Do you remember a circus stall where the most exciting show was taking place in – walking on a wire? The whole crowd would be silent and watch artist’s every step closely, without even blinking…
But, you don’t need a stall to make a good atmosphere…
People like Dragoljub Aleksic performed in open-air, while the gathered people milled to see once more this unusual acrobat. Dragoljub was a film director, screenwriter, actor, producer but above all a great humanist and acrobat. He was born in Serbia, on August 9, 1910. In time between two wars in former Yugoslavia and Europe, Dragoljub was performing his amazing feats – bending iron rod, tearing chains with his teeth, walking on wire stretched between building tops, flying above Kalemegdan and other European cities, holding himself to a wire under the airplane fuselage with nothing but his own teeth. Rare videos testify about this incredible man’s feats. He died in Belgrade on November 4, 1985.
Each time has its heroes. A hero in walking on a wire today is Dean Potter, born on January 18, 1972 in USA. Dean is an alpinist primarily, who improved a technique of climbing – severe ups, free, solo ascent, climbing speed… Time which Dean needs to climb up is really amazing. But, walking on a wire 1800 high sounds more extreme, especially without any protection and secure gear. Walking through Enchy (or Anchy) Canyon in China, Dean crossed a distance of 40m for about 2 mins! You must have in mind that walking on a wire is far more harder than walking on a rope, because a wire can’t be completely tightened, and swinging of a wire on that height is unavoidable, because even with a gentle breeze it sways pretty much. Dean walked on a wire above Yosemite waterfalls in USA. And it is about to be seen where the ‘wire and adrenaline‘ will take him next. I hope we will know that soon.
