight domestic abuse in my home country (I am a survivor of an abusive relationship). I am launching an ambitious expedition to rural Mongolia and the route will take me and my troop to nomadic tribes that have never experienced their country's beloved artistic traditions. There will be no admission fee for these shows; they will be absolutely free. My goal is to use these free performances as an opportunity to talk to individuals about domestic abuse and prevent its continuation. This is the crew I am currently planning on having on the expedition:
American Performers: 7
American Crew: 3
Mongolian Performers: 5
Mongolian Crew: 4
We will do a total of 20-25 shows throughout the Mongolian countryside.
I am planning to do 2 fundraisers before we go to Mongolia to help pay for the cost of operations, performer's food, lodging, and transportation. Each fundraiser will be a performance of my family show Circus Manduhai with music from one of my husband Eron's jazz groups. The entertainment will be accompanied by Mongolian food.
Estimated Budget Including:
airline tickets, hotel, food, 2 vans rental, drivers for 2 vans, advance promotion with one auto rental, gas, equipment rental including: generator, sound system, lighting system
Rough estimate of total cost of trip $ 55,500
Bringing the circus arts to the nomadic people of my homeland is a long time dream and passion of mine, and educating about domestic abuse in Mongolia.
12/23/09
Check out this link to see a multimedia presentation outlining the problems of domestic abuse in Mongolia, and the political and social hurdles that must be overcome to protect women and children:
journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/mongolia/
1/3/10
A description of my Mission for my Mongolian friends:
Би 2010 оны 8 дугаар сард өөрийн төрж өссөн нутаг болон Монгол орныхоо зарим сумдаар ялангуяа урлаг соёлоос алслагдмал малчин ард түмэндээ зориулж үнэгүй, сайн санааны урлагийн тоглолт зохион байгуулах гэж байна. Энэ тоглолтоор үндэсний соёл урлагын арга хэмжээ зохион байгуулахын зэрэгцээ хүчирхийлэлийн эсрэг дуу хоолойгоо хүмүүст хүргэх юм. Хүчирхийлэл дарангуйлалийг өөрийн биеэр туулж ирсэний хувьд Монголын охид эмэгтэйчүүдэд хучирхийлэл, дарамттай амьдралын хор уршигийн талаар ярьж, тэдэнд өөртөө итгэх итгэл, амьдралын утга учир, өөрийгөө хүндлэх, хүндлүүлэх талаар зөвлөж, харилцан ярилцах болно. Энэ ярилцлагын үр дүнд нэг хүн ч гэсэн гэр бүлийн хүчирхийлэл, дарамтгүй аз жаргалтай амьдрал хичнээн чухал болохыг ойлгож байвал олон жил мөрөөдөж байсан миний хүсэл мөрөөдөл биелэж, энэ аялалын минь гол зорилго биелэх болно.
Та бүхэнд сайн сайхныг хүсэн ерөөе!
Ум сайн амгалан болтугай!
Халтархүүгийн Эрдэнэчимэг
1/3/10
Good news! I have a tentative date set for a fundraiser at Circus Juventas on April 17th at 5:30 and 7pm. I am working with Dan and Betty Butler on the details, a big thank you to CJ for their support!
1/17/10
I connected with a great organization in Mongolia called National Center Against Violence. We are going to work together for this expedition, and in the future. This is their website:
2/5/10
Trouble with the website, couldn't edit for three days! All is corrected now. I had an interview with the Southwest Journal on Tuesday. It should be out in a couple weeks.
Update on the April 17th fundraiser: NOTICE-event time changed to TWO SHOWS- 5:30pm and 7pm at Circus Juventas. Tickets for these shows will be sold the day of the show only at:
Circus Juventas
1270 Montreal Ave.
St.Paul, MN 55116
651-699-8229
There will be 450 seats available for each show.
2/8/10
I added some new text at the top of this page explaining who I am and why I am doing it. Working on case statement this week to apply for non-profit status.
2/20/10
Southwest Journal won't publish my interview in their paper (I don't live in the subscription area). Grrr! We are working on other press.
2/22/10
We have a fiscal agent! Thanks to Pop Wagner and the Heritage and Traditions organization.
If you would like to support my cause, you can now give a tax-deductible donation by sending a check to:
Chimgee Haltarhuu
5509 28h Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Important: The check must be made out to "Heritage and Traditions", and in the memo must be written "Mission Manduhai".
2/28/10
Here is a link to an article written in TC DailyPlanet about my expedition:
www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/02/25/acrobatic-advocacy-minneapolis-mongolia
3/7/10
Another article written about me in Star Tribune business section "How I Got That Job":
I have been in contact with the Mongolian State Circus and Circus School (where I went to college) through my friend Yanjenbileg. It is looking like we will do a performance in the State Circus building after the tour for the school's 70th anniversary. We will do a free show, with the proceeds going to the Mongolian State Circus School.
Mission Manduhai has had its first donors this week!! If you would like to contribute, please see above (in red) about how to donate.