Our Cavalia Review
It started with a Q&A. How many horses are there in Cavalia’s stable? Raise your hands to “vote” for the right answer. I won’t tell you the answer, but the enthusiastic crowd wasn’t shy to raise their hands for the most likely ones.
If you’ve read our preview, Cavalia promised to be a magical performance, with graceful “bungee artistes” complementing bursts of immense power and technique by the dancers. Cavalia’s acts are a sequence of unrelated individual situations, woven around the singular idea of the respect between horse and man. There is singing, dancing, acrobatics, lasso tricks, and building of human pyramids – some of which are done on the horses!
The horses are truly majestic, with their trust and understanding of their riders a joy to behold. A few of them ran freely around the stage, giving us a glimpse into the nobility and grace in nature that we tend to forget, given the concrete jungle many of us know.
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the performance is the completeness of the audio-visual experience. The exhilaration the performers feel is contagious, transferring to the audience very well because of their extreme showmanship – they’re not afraid to solicit applause after particularly difficult stunts, creating a rapport between them and us.
The 60-meter wide screen serving as the backdrop of the show also features amazing animation, always complementing the current act. The musical score by Michel Cusson is played by a live band who need to think fast when the horses choose to move to their own beats.
(Source: Instagram) The band can be seen briefly throughout the acts – they’re in the “eye of Sauron” on the screen, but are hidden through most of the performance.
The Verdict
Billed as a circus act, I was surprised by the quality of music and comedy on show. The opening songstress’ voice was incredible, setting the standard for the entire performance; the physical comedy employed by the actors (exaggerated actions and all) was effective at getting the audience to laugh, enhancing the atmosphere. Cavalia merges fantasy and power into a night to remember.
Two things you’ll have to watch out for: when Troubadour the miniature horse gets his 10 seconds of fame in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo, and when the stage starts getting terraformed towards the grand finale.
My only complaint with the experience is a lack of legroom, but you won’t time to worry about that when all your attention is focused on the magnificent performances on stage.
Overheard: “I auditioned for a part in the show, but decided that running around in circles isn’t my thing” – A goofy member of the audience.
Getting There
You could take an MRT to Bayfront, then look for Cavalia’s signature white tents outside the exit beside Carnivore.
Location: Under the White Theatre Tent, Bayfront Avenue
When: August 12 – September 14, 2014
Tickets: Available at Cavalia or by calling +65 3158 6735, or at SISTIC.
Pricing : Available from S$58 to S$288 + applicable fees.
This post was brought to you by Cavalia.