Acrobatics, contortion and pulsating percussion has come to Auckland with the opening of Afrique en Cirque at the Auckland Arts Festival this evening.
The spectacle tells the story of people going about their daily lives at a fish market in Guinea.
The circus act was borne through a desire for "something people can feel, and people can have a picture of my country", creator Yamoussa Bangoura told 1News.
Audiences could expect to be immersed in the thrum of daily life – all told through music, dance and the sheer athleticism of the performers.
"We try to have the maximum chemistry together, the acrobats, all the artists, this is what creates the show Africa in Circus," musician Abdelhak Benmedjebari said in French.
Bangoura said the circus life has taken him across the world but he’s never forgotten his roots. He’s started a circus school, where he teaches enthusiastic students.
"They really want to become circus stars," he said.
One of those stars was Guinean contortionist Mohammed Ben Sylla, who has spent a lifetime turning his body into an art form.
"It's my dream to be the best contortionist in the world," he said. "I came here to make Africa proud."
While the story began in Guinea, it had grown to reflect the diversity of the whole African continent.
"All the Africans, they see the show. They're life 'wow, I feel like Africa is good'. Besides Africans, the whole world – they feel it," Bangoura said.
"All these moments, that's what we are trying to put on stage. That's what we hope the public will take away with them, this ambience and this tradition," Benmedjebari added.
Afrique en Cirque will perform at Auckland's Civic Theatre from today through to Sunday, before continuing south to Christchurch for two shows on March 22 and 23.
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