One curtain drops and another opens

Cirque du Soleil may have finished its run, but another international touring show will soon arrive in Docklands.

Cavalia will be setting up its Big Top in Docklands at the end of NewQuay Promenade in August.

Cavalia is a multi-disciplinary show that explores the longstanding relationship between humans and horses.

It’s founder and artistic director Normand Latourelle was previously a co-founder of the Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil.

Enjoyed by some 3.5 million people across North American and Europe, Cavalia is a lavish production involving 50 horses and featuring 42 riders, aerialists, acrobats, dancers and musicians from all over the world.

Cavalia celebrates the relationship between humans and horses, virtually reinventing the equestrian arts.

In Cavalia, horses cavort with the many artists in front of a constantly changing digital background projected onto a 60 metre-wide screen, drawing spectators into dream-like virtual environments.

Unlike traditional horse shows, Cavalia’s audience faces a single 50 metre-wide stage which allows the horses space to gallop at full speed, at times running completely free, unfettered by bridles or halters.

Cavalia takes place under a white, 2,440-square-metre big top, rising some 35 metres high that gives the horses an ample playground to perform with their trainers and artists.

Delightful, thrilling and poignant, Cavalia explores humankind’s longstanding relationship with the horse. Juxtaposed with the vibrancy of the production is a subtle thematic line that takes audiences through the evolution of horses and human’s interaction with them.

Cavalia’s horse training is based upon a philosophy of understanding horses, rather than making horses understand the humans around them. The tone of the show, embraced by the entire company, is one of mutual respect, kindness, patience, and trust.

Audiences have found Cavalia exhilarating in scope, yet touching in the compassion shown by both horse and human.

The show opens in Docklands on August 7 and runs until August 18.

For more information see http://www.cavalia.net/en