Canada’s internationally renowned Cirque du Soleil will arrive in Kamloops from December 24 to 28 to perform their Asian-infused production, Dralion.
The show’s name is derived from the dragon, symbolizing Eastern culture, and the lion, symbolizing the west.
Julie Desmarais, touring publicist for Dralion, said Sun Peaks residents would be delighted by the high-energy show, which blends the 3,000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatics with the theatricality of Cirque du Soleil.
“It’s an amazing show for the entire family, featuring world-class performers, traditional Chinese acrobatics, colourful costumes to represent each element, and a lot of energy,” Desmarais said.
Dralion features 52 world-class performers, half of which are from the Chinese province of Shandong.
“They are a very dynamic troupe. When Dralion was first created, it was envisioned as a way to bring the different, technical aspects of Chinese acrobatics into the world of Cirque du Soleil,” Desmarais said.
Unique acts including Chinese hoop diving, acrobatic bamboo pole balancing, and the Dralion act, featuring balancing, tumbling and dancing.
Desmarais said a great deal of work goes into preparing a show such as Dralion. Around nine months of pre-production to design sets, costumes, and choreography, before rehearsals even start.
A 100 strong crew is also required to deal with the behind the scenes running of the show, including lighting, make-up, set-up, and a road crew. Desmarais said up to 80 local workers will also assist with the set-up and tear-down of the Dralion set in the Interior Savings Centre. “It takes about 12 hours to build the stage and get it ready in each town, and another four hours to pack up afterwards.”
Dralion was created in 1999, but underwent significant changes in 2010 to make it more suitable for a large arena audience.
There will be seven showings of Dralion, including evening shows and matinee performances.
For full details and tickets visit the Cirque du Soleil website.
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