MOYA

About the Show

In the buzz of Cape Town, traditional gumboot dancers stomp their wellies to the ebullient beats of local pop music. Acrobats spring and soar through bustling township streets. A merchant juggles apples and an aerialist flies from the sheets of her washing line. Experience the big-hearted spirit of ubuntu with MOYA, a uniquely South African story, and come together for an invigorating circus extravaganza that shines with the vibrant humanity of the Rainbow Nation.

Things to Know

1. The word “ubuntu,” sometimes translated as “I am because we are,” is a spirit of shared humanity—we are all connected. As a social circus, Zip Zap is an embodiment of that spirit, using arts education to build community and empower young people.
2. Not only does MOYA feature show-stopping circus spectacles, but it also highlights traditional South African dance forms like gumboot and pantsula.
3. When the segregation of South African Apartheid ended, Archbishop Desmond Tutu coined the term “Rainbow Nation,” describing the country’s unique potential to embrace multiculturalism—a dream shared by President Nelson Mandela.

About the Artists

Established by Brent van Rensburg and Laurence Estève in 1992, Zip Zap Circus uses circus arts to bridge socio-economic gaps and create a lifelong sense of belonging for young people in and around Cape Town. Their nine youth and outreach programs offer kids community, new skills and improved self-esteem. The performers on stage in MOYA represent the most exceptionally talented graduates of these life-changing programs.