“I’m gonna tell you about my life. Real life.
When I was 15 my life was very different.
I lived in one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods of Cali, Colombia, known as 13-13.
And you just can’t imagine some of the things I’ve seen…
But my life changed when I discovered ***circus*** …”
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The scene is set there for Circolombia’s current stage show Urban: in the real (and challenging) lives of Circolombia artists growing up in urban Cali, Colombia.
It is being performed in these days at South Bank Piazza as part of the Brisbane Festival 2013.
Caleno Dance
Urban is like watching a gritty and raw Colombian stage version of the dance drama movies I love so much (from Shirley Temple to Flashdance to Street Dance). There is some cheesiness in all of them, but I love them anyway. I loved that Urban was full of dance (with some salsa flavours), and that it told real life stories.
Circo
On top of the dance this Circolombia stage movie has non-stop phenomenal acrobatic and circus acts by incredibly talented artists.
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La Musica
Urban also has live vocals & raps – with a backing soundtrack of music mixing mostly hip hop & reggaeton, some electronica and a tiny dash of salsa. I didn’t even mind the reggaeton music in Urban – the visual show was too amazing to care.
I’ve yapped about reggaeton a lot but never given a sample of it. 🙂 . Here’s one reggaeton track from the Urban SoundTrack…
‘Noche Adrenalina’ – Circolombia – Urban Soundtrack
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+ 1 non-reggaeton track…
‘Mano a Mano’ – Circolombia – Urban Soundtrack
Dance + Circus + Drama + Music. All of that (+ 1 more thing) for me made Urban a very cool show to watch from start to finish. I was either smiling for the dance; or my body was moved to move to the music; or I was on the edge of my seat making “wow’ and “oooohh” noises for the Circolombia artists performing their insanely great but risky pieces.
From the ground to the top along a rope yes
Visual Cali
The ‘1 more thing’ was the visual arts. For me they were an absolutely integral and beautiful part of the Urban experience.
The pre-show visuals took us on a journey of a Colombian boy travelling through the streets of Cali on the back of a collective bus.
Those moving images put me in the streets of Cali before the performers even graced the stage.
Screen visuals shown throughout the actual performance of Urban then kept me in the streets of Cali with the artists as they narrated real Caleno life through music, dance and circus.
“Cali es Cali”
Check out videos from the Urban show here…
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Circolombia bought urban Cali into Brisbane. Since ya all know by now how much I love Colombia, that made me extra happy. I could keep going back to see Urban again and again – the same as I can keep watching Flashdance over and over again 🙂 .
Urban is on in Brisbane until this Friday, 27 September. Get there if you can.
Supporting Arts for the Disadvantaged
All of the Urban artists were students of Circo Para Todas – a non-profit, professional circus school in Cali for disadvantaged Colombian youth. Circo Para Todas is currently running an important campaign to raise much needed funds to erect a new big top tent, install a floor and seating and run an opening show at the new venue. To learn more about the program and to make a donation, visit the site. Spread the word to all your friends!
