Cavalia trots into Docklands

By Bethany Williams

I feel uneasy about the idea of animals being trained to perform for human entertainment. There’s something about it that just doesn’t sit right with me.

Nowadays performance animals are generally well cared for and treated with respect. But ultimately their performance is engineered so that their owners can make money, and sometimes quite a lot of it.

So it was with a slightly guilty conscience that I headed off to the opening night of Cavalia in Docklands last month.

The show is touted as a “magical encounter between humans and horses” and at the centre of its philosophy is the idea that horses are the “heart and soul” of every show.

Cavalia is the creation of Normand Latourelle, who co-founded Cirque du Soleil.

So, despite my inner turmoil about whether or not the horses actually wanted to perform for me and the other 2000-odd audience members, I went along with high-hopes of a spectacular display. I wasn’t disappointed.

Cavalia combines amazing (but not always perfect) acrobatics and jaw-dropping trick riding, bareback riding and dressage with stunning multimedia, special effects and live music.

Visually, the show is beautiful (although, I’m sure we all could have gone without the projection of a mare giving birth before the curtains were raised. If I wanted to see that I would have stayed home and watched a David Attenborough documentary).  

The sets and multimedia effects transform the 50 metre-wide stage from season to season, from a forest to the wild west.

But of course that’s all secondary to the cast of 48 horses, ranging from a tiny miniature stallion to an enormous percheron, who are clearly the stars of the show.

Cavalia highlights the grace, strength and intelligence of these beautiful creatures.

And it’s apparent from the first act that the show is all about respecting its equine stars.

The trust and affection between the riders and horses was immediately evident.

The trainers and riders had such a strong bond with the horses that they could sense when a horse is resisting the choreographed routine and didn’t try to force them.

Although the routines of dressage and trick-riding were astonishing, I preferred to see the horses run free, taking full advantage of the 50-metre stage, unfettered by saddles and bridles.

As beautiful as it was to watch, it did once again give me cause to stop and think. Wouldn’t the horses rather be running out in the open, not restricted to a 50-metre stage in a crowded, noisy (and somewhat stuffy) tent?

Alas, the show must go on.

Cavalia has been touring the globe since 2003 (albeit with a changing cast of human and horse performers) and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Cavalia is showing under the big top in Docklands until August 18, before it heads to Adelaide and then Perth.

For more information and to purchase tickets see http://www.cavalia.net