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The "Circus Allegria" is a tiny, family circus which, at the time I visited, had pitched its tent and trailers on the outskirts of Valença, a town of seventy thousand souls in Bahia, Brazil.
In the photograph, the father (as Master of Ceremonies) stands near the backdrop. One of his daughters dances, with good cheer as much as seductiveness. She couldn't have been much more than sixteen — older than most of the audience.
The sign by the side of the road promised a show each night. In fact, if it rained, there would be no show, since the audience — pedestrians all — would not come.
Admission was one Real (pronounced "Hey-I"), which was about 70¢; I regret, very much, that I had not the presence of mind to pay for the score of children who stood outside, unable to afford admission.
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