No matter how many times one walks into the Spiegeltent as an audience member there is something about the way the wood brings you into its comforting beams, instantly increasing the anticipation of what you are about to witness.

La Ronde is billed as the show “you should see if you only see one show at Fringe.”
More anticipation.

As the audience settles you are casually introduced to the performers as they sway, bump and sashay past and through the crowd.

A packed house sat in silence as the lights darkened and then erupted as the troupe gathered in a stylish and steamy opening number.

More than circus and cabaret La Ronde gathers the strengths of the performers in group numbers and smoothly transitions to showing the incredible deftness and beauty of their individual talents.

This is how the show progresses, alluringly integrating troupe and duo performances with specialities of song, acrobatics, dance and movement.

There are ping pong balls being wielded by the incredibly hilarious love child of Keith from Prodigy and Barbie- David Eriksson, soul sung so blue and dance sung hot by Gigi and a rope performance by Jenny Zavadskaia that slowed time as they defied physics (and what this author was previously unaware the human body can do.)

Offering a unique spin on trapeze was the hypnotic Diana Bondarenko and a larrikin charm to a ladder, Australia’s Danik Abishev. Their performances drew audible gasps from the crowd and a cheer that almost toppled the venue.

It is rare to see the inventor of a performance technique actually performing that technique. At La Ronde we were treated to the antigravitational and exceptional Lj Marles on their creation, tension straps.

Half Ballet, half acrobatic and singularly transfixing, Sergiy Mishchurenko brings a physically and visually powerful performance on the aerial pole. Sergiy’s athleticism held the crowd intensely focused as their movement challenged what we accept as given on how bodies rotate in space.

Absolute kudos go to the crew of the performance, their dedication gave the experience that wonderful, seamless feel.

La Ronde is a cut above. The performers are not just talented but highly dedicated and trained athletes. You could go for the laughs, the oohs and ahhs or the sheer awe of the dedication some put into their art.

Housed in walls of an era gone by, La Ronde is simply spectacular.