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| Horses are stabled in their own quarters under these large tents. Situated to the side of the main show tent, the performers also live on site until it's time to move to the next city. Normand credits his trip to DIA some years back as inspiration for his choice to use these festive white tents. |
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You can see the flags from the highway. They give an impression of a castle.
The program takes the audience through time... from our first relationship with the horse as hunting partner with cave drawings, to entertainment - with a massive Coliseum backdrop, to medieval pageantry, the western working horse, jumping.... all with the theme of horse play using a handkerchief as the common thread... There are arial trapeze artists, gymnasts.... it's fast-paced and colorful and the music is almost techno opera at times, rock at other times perfectly fitting to the scenes unfolding before our eyes. |
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| One of the Entrance Gates. We entered through this one, of course. |
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| on the way in... |
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| After the preview, anyone who wished could mingle with the horses and performers. Shown here in a red costume is a trick rider, one of only 2 Americans in the show. She has been with Cavalia since January. Typically performers stay for 2-3 years at minimum. |
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The colorful cast, producer, musicians and crew.
The costumes, music, scenery, lighting.... it is all spellbinding.... absolutely fantastic scenery that changes quickly from fall leaves, to snow, to forests.... You can see the strong influence of Cirque du Soleil. |
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| Riders typically have one horse for their duration with Cavalia so that the horse rider bond is deep. Usually most horses stay about 4 years, only one is over 16. There are two 4 and 5 year olds in training at this show... you can kinda spot which ones they are in the "free" performance because they are fresh, throwing in some bucks, really playful. |
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| The horses were social with the audience after the show. They seemed content and relaxed. The performers told us that they travel so well, there are rarely any problems. Always with them is their vet tech, seamstress and farrier, just in case. This performer said a few days ago in practice, while hanging over the horses tail, upside down, at a gallop, the straps that held her legs to the saddle failed. She tumbled off behind the horse and tore her costume. When we looked alarmed she said, "oh, no worries, it was sewn back together before the next performance." Made me laugh because we were worried about her well-being not the costume! |
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| This woman does natural horsemanship with nine horses freely running loose. It was my favorite part of the show because she gets them to move in unison using just her voice and body language to a stunning backdrop in perfect rhythm to the live instrumental. She is shown here with a stallion. Notice he is free of any tack, compliantly standing as she braids and talks with us. |
Here she speaks about the bond between horse and human and how the needs of the horse always come first.
I heard they just extended the show for an additional week. I saw Cheval Theatre and this blows that program away. Heading back to the tent on Saturday for the full show. Can't wait!
