Founded by African circus star Yamoussa Bangoura, who has performed worldwide, including with Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Eloize, Cirque Kalabanté is a dazzling spectacle inspired by daily life in Guinea, showcasing the beauty, youth and artistry of African culture. A colorful show beyond its scenery, costumes and staging, it vibrates with energy, strength, agility and joy. The troupe’s acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids accompanied by the contemporary sounds of live Afro-Jazz, percussion, and kora for an unforgettable journey.

Circus founder Yamoussa first became interested in circus arts as a young man growing up in Conakry, Guinea, in the 1990s. He studied the circus performers he saw on European TV and practiced on the beach and dirt around his home. He also studied the Nyamakala tradition of circus practiced by the Fula people of West Africa. He eventually joined Guinea’s original circus company Circus Baobab with whom he toured Africa and Europe.

In the early 2000s, Yamoussa was recruited to Canada by Cirque Eloize, a Montreal-based company. While in Canada, Yamoussa also performed with Cirque du Soleil and Cavalia (cirque with horses). In 2007, Yamoussa realized his dream and opened his own company, Kalabanté Productions in Montreal. He recruited many of his extended family to join the company, including his twin sisters, brothers, and cousins, whose exuberant hyber-athleticism draws gasps of disbelief and thunderous applause from audiences of all ages.

Bringing big city talent to Vermont’s small towns, the KCP Presents Performing Arts Series has scheduled 11 professional touring acts through spring of 2026, including dance, circus, comedy, and music from around the world. Tickets for KCP Presents 2025-26 shows, including early bird discounts, are on sale now. Student admission is free to St. Johnsbury Academy and Lyndon Institute shows, including Cirque Kalabanté, on February 15th.

The KCP Presents Series is produced by Catamount Arts working in association with Kingdom County Productions and supported by generous local sponsors including The Autosaver Group, Community National Bank, Lyndon Institute, Northern Counties Healthcare, EastRise Credit Union, NVRH, Passumpsic Bank, St. Johnsbury Academy, Seven Days, The Point, NHPR, WYKR/Yankee Broadcasting, Green Mountain Broadcasters, Vermont Public, and Seven Days, with grant funding from the Vermont Arts Council.