New Cirque show tours North America

The Theme According to the Chinese calendar, 1999 is the year of the rabbit. But for Cirque du Soleil, this is the year of Dralion, a production in which East meets West. The show’s name is drawn from its two main symbols — the dragon, representing the East, and the lion, representing the West. Dralion pays homage to the elements and derives much of its inspiration from Eastern philosophy, with its perpetual quest for harmony between man and nature. Dralion invites the spectator to embark upon a fabulous journey through an extraordinary universe — a timeless and allegorical place, ruled by magical laws.

Dralion features 54 artists from ten different countries (Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Italy, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States), including a house troupe of 35 Chinese acrobats. The multi-talented performers present a variety of high-calibre acts: springboard, ballet on lights, hoops, bamboo poles, juggling, teeterboard ,double trapeze and skipping ropes. All acts were specially created for Dralion.
Clowns — without whom no circus is complete — appear throughout the show, adding more than a touch of madness.

The Set
The breathtaking futuristic set is an immense technological sculpture whose every component serves as an accessory to the acrobats throughout the show. One of these components, hanging close to the dome of the big top, is an aluminum structure made up of three rings, each of which has a particular function. One ring, called "the sun", serves as an acrobatic apparatus, another as a catwalk, while the third is used for technical purposes and houses an enormous lantern. The metal wall acts as backdrop and orchestra pit, in addition to being used by the artists during the performance.


The Costumes
The costumes, created exclusively for Dralion, are in four colours, representing the elements: blue for the air, green for water, red for fire and ochre for earth.

The Music
Dralion’s soundtrack is an inspired fusion of sounds from East and West, acoustic and electric, with rhythmic and lyrical motifs. The influences range from Indian melodies to the sound of instruments from Andalusia, Africa, Central Europe and the West.
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Dralion 1999-2001 North American Tour

Santa Monica, from September 23 1999
Orange County (Irvine, CA), from December 2nd 1999
San Francisco Bay Area, CA, Winter 2000
San Jose, Spring 2000
Denver, Summer 2000
Minneapolis/St-Paul, Summer 2000
Dallas/Fort Worth, Fall 2000
Houston, Fall 2000
Atlanta, Winter 2001
New York, Spring 2001
Boston, Summer 2001
Chicago, Summer 2001
Washington, D.C., Fall 2001
Miami, Fall 2001
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Mark