Seattle International Children's Festival: A world of diversity in our backyard

This is not an act you're likely to see under a big top, but it gets children oohing and giggling nonetheless.

It consists of a muscular young acrobat with fuchsia hair performing a handstand while reciting such tongue-twisters as "She sells seashells by the seashore" and attempting to remove his underpants without taking off his trousers.

That's the handiwork of Australia's cheeky circus troupe Circa. And Monday at Bagley Wright Theatre, an all-ages audience got a few tidbits of Circa's show, along with samplings of some of the puppetry, dance and music featured in this year's Seattle International Children's Festival.

The children's fest continues through the week, with weekday shows; a special "family day" event and hands-on arts activities on Saturday; evening events throughout the week; and a roster of performances in Tacoma on Monday.

The opening-night crowd was treated to quickie turns by four of the nearly 20 troupes taking part in the global fest. The Bagley Wright sneak peeks demonstrated the diversity of the fest's offerings.

Circa, making its first appearances in the U.S., is a low-tech company with a fun gimmick: cramming many one-minute acts of juggling, tumbling, rope-whirling and the like into a very short time frame, and tossing in plenty of humor.

Another artist making a U.S. debut is Japanese puppeteer Jo Taira. Taira's act is rather campy: He darts around the stage introducing us to a seemingly endless array of colorful rod puppets, to the sounds of the jazzy Duke Ellington version of "The Nutcracker Suite." It's not the slickest bit, but the tiny tots should love it.

Also previewing her longer show was the tall, elegant flamenco dancer Savannah Fuentes, a Seattleite who studied in Spain and performs flamenco in a classical style with a singer and guitarist.

Last, but best, were the Amazones, the kind of act that reminds you what a special niche SICF has filled in our arts scene during its 22-year run. This bracing crew of female (and one male) drummers hails from Guinea. And they rocked the crowd with their powerhouse West African percussion, vigorous dance moves and beaming faces. What a great way to introduce children to a faraway indigenous culture. That goes for adults, too.

Also taking part in this year's festival are performers from Israel, Germany, Italy, England and Colombia.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com