HONG KONG—The spectacular Canadian equestrian show Cavalia opens its doors to the public in Hong Kong on Tuesday March 31. It has had such enormous advance demand at the box office selling 40,000 tickets that it has decided to extended its run in Hong Kong from April 26 to May 10 - adding a further 15 performances. There are Matinee and evening performances each day.
The show which is the brainchild of Founder and Artistic Director Normand Latourelle, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil was conceived and introduced 12 years ago, performs under a distinctively designed ‘big top’ using almost half the area for the display and with 2,000 banked seats in the remainder of the auditorium.
With 40 horses covering 11 breeds, riders in interesting costumes, an acrobatic troupe, trapezium artists, six musicians and a lighting extravaganza depicting various natural habitats, the show proceeds. In the 45 minute sneak peak preview we were treated to just a glimpse of the scenes from this 2 hour long performance.
Riderless liberty horses (Arabian and other breeds) obey every command of their trainer, riders perform agile tricks on fast moving horses, beautiful dressed aerial wire artists interact with ridden steeds, and trapeze artists glide over and above the set. Lighting displays producing colourful scenes and background music add to the atmosphere.
The show, known as an equestrian ballet, combines “the fundamental relationship that humans have developed with horses throughout time enabling us to build bridges between cultures, to expand civilisation and now to produce the purest form of art, one created through kindness, patience and love”, according to Cavalia.
A 60 metre-wide screen that forms the backdrop to the performing horses and many artists is a constantly changing digital background. The projected images are first hand-painted and then finalised by graphic designers. Cavalia states that “20 projectors as powerful as those illuminating the grandest movie theatres” are used.
The show village is located close to the waterfront of Central Hong Kong and has full facilities for stabling, showering, grooming and exercising the horses.
For further information and bookings, visit ‘Cavalia’ website: www.cavalia.com.hk
