Photo by Lynn Glazer
If you’re running those last minute Christmas errands near
the IKEA in Burbank, California, you’ll see a new structure in the skyline. No
that giant white tent isn’t a Christmas tree lot on steroids. It is soon to be
the home of the biggest touring show in the world, “Cavalia.”
At a recent rain-soaked press conference to commemorate the
tent raising, the “Cirque du Soleil”-on-horseback fantasy’s creator Normand
Latourelle explained just how a big a structure they’re erecting. “If you can
envision a circus tent usually the middle part of the tent is the highest
point. And here the lowest point is the middle because this is like four tents
connected together… The tent peak is at 100 feet and we'll be welcoming 2,000
guests.”
A very big top for an enormous show. “Cavalia” employs over
100 people on a permanent basis and supplements their crews with 200 local
hires. The cast features over 40 artists, acrobats, dancers, musicians and
riders from around the world. Forty-five horses from 12 different breeds make
the scene each night. French-Canadian artistic director Latourelle explained
why so many types of horses were incorporated in the production, “Human[s] for
the last couple of million year[s] have transformed the horse. So they have
created different breed[s] for different purpose. So because in this show you
get to see a lot of horse riding technique... You get to see bare back riding,
trick riding, you get to see a lot of liberty, you get to see jumping... so we
have different breed[s] for different purpose.”
One consistent factor with all the horses — there isn’t a
girl among them. Latourelle continued, “All the horses we have are males and
half of them are stallions... You understand with so many stallions we don't
have mares. No[t] one. It's like a monastery. We keep them quiet.”
This isn’t a case of sexual discrimination, the males, he
told us, just happen to give him the type of performance he’s looking for. “We
like the stallions because they are more animated. They are very proud animal[s].
They are always in playful mode... Because half of the show the horse are
totally free on stage, we like them to express themselves. Sometimes they
disobey and I like that. This is the moment I prefer. When they're stubborn and
say, 'No, I'm not doing that.' And that's a way for me to welcome the nature on
stage because this show is a lot about nature.”
But “Cavalia” is also about heart. And that is why they have
partnered with the Larry King Cardiac Foundation for a special event on January
20, 2011. Proceeds from ticket sales that night will go to the now-former CNN
host’s charity. Larry King, Jr. was on hand at the tent raising to carry forth
the organization’s mission, “My father started the Larry King Cardiac
Foundation 23 years ago... He had quintuple bypass surgery and he's still doing
great at 77. And what the foundation does is for people who do not have health
insurance or don't have the money to pay for cardiac care that's what we do. We
fund individual patient surgeries so the money.”
That’s why Latourelle feels “Cavalia” is the perfect fit for
the foundation. He remarked, “’Cavalia’ is about love... and when you witness
the show you see love between the people because that's the message I like to
carry around. It's a love message... And it's also a love affair between the
people and the horses. And love it's all about the heart from my point of view.
And without the heart you don't get love. And the cardiac foundation is there
to support the real heart.”
Unfortunately Larry King couldn’t make the tent raising last week. The event took place the morning after his final CNN show aired. And as King, Jr. addressed the crowd on the rainy Burbank morning, he said, “I think the heavens are crying today for my dad not being on CNN anymore. But we did have a great time last night with him. Sorry he couldn't be here but the Governor announced that today's Larry King day in Los Angeles so he had to do that and couldn't make this one.”
Larry Sr. will make it to the big top on the 20th. His son
clarified, “My father will be here. He will not go on a horse. I don't think
he's gonna do that. He did that once with Ted Turner for about a minute and a
half and that was it. But he will be part of the event and my brothers and his
wife, everybody will be here.”
That’s okay. A local luminary was more than happy to throw
her hat in the ring. Governor Anja Reinke chimed in, “Unlike Larry King, I will
go on a horse.” That sounds like a show not to be missed.
“Cavalia” opens on January 19, 2011 at 777 North Front
Street in Burbank, California. Ticket prices range from $69 to $139 for regular
seats. Customized packages including a tour of the “Cavalia” stables or a
cocktail dinner reception before the show range from $159 to $219 per person.
For additional information or to purchase tickets visit the “Cavalia” website
or call 1-866-999-8111.
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