Before the Show: I’m really excited. When I was little, my mother bought my sister tickets to Alegria, another Cirque Du Soliel show, and I was upset that I couldn’t go. They bought me the video to cheer me up and I loved it, but it wasn’t the same. To see the performers live, breathing, capable of making mistakes but performing perfectly anyways – that’s a fantastic experience. I’ll be seeing a show called Kooza, described on the website as…
An adrenaline rush
of acrobatics
in a zany kingdom.
Having never been to Cirque Du Soleil before, I’m more interested in taking in the experience of Cirque Du Soleil itself, and not for reviewing the particular show, Kooza.
Arrival: I’m late. I glance at the clock on the dashboard about once a second. The show starts at 7:30, it’s 7:10… 7:14… 7:22… I arrive at the Stampede grounds and run frantically towards… What? Where is the tent? I run passed the Coca-Cola Stage and see it – the blue and yellow striped big top. I read about it online, the infrastructure of the tent so big and complex it takes a team of 200 people eleven days to set up. I rush up and present my ticket, courtesy of Kids Up Front, and hurry in.
Kids Up Front is an amazing charity, with locations all across Canada, that provide tickets to events to kids, giving them the opportunity to see a show or sporting event they might not have seen otherwise. If you are interested in learning more about them and how you can help out, you can check out their website!
I’m just in time, eight years old again and filled with anticipation. A performer is onstage, entertaining the restless crowd.
The show begins: I’m stunned by the lighting effects; it makes the tent so magical to have twinkling, multi-coloured lights and fabulous spotlights play up all the action. After a somewhat slow beginning, the action starts and the show presents the “adrenaline rush” it boasts.
My favourite act: The contortionists. While they were other more visually thrilling acts, the contortionsists stunned me from the first second. Perhaps it’s because I’m a dancer and work on my own flexibility, but I was blown away by their capabilities. Towards the finale of their act, one contorionist literally walked around herself. It made me feel my body was capable of much more than I give it credit for.
The magic of a live show: During the tight-rope act, two tight-rope walkers would walk across a single line together, and one acrobat would flip over the first’s shoulders, landing on the rope in front. This looked incredibly difficult, and the first time, the performer slipped and fell. However, rather than spoiling the act, it improved it. The magic of a live show is the weight of reality – the possibility of failure… and then the ensuing rush of success. Feeling the crowd gasp when a dangerous act nearly goes astray increases your captivation the way a film never could. The performer that had fallen from the rope nimbly hoisted himself back up with a flourish; a move that, while unchoreographed, stunned the audience. When the tight-rope walkers attempted the stunt again and succeeded, it was all the more thrilling.
My least favourite act: The chair stacker – a man climbed on top of a chair, was passed another chair, and built it up. The tower ended up impressively high and the performer executed some beautiful one-handed hand stands at the top. Despite efforts to make the stacking speedy, I still found it slow-paced.
The music: I found myself trying to pinpoint the genre of the show several times, but failing. One of the first songs had an Eastern ring to it, but the next song was jazzy. One act even had a rock concert feel to it. The soundtrack to Kooza could definitely appeal to a wide range of people because of its variety. The live band was a real treat and really added to the performance.
- A Stunning Performance- Photo courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil
My favourite stunt: There was one act based on teeter tottters – two performers would jump on one end, and the acrobat at the other end would be propelled into the air, flipping and landing on their feet gracefully. Towards the end of this act, a performer on a single stilt, not a pair of stilts, was propelled into the air on the teeter totter, flipped, and landed it perfectly. I was in shock. It was fabulous.
Overall: I loved it. It felt so good to embrace childlike excitement. I’d recommend Cirque Du Soleil to anyone – especially dancers, actors, and any theatre enthusiasts, as the quality of the performance was excellent. Those interested in fashion and make-up would also appreciate the intricate costumes and painted faces. Once again I’d like to thanks Kids Up Front, as this was an amazing experience for me; I was really grateful for the opportunity.