But in one sentence, I have always described Cirque du Soleil as a troupe that has theatricalized, revolutionized, or reinvented, the circus. Audiences don t flock to Cirque du Soleil expecting to see a circus they come expecting to see a theatrical performance that transcends the boundaries of the imagination. In Dralion , the thirteenth show from Cirque du Soleil, East meets West in an Oriental-flavoured production complete with 54 artists from ten different countries, with a troupe of 35 Chinese acrobats. The word Dralion , of course, is made up of the words Dragon and Lion the words blended together, just as Cirque du Soleil decided to blend the traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances together in one of the show s outstanding acts. The actual show starts promptly at the set curtain time with a bare circular stage with large white sheets covering the rear.
Sparks fly, the sheets fall, and a futuristic-looking metal wall is revealed.
The stage is flooded with fog, and children with Chinese lanterns emerge from beneath the stage as urgent music fills the air. It s a surreal picture that immediately propels the audience into Dralion s dreamlike world complete with acrobats, mystical characters, and of course, the clowns who bring us back to reality throughout the course of the performance. Typical circus acts and Chinese circus traditions are mixed into the thrilling program of Dralion . Tumbling acrobats, wireless trapeze dancers and artists leaping on stilts perform on a relatively small stage within a few feet of the audience. And while he does what he s supposed to do, he doesn t just stand there and let the seven juggling balls fall only into his hands.