Cirque Du Soleil is famous for its stunning performances, inspiring its audiences with a magical feeling that anything is possible. Dralion, their latest program to tour in Moscow, is no exception.
Dralion is the Cirque du Soleil's 12th touring production. It started as a tour show under the grand chapiteau in 1999, but in 2010 it was converted to be suitable for arenas and began a tour of Eastern Europe in 2014. This region is somewhat appropriate for the themes of the show, as Dralion attempts to combine traditions and symbols of ancient cultures of the East and West, as the title of the show suggests, combining an Eastern dragon with a Western lion.
Dralion is a show about four elements — air, earth, water and fire. This strong concept makes audience feel the energy that vibrates with every movement and every sound of the show. The four elements come to life by assuming human forms, represented by the talented dancers and acrobats of the Cirque Du Soleil troupe, who come from all corners of the globe and further represent the mixing of East and West central to Dralion. The acrobats defy gravity in a graceful manner; the singers bring harmony to the restless elements. Every element of the show seems critical and completes the picture — the costumes bring the magical atmosphere of nature and Chinese culture with its gods and mythical creatures.
Numbers with difficult choreography create an atmosphere of tension and make every member of the audience root for the performers with bated breath. Acrobats, jumping through towers of hoops, which are sometimes spinning, keep viewers on the edge of their seats. An artist who manages to juggle while combining breakdancing and modern dance captivates with his flexibility and dexterity. A couple perform a memorable dance in silks. The philosophy of Dralion meets its physical expression in a most wonderful way: breaking through barriers, pushing the limits of the capability of human's body and creating very powerful performance.
Cirque Du Soleil combines traditions and mixed styles to build a completely new performance, with three Dralions dancing on the stage, acrobats walking on the walls and artists performing tricks with diabolos, trying to outperform each other. The show feels like a circus with its own soul, which contains a most enchanting storyline.
The world of Dralion attempts to mix cultures and unite the human and the natural world. Dralion is all about harmony, finding strength and making every piece of the show come together as one enchanting picture.
Dralion was performed at Luzhniki Stadium from March 6 to 16. while their current run of performances has already ended, the excellent response from Muscovites suggests a repeat tour may be in the works.
Contact the author at artsreporter@imedia.ru
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