Cirque Éloize was in the forefront of the renewal of circus arts. They have been combining circus arts with theater, dance, music, and magic since 1993, and for only one more night, February 10, 2011, they’ll be performing at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ. If you have seen previous Cirque Éloize performances like I have, be prepared for the unusual, because this is nothing like what they’ve done in the past. I took my family to see Nebbia at McCarter two years ago, and below is what we experienced.
Cirque Éloize, a Montréal-based company, knows how to keep things fresh and relevant to pop culture with iD, mixing elements of hip-hop with acrobatics, juggling, biking, contortionism, and more. It’s set in an urban scene against a backdrop of futuristic video projections, and the drama has been likened to West Side Story. I think it’s a bit edgier like Michael Jackson’s Beat it crossed with MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew and a small sprinkling of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The artists were pop and locking, and b-boying to mostly industrial and alternative music with occasional hip hop beats. Depending on the scene, the walls were wood plank or corrugated metal fences, or graffiti-filled walls courtesy of the projectors. It definitely had a grunge or underground feeling, and I liked how the scenes changed from day to night. The youth street culture exploded on the stage with a mountain biker, inline skater, performer wearing jumping stilts, and rope jumpers (including double dutch), as they all temporarily brought us into their world. I was surprised there were no skateboarders, but there was enough going on.
Cirque Éloize iD was fantastic from the opening of pedestrians on a busy city street to the spectacular trampowall at the end. They have blown a breath of fresh air into their show this year, and is sure to be a big hit with the kids. I saw a few friends of mine in the audience, and “polled” them during intermission, and the adults and kids all agreed that it was an exciting show!
Cirque Éloize iD opened yesterday, and closes today, Thursday, February 10 at 7 PM. Try to get to see this incredible show. It will amaze you beyond compare, and it’s perfect for all ages. You won’t regret it!