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Amazing Acrobatics

Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion doesn't disappoint
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The handbalancer will astound you with her displays of strength and precision.

When nature is at an imbalance, there’s tension, intensity and awe inspiring displays of strength and  power. When it’s in balance, beauty, love, passion and harmony overwhelm the senses.

Cirque du Soleil will blow you away with Dralion, their show where the four elements that govern the natural order — earth, fire, water and air — take on human form and work to restore the harmony between humans and nature.

This intensely stimulating and colourful show is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears with stunning costumes and an original score performed by live musicians and two vocalists that will hypnotize you with their world beats.

East meets West in Dralion, with traditional Chinese acrobatics like the balancing of massive bamboo poles and hoop diving, where acrobats leap, flip and spring through tiny wooden hoops.

The Dralion itself; a mythical creature that is a cross between the Dragon (east) and the Lion (west), makes an appearance with a reimagination of traditional lion and dragon dancing, energetic tumbling and incredible balancing acts on top of huge wooden balls. At one point in the act, there are five performers balancing ever so carefully on top of one ball. It was amazing, but not as amazing as what else this circus had in store.

The trampoline artists stole the show with their amazing displays of strength, athleticism and courage. Perched on tiny platforms jutting out of the 26-foot wall that makes up the backdrop for the stage, six athletes-turned-artists will leap, twist and tumble onto two huge trampolines, only to land back where they started, perched on the wall. Watch as they jump higher and higher to the point where they can land on top of the wall.

The rope jumpers will take the familiar game we all played as children and take it to new extremes, building a 10-person pyramid and managing to somehow jump rope in unison.

The arial hoop and the arial pax a deux will amaze with their displays of spirit and bravery, hanging more than 30 feet in the air with no harnesses.

You’ll wonder how the handbalancer manages to hold on to the tiny platform as she jostles her weight around, shifting her legs over her head in impressive displays of strength, flexibility and control.

Even though there are acrobats, clowns and freaks of nature, this is no ordinary circus. The attention to detail with the set, costumes and music, the precision of the performance and the imagination of the creators makes Dralion a show not to be missed. It is a family affair, and no matter what your age, you’ll be blown away by what humans can do.  M