October 24. Day 297. Roll up. Roll up.

What does a breakdancer do when breakdancing goes out of fashion?
Finding a new dance form might be a "normal" reaction, but Papa Africa AKA Winston Ruddle, decided or start a circus.
Inspired by a group of acrobats he saw in Zimbabwe, Ruddle began recruiting performers and started a circus school.
Among the first were trouble makers from the streets of Tanzania Omary and Fadhili, the freakishly talented strongmen from the Hakuna Matara Acrobats. 
For more than two years the troupe of 22 performers from six different African countries have toured Australia.
The Brisbane season, which opened at the Roundhouse Theatre at Kelvin Grove this week, will be the last stop before the gr
oup returns to Africa. Not only did the performers run away to join the circus but the circus ran away to tour Australia.
Australian audiences have been lapping it up including picking up five stars at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
It's a ringside look at some of the most extraordinary acrobats and dancers you will ever see.
No-one should be that flexible, strong, coordinated or graceful.
And yet all 22 are. This may not have the glitz and glamour of a Cirque Du Soleil but it has a vibrancy and fun that is uniquely African. PR spiels often lie, but when they describe this as The Lion King on steroids they nailed it.
While Winston Ruddle promises Cirque Africa will be back in Australia in a couple of years, it will be with a different show.
This circus will perform for the last time in Australia at The Roundhouse at Kelvin Grove on November 4. 
You can listen to our review here.