Circolombia: Circus to a Latin beat

By Frances Morton. Photographed by Rene Vaile

Rippling abs and fearless acrobatics supplant red noses and ringmasters in Urban, an explosive, exuberant circus straight from the streets of Colombia. The Circolombia troupe is made up of top grads from Circo Para Todos, a circus school for disadvantaged youth in Cali. Their real-life struggles with violence and poverty are played out on stage set to Latin rhythms and hip hop. Be enthralled and feel good too — 50 per cent of the profits go back to fund the school.

Urban: Circolombia, The Civic, March 13-17.