Cirque Zuma Zuma coming to Glen Ellyn

Cirque Zuma Zuma, known as the "ultimate African circus," comes to Glen Ellyn this weekend.

The 90-minute show combines the mysticism of Africa with the excitement of a theatrical cirque performance at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The show is recommended for all ages.

A 2011 finalist on Season 6 of NBC's "America's Got Talent," Cirque Zuma Zuma wows audiences with a wide range of African performing arts including live music, aerial and pole acts, Egyptian limbo and South African gumboot dancers, Gabonese tumblers, South African contortionists, acrobatics, foot juggling, comedy and more in a production marked with colorful costumes and dramatic lighting. The group presents more than 150 performances annually.

The tradition of dance and acrobatics in Africa goes back more than 2,500 years, and the members of African Acrobats International Academy uphold this tradition through their training, artistry and performances. The organization was founded in East Africa as a private school with a goal of providing entertainment to the tourist hotels in Africa. Cirque Zuma Zuma was established about a decade later, in late 2005, as a touring arm of the company with a mission of teaching the world about African cultures. The academy now has training schools in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya and Las Vegas, creating a pool of more than 100 performers.

Tickets are $51 for VIP, $46 for adults and $36 for youth 18 and younger. For information, call (630) 942-4000 or visit atthemac.org.