Witness Amazing Performance of Cirque du Soleil in Varekai

The world’s renowned Canada-based circus, the Cirque du Soleil (Circus of the Sun), has invaded the Philippines for another heart stopping and death defying dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment show dubbed as “Varekai”. In Romany language of the gypsies (the universal wanderers), Varekai means “wherever”. Circque du Soleil will be shown in a giant blue and yellow 66 feet and 167 feet in diameter, high tent called Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) starting June 22, 2011 until July 24, 2011. The canvas for the tent, and its 11 tunnels, weighs more than 5,227 kilograms. It is entirely climate-controlled and self-powered with generators. It stands at the Quirino Grandstand for a wider space and can accommodate more than 2,600 people. The place is not too big yet not too small, seeing the performers and their props far from the stage is not a problem and steiner binoculars are not a necessity anymore. =)

Varekai is written and directed by Dominique Champagne and brought in the Philippines by Hoopla, Inc. in cooperation with Manila Hotel and Banco De Oro together with Sun Life Financial.

Gone are those days where Filipinos have to travel abroad like in Macau, Hong Kong or Singapore just to witness grand productions like Varekai. Circque du Soleil’s Varekai has been traveling all over the world (North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe) for nine years now. Finally, Varekai reached Asia starting with Taiwan in January and now, they’re here in the Philippines to let the Filipino people and other neighboring countries experience the magical world of “Varekai”.

Here’s a little background about Varekai:

Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world where something else is possible. A world called Varekai. The sky lets go a solitary young man, Icarus, and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world imbued with fantastical creatures, a young man takes flight in an adventure both absurd and extraordinary. On this day at the edge of time, in this place of pure and undiluted possibility, begins an inspired incantation to a life rediscovered and to a newly found wonder in the mysteries of the world and the mind.

This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to those who quest with infinite passion along the path that leads to Varekai. Varekai emerges from an explosive fusion of drama and acrobatics. The impossible becomes possible in stunning displays of skill and power set against innovative music and otherworldly sets, interwoven with vivid choreography that speaks to all in the universal language of movement. The pendulum of time sweeps backward, paying tribute to the ancient and rare circus traditions of Icarian games, water meteors and Georgian dance. Varekai then catapults to the future with revolutionary twists on such acts as Russian swings, slippery surface and triple trapeze.

Varekai is consisted of 13 breathtaking acts and one comedy act, performed by professional artists from all over the world. Varekai is composed of 130 people from its casts and crew coming from 25 countries, which are Canada, USA, Russia, Australia, Spain, China, Italy, Ukraine, UK, Brazil, Germany, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, France, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Argentina, Belgium, Hungary, Mexico, New Zealand, Serbia, Sweden and South Africa. The two-hour show are consisted of Aerial Hoop, Aerial Straps, Clown Acts, The Flight of Icarus, The Georgian Dance, Hand Balancing on Canes, Icarian Games,  Lightbulb, Russian Swings, Slippery Surface, Solo on Crutches, Triple Trapeze and Water Meteors.

Being privileged to be one of the media audiences last night for the advance performance of this once-in-a-lifetime act, I was very lucky to witness the heart stopping stunts that each act delivered. I even screamed for a stunt done during the Russian Swings and mesmerized by the performance of the Aerial Straps. I really can’t believe how these artists can execute those unbelievable stunts that really stretched human imagination. For two hours, I forgot the real world and I felt like I was driven into the mystical world of Varekai. Yes, that’s how great the performers are!

I guarantee you, you will be truly awed by their performances and you will consider yourself very lucky to witness this one-of-a-kind, outstanding show. You better see it for yourself. What even made the show exceptional and really world-class is the7-piece band, composed of bandleader/keyboards player, a second keyboard player, drummer, percussionist, bassist, violinist and a wind instruments player, plus 2 singers—one male (The Patriarch) and one female (The Muse), performing live enchanting music during each the acts.

Don’t let this once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness Cirque du Soleil and their Varekai performance pass. It’s truly amazing!

Tickets are available at www.hoopla.ph or www.cirquedusoleil.com. For inquiries, call 775-0939, 881-0947, 0919-4508125 and 0917-4436463.

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