Kalabanté Productions: Afrique en Cirque at Aviva Studios
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Expect high-flying acrobatics, colourful rhythms and innovative choreography when Kalabanté Productions bring their thrilling circus performance Afrique en Cirque to Aviva Studios for four spectacular shows.
This captivating show is being performed as part of The Welcome, a huge nine-day celebration to mark the opening of Manchester’s phenomenal new arts space, Aviva Studios, home of Factory International.
A wonderful high-octane fusion of circus arts and traditional African arts.
Founded by multidisciplinary artist Yamoussa Bangoura, Kalabanté Productions celebrate African culture, youth, joy and the diaspora. For four nights only, they roll into town ready to transport you to another continent with Afrique en Cirque – a multi-sensory extravaganza inspired by daily life in Guinea.
Bringing a wonderful high-octane fusion of circus arts and traditional African arts, Kalabanté Productions are set to captivate Manchester audiences. Get lost in colourful costumes and scenery, as daring acrobats perform gravity-defying moves and dancers take you on a journey through Guinea – all set to the sound of live Afrojazz and traditional West African instruments, from percussion to kora.
Afrique en Cirque invites all ages to experience the boundless and expressive creativity of African culture.
The family-friendly show was a huge hit at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival too. Garnering a string of brilliant reviews, Afrique en Cirque received five stars from Time Out and The Skinny and was praised as an explosion of “exuberant movement and music” by The Stage.
Seamlessly melding exceptional storytelling, awe-inspiring circus art, dance and music, the performance is a vibrant celebration of contemporary African life. More importantly, this powerful and highly entertaining show is the perfect example of the universality of art’s language. Recommended for ages 5+, Afrique en Cirque invites all ages to experience the boundless and expressive creativity of African culture.
