Osmani's
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The Osmani's were an acrobatic duo from the Netherlands who performed worldwide. Connie (* 1922) and Julia Osmani (* 1920) worked as artists under this name for 36 years . From 1974 both worked as acrobatics trainers in their homeland.
Foundation and first appearances
The sisters did not come from any artist family. The mother worked in a boarding school and the father was a diamond dealer in Amsterdam. Connie and Julia attended a ballet school , where they met Jan, Julia's future husband. They founded a group with him in 1938, and the first appearances took place in clubs and small theaters. After the mobilization and the beginning of the Second World War , they professionally performed shows for soldiers and gave up their previous jobs.
Tours
They received worldwide engagements through Jan's agents . These took the group to Spain , Cuba , South Africa , Moscow and South America, among others .
In South America, the group had to find and train a substitute for the pregnant Julia. This acrobat stayed with the troupe for seven years. During this time Julia gave birth to a son and a daughter, both of whom were trained as artists at an early age. The children joined the group when they were 14 and 11 years old.
When Julia's son turned 18, he was supposed to be drafted into military service, even though he was the main character in their group. The army waived him because the troops had a long-term contract with the Irish family company Circus Fosset . The working conditions were difficult because the floor was made of unpaved, dirty planks. The Osmani's performed in homemade white costumes. As the most important number in the circus, they appeared at the end of the performance.
Through the mediation of an agent, the Osmani's traveled to Hong Kong and Thailand . In Hong Kong, they were temporarily no longer paid , but their agent was able to collect the outstanding money until they arrived in Thailand.
The second time in South America they appeared on a Chinese show for a year and a half. When the manager informed them that there was no more money, the Osmani's kept the entrance fees for the remaining five days. Then they got a two-month engagement for weekend appearances in an amusement park .
Back in Holland
When they returned home, they accepted every contract that came up. In the Netherlands, only short and poorly paid offers were available. During their stays in Holland they appeared in a movie theater before the main film; so in the Royal Theater (then a variety theater) and in the City Theater.
They traveled to Egypt at the ages of 52 and 54 . Only later in their careers could they afford to choose their gigs.
After a break of several years, Connie and Julia began to train artists in 1974.
literature
- Yvonne Swinkels: The life of the Osmani's. part 1 . Akroniek 11/12, February / May 1997
- Yvonne Swinkels: The life of the Osmani's. part 2 . Akroniek 13/14, October 1997 / January 1998