Topic > Kooza

Kooza by Cirque Du Soleil was first presented in 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the circus conglomerate Cirque du Soleil, the world's largest theater producer, was founded in 1983 as part of the celebrations of the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cariter's voyage. to Canada. Defining "nouveau cirque" by combining circus styles from around the world, animal-free thrills, non-stop live music, death-defying acrobatics, and its theatrical, character-driven approach, Cirque du Soleil expanded rapidly in the 1990s. 90 and 2000, going from one performed 19 shows in over 271 cities on every continent except Antarctica. Accessible, serious, yet undeniably skilled: these were Cirque's defining qualities. It has become a brand. A brand with myriad incarnations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As brands become larger, financially successful, and multi-faceted, extending their offerings while maintaining vitality and relevance without compromising their artistic integrity can be a challenge. Your humble narrator had the pleasure of see Cirque du Soleil productions in several locations. Recent ones especially have been hit and miss, especially when the shows were derived from the realm of traditional circus traditions: they have become bigger, flashier and, at times, excessive and acrobatically disappointing. “When in doubt, go back to basics” might be a well-worn and clichéd phrase, but it's certainly true for Cirque du Soleil's Kooza, which sees a return to the signature blue and yellow big top. Kooza reflects Cirque du Soleil's return to more traditional circus arts with clowning and acrobatics: inspired by the Sanskrit word "koza" - meaning box, chest or treasure, the name KOOZA was chosen because one of the concepts behind the production is the idea of ​​a "circus in a box" - fitting that Kooza begins with the Trickster being unleashed as a wind-up toy to kick off the proceedings. The return to the Grand Chapiteau creates an intimacy that is vital to grounding the Cirque du Soleil experience: the Kooza stage is designed to evoke a public square that transforms into a circus ring. The sightlines offer up to 280-degree views that serve as the platform for an international cast of 50 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors who present breathtaking performances and clowning with a live soundtrack that seamlessly blends jazz, funk 70s and Bollywood beats coming from a dominant traveling tower nicknamed "bataclan". of the Grand Chapiteau is always clearly visible and all aspects of the performance are transparent - the fact that no effort is made to disguise or hide the performances helps to focus attention on the artists and thus creates an environment in which the danger of . The comic-book aesthetic of the more than 175 intricate, custom-made costumes complements the scenic design with its attention to archetypes and universal characters, drawing from a wide variety of sources of inspiration: Gustav Klimt paintings, Indians and touches of Europe Eastern, Mad Max and time travel films intertwined with nods to the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. Kooza delivers on all levels with its ten acrobatic acts, which are complemented by smaller burlesque acts that develop the plot: Whether it's the house troupe creating Nutcracker-style human towers inspired by the Inuit game of "Blanket Toss", feats of stunning contortions creating scenes of sculptural beauty, an aerial hoop number, a pas de deux waltz on a unicycle, fencing and other acrobatics on a tightrope.