Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo makes for a surreal procession.
A universe of high-flying, ethereal circus wonderment. A carnival filled with acrobatic joy and passion, situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. This could only be the unpredictable yet amazing spectacle of Cirque du Soleil. The renowned company returns to Dallas and Fair Park with Corteo, one of its newest productions, for a February 9 through March 4 limited engagement.
You can instantly tell that the magical aura of Cirque du Soleil has descended upon the city when the Grand Chapiteau (French for ‘Big Top’) rises in the middle of Fair Park. This specially designed climate-controlled performance space seats more than 2,700 with a stage that runs down the middle to divide the audience in grand style. Fair Park has consistently been chosen as the preferred Cirque du Soleil locale because it is such a central, well-known destination. More than 500,000 people have seen the company’s previous shows, including Quidam (1998), Alegria (2003) and Varekai (2004).
Spontaneity and thrills abound in Corteo. “You will see the springboard, Korean frame and tightwire used more innovatively than ever before,” notes Reggie Lyons, Cirque du Soleil publicist. “For example, a young woman dances the tightwire using pointe shoes, a unicycle, multiple hoops and bare feet! The whole effect will surprise and move the audience.”
The story is quite festive, a procession (Corteo means ‘procession’ in Italian), imagined by a clown…very fitting for the Cirque du Soleil troupe. He sees his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, a playful mix of comedy, tragedy, strength, fragility, small and large. Quietly caring angels watch over the entire vision. “Is it a dream?” asks Miss Lyons. “Or all an illusion? Corteo is as theatrical and nostalgic as it gets.”
With 55 artists from 16 countries deftly working together to demonstrate extraordinary artistic and technical skills, Corteo will provoke the senses and be talked about fondly for years to come.
For more information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com or call 1-800-678-5440.
Photo credits - Marie-Reine Mattera©Cirque du Soleil, Inc., 2005 and Costume credits - Dominique Lemieux
