Montreal based Cirque du Soleil brings the final run of their long standing show Dralion to the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge, Dec. 17-21.
Dralion is what happens when east meets west and it comes together in one spectacular show featuring a variety of acts including several aerial acts incorporating hoops and cloth, balancing acts and several Chinese circus inspired acts including Dralions which is Chinese Lion and Dragon dances as interpreted by Cirque du Soleil, acrobats, juggling and reinterpretations of children’s games like jump rope and yo yo.
“ This is a circus, but it isn’t like an ordinary circus where somebody tells you what to watch for. It is a story,” described Marina Vorobyeva who has performed as a trampoline artist with Cirque Soleil for the past seven years and who has been playing the story’s main character Little Buddha for the past two years.
“It is the story abut the four elements water, air, earth and fire. It represents the communication between the four elements,” Vorobyeva continued, calling from the Cirque du Soleil’s stop in Kearney, Nebraska.
Each element is represented by its own evocative colour: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre. In the world of Dralion, cultures blend, Man and Nature are one and balance is achieved.
“ My favourite part is the trampoline act and not just because I’m part of it,” she said adding she is also enjoying playing Little Buddha who is described in Cirque Du Soleil’s promo material as the chosen child which while it possesses special powers that will allow it to eventually become an Âme-Force, it dreams of being just a regular child.
“ Little Buddha is the chosen child. She’s curious about everything. She enjoys learning about everything. I like actually being on the stage because I get to see what the other people on the stage are doing,” she said.
She has enjoyed touring the world with Cirque Du Soleil, but can’t choose a favourite memory.
“ It’s so hard to say. I can’t answer that question. Every city is something special,” she said.
She said to expect a great show.
“This is going to be a real show. This isn’t your traditional circus,” she emphasized.
The music combines Eastern and Western sounds incorporating sounds and melodies from India, Andalusia, Africa and Central and Western Europe.
The music is performed by a six person band who play it live every show.
The performers utilize a set that is 60 feet wide and 26 feet tall.
Cirque Du Soleil began back in 1984 and has since grown from 20 street performers to a 4,000 employee organization including 1,300 artists from almost 50 different countries.
“It is definitely what people expect from a Cirque Du Soleil performance,” she said.
“I hope it will put people in a nice place with nice emotions. Dralion has positive feelings,” she said.
“I just would like to say I hope people will come away with unforgettable memories and have a nice time at the show,” she said.
Dralion runs at the Enmax Centre at 7:30 p.m. December 17 -20 as well as at 4:30 p.m., Dec. 20 plus 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Dec. 21.
Tickets cost from $35 to $120 for adults; $28 to $103 for children and $31.50 to $76.50 for military, seniors & students.
