'Afrique en Cirque' to mix African arts, acrobatics Oct. 22 at Southern Theatre

Cirque Kalabanté is to present "Afrique en Cirque," on Oct. 22 at the Southern Theatre.
Cirque Kalabanté is to present "Afrique en Cirque," on Oct. 22 at the Southern Theatre.

Montreal-based troupe Cirque Kalabanté blends traditional African arts with North American modern circus performances in "Afrique en Cirque," coming Oct. 22 to the Southern Theatre.

Tickets start at $32 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the CBUSArts Ticket Center at the Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., by phone at 614-469-0939 and online at capa.com and cbusarts.com.

The family-friendly "Afrique en Cirque" was created by Kalabanté Productions founder Yamoussa Bangoura, who was inspired by daily life in his native Guinea.

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The colorful show shares the artistry of African culture with acrobats doing gravity-defying moves and forming human pyramids accompanied by live Afro-jazz, percussion and kora, a stringed instrument used widely across Africa.

Bangoura started Kalabanté Productions in 2007. The company began with shows in Quebec, expanded over the years to performing worldwide and opened its own studio and school in 2018.

bpaschal@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Cirque Kalabanté to bring Afrique en Cirque to Southern Theatre