Montreal acrobat group GBA backflips their way into semi-finals on Canada’s Got Talent
Posted May 1, 2023 9:02 pm.
Last Updated May 2, 2023 1:20 am.
Montreal’s Ground Base Acrobats, GBA for short, have landed in the semi-finals of Canada’s Got Talent with their sky-high flips and jaw-dropping stunts. Originally from Guinea, West Africa, the group trains at least 6 hours a day for the semi-finals. But to them, winning has a bigger significance. It means showing the world that dance and acrobatics can be more than just a hobby.
“Our country, dance is like our culture,” said Sekou Camara, one of the four members of GBA. Camara said that growing up in Guinea, dancing was associated with happy memories and celebrating joyous occasions like marriages and the arrival of a newborn baby. “When [mothers] have good news, we’re going to dance.”
Camara and Mohamed “Momo” Conte, the youngest member of GBA, wanted to make a career out of dance and acrobatics, but they were met with a lot of resistance, particularly from their parents who were not supportive of their career choice.
“They are scared,” said Camara on how his parents felt about him wanting to move to Canada to become an acrobat. “‘You guys don’t have school, you guys don’t have a coach. If you guys break yourself there, we don’t have money to take care of you.'”
Both were kicked out from home for pursuing their passion. However, a friend of Camara’s older brother wanted to help fulfill his dream. The friend brought Camara to Matam, a commune in Guinea, where he met Momo.
At the age of 12, Conte dropped out of school to become an acrobat as well. Both would recount the times they trained intensely, even performing their stunts blindfolded, at the beaches in their home country.
Montreal’s Ground Base Acrobats’ Sekou Camara (down) and Mohamed “Momo” Conte performing a duo stunt. (Photo Credit: Diona Macalinga/CityNews)
“I do acrobatic stuff everyday, training with the guys,” Conte said. “One day, the company Cavalia came to Africa to audition us.”
Despite many adversities, the group took a leap of faith and auditioned for one of the largest Canadian entertainment companies Cavalia. After getting the job, the rest was history for GBA, having now performed for Cirque Éloize and the largest contemporary circus in the world, Cirque du Soleil.
“This is like really big for us because back in our country, we were just sitting watching TV and then we would say, ‘oh my God, yeah, they have magic,'” said Camara, remembering the times he’d watch Cavalia long before he started performing for their shows.
“Whatever you guys want to do that you like, if you know it is a good thing, please keep going,” he added. “Your dream is going to come true.”
GBA are now competing at the semi-finals on Canada’s Got Talent and are ready to show the nation the new stunts they got in stock.
To see more of GBA’s high-flying act, viewers can watch Canada’s Got Talent semi-finals on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Citytv.
