We were provided with tickets to review the show. All opinions represented are 100% mine and were not influenced by the promoters.
Travel to downtown Atlanta and you may see a familiar sight at Atlantic Station, the iconic Cirque du Soleil gold and white big top also known as the Grand Chapiteau. What’s playing this go round? Luiza! Cirque du Soleil’s newest show invites guests to dive into an imaginative journey to discover Mexico’s vibrant culture. Your senses will be awakened from the moment you enter the big top and are immersed in the atmosphere of Mexico.
As you take your seats, you will notice a giant circular object hanging in the background of this stage. Vibrant marigolds adorn the stage with colorful hummingbirds fluttering about. An oversized ornate metallic key captures your attention as it sits at the forefront.
The show begins with the sound of an airplane and a parachutist slowly free falling towards the stage. Landing in the field of marigolds, he is captivated by the metallic key and is unable to resist the urge. He begins to twist the key and is immediately transported on a sensual journey somewhere between dreams and reality. Every single act of this dynamic show reveals the vibrant culture of Mexico in a way that should not be missed.
Through a series of grand visual surprises and breathtaking acrobatic performances, LUZIA takes audiences on a surrealistic journey filled with wonders, playfulness and striking artistry. Smoothly passing from an old movie set to the ocean to a smoky dance hall or an arid desert, LUZIA cleverly brings to the stage multiple places, faces and sounds of Mexico taken from both tradition and modernity. Rich in awe-inspiring moments, LUZIA enchants by incorporating rain into acrobatic and artistic scenes – a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production. Here are some of my favorite acts from this show.
The Running Woman
Adorning the beautiful colors of the monarch butterfly, the running women takes guests on the annual migratory journey of the monarch butterfly from southern Canada to central Mexico.
Hoop Diving on the Treadmills
Hummingbirds showcase their amazing agility and speed as run on treadmills while jumping through hoops that are “a mere 75 centimeters (less than 30 inches) in diameter.”
Cyr Wheel and Trapeze
Two young women mesmerize audiences as they “dance on stage in large majestic hoops. Rolling among the quiotes (Agave plants), they are soon joined by a trapeze artist who performs a series of original figures, sometimes hanging only by one heel. The performance culminates in the rain.”
The Football Dance
No show about Mexico would not be complete if it did not have a connection to the sport of “futbol.” Watch as two people, a colorful man and woman, amaze the guests with their talents. Even when the rain begins to come down, they will not waiver from showcasing what they are capable of doing with the “futbol.”
Masts and Poles
Watch as acrobats dance among the peyotes on vertical poles. To be able to climb up and down these vertical poles and even criss-cross in the air while leaping from one pole to the other is truly a spectacular sight to see.
Aerial Straps
One of my favorites to see in person, the aerial straps performance is beautiful. “An artist representing a demigod of rain emerges from the pristine waters of a cenote recalling the naturally occurring sinkholes the Mayan believed were gateways to the afterlife. He performs a graceful aerial straps act, his hair whipping the surface of the water as he rotates on the straps in a circle just above the water. The artist interacts with a puppet resembling a life-size jaguar, an animal that has become a mythological figure of Mexican culture. The artist manages to gain the big cat’s trust in this tableau brimming with lyricism.”
“The music of LUZIA takes the audience on an incandescent journey to the heart of the show’s imaginary Mexico. The score whisks spectators away on a voyage of exploration that takes them from a traditional village to a desert by way of a tropical jungle, to the seaside and all the way to an alleyway in a bustling metropolis. For LUZIA, Composer Simon Carpentier wrote a hot, lively score with distinctive Latin American flavors. A little like the Running Woman – one of the emblematic characters in the show –, the music jumps playfully from style to style, from one rhythm to the next, from emotion to emotion, striding across landscapes as joyfully as across musical boundaries.”
FUN FACTS
• A total 115 people from 25 countries are part of the touring cast and crew of LUZIA.
• The 44 artists alone come from 19 different nationalities: Belarus, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France,
Guinea, Italy, Israel, Mexico, The Netherlands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Spain, Poland, Puerto Rico,
Russia and Venezuela.
• The Big Top seats more than 2,600 people.
• The entire site set-up takes 8 days. This includes installation of the Big Top, the entrance tent, the VIP tent
and the rehearsal spaces.
• The Big Top stands at 19 meters (62 feet) high and is 51 meters (167 feet) in diameter.
• The 4 steel masts stand at 25 meters (82 feet) tall each.
• 550 pegs are required to hold the big top fi rmly to 48,500 square feet of asphalt.
• The Big Top can withstand winds up to 120 km/h (75 mph).
• The light-coloured canvas helps counter the effects of the sun, thereby reducing energy consumption
and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
• LUZIA travels via 65 trailer trucks carrying close to 2,000 tons of equipment.
I have had the honor of attending a few Cirque du Soleil shows, and every single time I walk away being blown away and the pure genius of each show. The ability of the creators to creatively tell a story and the unbelievable talents of the artists leaves guests wanting more. If you are looking for something to do with your family or even your significant other, do not miss the opportunity to be whisked away to the beauty and splendor of Mexico with Cirque du Soleil’s Luzia.
Want to know more about these artists? Discover the unique stories, talent and passions of 14 selected cast members of LUZIA through a series of 10 lighthearted webisodes: http://cirk.me/LuziaSelf.
LUZIA is performed nightly Tuesday – Saturday at 8:00 PM now through November 19. Friday and Saturday also include matinees at 4:30 PM, Sundays at 1:30 and 5:00 PM. The show is dark on Mondays and select Tuesdays. With tickets starting at just $35, you and your guests are may walk away thinking of when you can plan your trip to Mexico or at the very least return to see Luzia to embark on that waking dream of Mexico once again!
Facebook: @LUZIAbyCirqueduSoleil
Twitter: @cirque
Instagram: @cirquedusoleil
Website: www.cirquedusoleil.com/luzia
