Circus Abyssinia has an inspiring backstory: It was formed by two Ethiopian brothers, jugglers Binyam "Bichu" Tesfamariam and Mehari "Bibi" Tesfamariam, who became obsessed with the circus as children when they saw a Cirque du Soleil performance on TV. That was in the 1990s and there wasn't much of a circus tradition in their homeland at that time. So they ended up studying and launching their careers in the U.K. As they became more successful, they started sponsoring a circus school in Ethiopia, and that's where they found many of the immensely talented members of their company.

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The performance is a treat for ages 3 and up.

Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams starts quietly, as two young men (Ezra Nigusse ​Gebremariam and Alemayehu Mulugeta Degenet, stand-ins for the adolescent Bichu and Bibi) discover their love of circus with a juggling act. Within moments, they're joined by the 16-member cast, who dance exuberantly to "Abebayehosh," a traditional New Year's song given an updated arrangement by Ethiopian singer Teddy Afro. The first half of the show flies by—often literally, with gravity-defying acts like hand-vaulting, in which two performers form a base to toss a third performer into the air, and Icarian Games, in which Yabsera Alebachew, a young boy, is kicked into the air every which way by Sisay Abebe. (I don't know how the kid's parents don't have a heart attack watching!)

My daughter and I were particularly impressed by Semeret Getachew and Etsegenet Ashenafi, a pair of insanely bendy and presumably boneless contortionists, who slither on stage and then arrange themselves into seemingly impossible poses; Zenebech Kassa, a high-energy hula-hooper; and Abreham Mola the balance board guy, who not only teeters on rollers but also a basketball. Daniel Gezahegn Werku, a low-key clown, plucks a few people from the audience for a comic tightrope bit that earned a lot of laughs the night we attended.

The second act includes the mesmerizing Summer Lacy, an aerialist who climbs and wraps herself in chains instead of silks. It's striking both visually and aurally, as the metal hits the ground with a thunk as she drops down. We also marveled at the jaw-dropping number of clubs Bichu and Bibi juggle—more than a dozen. The Chinese pole finale features a half dozen acrobats running up and then hanging off a pair of poles. It's absolutely delightful, the perfect blend of skill and exuberance.

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Rub elbows with the cast after the show! Photo by Janet Bloom

In addition to being a fine time at the circus, the show gives audiences a taste of Ethiopian culture through its costumes, many of which spotlight the country's flag colors of green, yellow, and red, and its soundtrack, an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary songs from the country (some are quite catchy!). It moves briskly, so even though the suggested minimum age is 5, I think kids as young as 3 will be into it, plus you get an intermission to ply them with snacks. (Be sure to place your order with an usher before the show starts.)

The cast hangs in the downstairs lobby signing autographs and taking photos after many performances. It's wonderful to watch kids connect with these awesome performers. Maybe they'll be inspired to study circus arts too, the way Bichu and Bibi were so long ago. Thankfully, we have a lot of places where you can do that in NYC!

Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams is playing at the New Victory Theater through Sunday, December 30. Tickets are $22-$59.

Unless noted, photos by Che Chorley​