Cirque du Soleil: Luzia On Tour
Subtitled "A Waking Dream of Mexico," Luzia is the latest incarnation of Cirque du Soleil's world-renowned traveling roadshow, a full sensory experience of exquisitely choreographed circus arts that celebrates the people, culture, and landscape of Mexico. The show features a cast of 44 performers from 15 different countries — clowns, contortionists, singers, dancers, musicians, jugglers, acrobats, and other acts too unique to fall under traditional circus categories. And it all comes together under Cirque du Soleil's enormous, elaborate big top and is embellished by extravagant costumes, audio and visual effects, and a nonstop original score. Luzia is a spectacle all its own, one that captures the flavor of Mexican tradition in the way only Cirque can.
The name Luzia combines two Spanish words, "luz" (light) and "lluvia" (rain). Both elements come together in the form of a torrential rainstorm that occurs under the tent during the performance and acts as a backdrop for animated digital projections. Among Luzia's 14 acts are a very tall and rather deadly-looking 360-degree swing, a delirious segment involving acrobats juggling soccer balls like World Cup MVPs, a trio of hilarious dancing cactuses, and a solo contortionist who gives new meaning to the word "mind-bending." If you've seen Cirque before, your expectations will be surpassed. If you haven't, you're about to learn just how gravity-defying and impressive circus arts can be.
With thousands of performances and 38 different themed shows under its belt, Cirque du Soleil was started in Montreal in 1984 by a pair of street performers as a showcase of contemporary circus, focusing on feats of human strength, skill, and dexterity rather than performing animals. It has since grown to be the largest theatrical group in the world, with residencies in Las Vegas, Mexico, and Japan, and more than 10 concurrent worldwide tours. It employs thousands of performers, choreographers, artisans, artists, and craftspeople, propelling a traditional art form into the modern world and beyond. The show is an artful, playful merging of classic performing arts and cutting-edge technology that's suitable for all ages. There is truly nothing else like it on earth.