Afrique en Cirque is an engulfing experience that is completely impossible to look away from. Director and performer Yamoussa Bangoura celebrates his troupe with choreography and stage craft that unify delightfully, while simultaneously highlighting each individual’s considerable talents.

Cirque Kalabanté present a circus show like no other, using silhouettes and sounds that transport the audience to Guinea from the get-go. The live band uses music to help build suspense, with bassist, drummer and saxophonist perfectly articulating thrilling, edge-of-your-seat moments. Bangoura’s contributions on voice, percussion and kora earn his spotlight, yet he never revels in it. This is a true celebration of all talents on stage; even the saxophonist and bassist contribute to the human pyramid. The acts evoke gleeful, involuntary gasps and ‘oh nos’ from the crowd, with heart-stopping plummets and one body in particular that, quite frankly, should not be able to bend that way. Combine these acts with exciting, energising choreography and you have a perfect formula for post-show grins that are difficult to wipe off.

There is beauty in celebrating the individual as part of whole; Afrique en Cirque portrays this exquisitely. Adelaide is fortunate to host to such an entertaining and entrancing piece of Africa.