Mama Africa - Circus der Sinne

06.03.2012 20:00

Mama Africa Celebrates an Anniversary - Five Years 'Circus of the Senses'

For the fifth time, Mama Africa goes on tour in December 2011, and lined up for the anniversary programme are some of the best acts from the past four years as well as new sensations from Africa.

In the winter of 2011, the African circus Mama Africa goes on tour for the fifth time and will present a 'Best-of' programme with highlights from the past four years, complemented by various new and spectacular acts. The audience of Mama Africa's anniversary show can again expect colourful costumes, pulsating rhythms, fascinating acrobatics and a bubbling joy of life that no one can resist.

The 'Circus of the Senses' stands out by its enchanting diversity and incredible lightness. Mama Africa draws its particular character from a special mixture of traditional African circus, modern circus and show elements, impressive acrobatics, rousing live music and a choreography deeply rooted in the African culture, teamed with the incredible energy and joy-of-life of a whole continent that is considered the cradle of humanity.

The anniversary programme 2011/2012 again carries the audience off into the colourful, electrifying world of circus which, thanks to its protagonists, always remains natural, authentic and delightful. When the media reported on the last programme: "Wilder, more colourful and somehow more light-hearted than the European productions we are used to", this is not only praise for Mama Africa but, at the same time, a promise for the coming tour. Over 40 artists, every single one from the African continent, are staging a two hour show that encompasses a traditional circus performance at the highest possible level and a spectacular party. Each of the outstanding artists is a dancer, singer or musician - or maybe even everything together. Every act is in itself a highlight, and yet each is perfectly embedded in a fast-moving programme that becomes the synthesis of the arts called Mama Africa. Although the artists come from all parts of the African continent, yet, on stage, they fuse into a single family whose cheerfulness and passion immediately capture the audience.

With the coming tour, the audience can look forward once more to seeing the most beautiful and spectacular acts from the past four years, amongst them Mwangi Lazarus Gitu from Kenya, the 'world's most supple man' and the Ramadhani Brothers.

But there will also be new highlights during this fifth anniversary, which come straight from Mama Africa's school for artists, masterminded by Winston Ruddle. He used to be a street and circus artist himself before he opened his school in Dar Es Salaam and where he is now training promising African talent.

However, presenting only a part of African culture and making people happy for two hours is simply not enough for Mama Africa. Mama Africa's team wants to help in a more lasting way. This is why part of the income from the tickets sold during the forthcoming Mama Africa Tour will again go to development projects in Africa. In its anniversary year, Mama Africa is supporting a project that has its own anniversary in 2011 and that was a partner of Mama Africa already in 2008 and 2009: Karl-Heinz Böhm's Ethiopian aid project People for People which, in this year, can proudly look back on 30 years of history.

Performance: 06 March 2012
Performance: 8 p.m.
Location: stadthalle|graz