Cirque du Soleil Kooza Review

Cirque du Soleil Kooza

 

Review

 

Do you want to run away with the circus at heart? Or are you fan of acrobat stunts? Stooge type clowns? Then Cirque du Soliel is your kind of entertainment, but how is KOOZA different from other Cirque du Soliel performances?

 

While to date my favourites have been Cirque du Soliel's Dralion (with the trampolines) and Michael Jackson One, Cirque du Soleil KOOZA does not disappoint!

 

Kooza story centres around a coming of age as a young boy and is -stooge' like clown counterparts help him explore fear, identity, recognition and power.

 

It's very easy to get lost in the main artists as the audience mouth's gapped open in awe, some so stunned they forgot to clap, faces awash with amazement at these incredible acts.

 

Highlights:

 

The Contortion Duo was flawless. This duo is beautifully in sync as they showcased fluid flexibility with grace and control. 'jaw dropping"

 

The Aerial Hoop performer took command of the ring as she entered with ferocity, it was clear this was to be an intense high energy performance. She spun so hard it made you nervous as she hung there barely touching.

 

The twin High Wire formation was unique and nerve racking as the skill difficulty and momentum keep building.  'eye popping" was my son's description.

 

Stay sharp for a devilish time on the Wheel of Death, but keep your eyes focused on the top so you don't miss these fast paced stunts that will have you breathless.

As usual the Acrobats don't disappoint on the Teeterboard showcasing their gymnastic precision as Kooza comes to its finale.

 

Highly recommend Kooza for a great night of entertainment. Located at Flemington Racecouse, Kooza has plenty parking on site.

 

Review by: Michelle Warmuz - Femail.com.au & Girl.com.au Editor

 

 

 

About Cirque du Soleil Kooza

 

KOOZA™ is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil ® that combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

'KOOZA is about human connection and the world of duality, good and bad," says the show's writer and director David Shiner. 'The tone is fun and funny, light and open. The show doesn't take itself too seriously, but it's very much about ideas, too. As it evolves, we are exploring concepts such as fear, identity, recognition and power."

 

The show starts with the Trickster bursting onto the scene like a jack-in-the-box in front of The Innocent, and that's just the first of many surprises to come. The Innocent's journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Heimloss, the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

 

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement.

 

The name KOOZA is inspired by the Sanskrit word 'koza," which means 'box," 'chest" or 'treasure," and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a 'circus in a box."

 

Aerial Hoop

 

With the ability to fly, swoop, spin, and swing in every direction, the long flowing dynamics of the aerial hoop's motion is juxtaposed against the gripping, high octane acrobatics performed by the artist. The breathtaking versatility of the Aerial Hoop allows the performer to take command of the stage and soar to incredible acrobatic feats while continuously building the excitement to a completely astounding climax.

 

Balancing on Chairs

 

The equipment is as simple as it gets: eight chairs and a pedestal, but in this act, the artist uses them to create a 23–foot, (7 meters-) tower on which to perform a balancing act that displays the human body at the very peak of condition and muscular control.

 

Charivari

 

The House Troupe burst into action at the top of the show. The act highlights include human pyramids, bodies flying through the air and a 'crash bash""a daring dive into a circle of fabric inspired by the 'Nalukauq", the traditional Inuit game of 'Blanket Toss"
and the landing mats used by firefighters..

 

Contortion

 

Young performers work in unison to bring a new approach to the art of contortion. What sets this number apart are the artists' innovations in movements and position, their speed, and the way they work as a team to create tableaux of sculptural beauty.

High Wire

 

The twin high wires are suspended 15 feet (4.5 meters) and 25 feet (7.6 meters) above the stage, and four tightrope walkers add their own tension to the 6,600-pound load on each rope. Their expert ability allows them to perform feats in the air that most
of us would find difficult to do on the ground.

 

Hoops Manipulation

 

A hoops act with such a high level of difficulty is a rare demonstration of skill, and the KOOZA artist is one of the best in the  world. Combining fluidity of movement, physical contortion, exceptional balance and impressive dexterity, her performance is out of this world, whether she is spinning one, two, three, or even seven hoops simultaneously.

 

Teeterboard

 

The Teeterboard flings artists into the air, where they execute quintuple twisting somersaults"and that's just the prelude for acrobats doing the same thing over 30 feet (9 meters) above the stage with double and single metal stilts strapped to their legs.

 

Unicycle Duo

 

A twist on the classic unicycle number introduces a passenger to the action. Two performers create a pas de deux in constant motion around the stage with a combination of balance, acrobatic control, physical strength, choreographic grace and a spirit of partnership.

 

Wheel of Death

 

KOOZA's 1,600-pound Wheel of Death rotates at heart-stopping speeds, powered only by the two artists who leap and counter-rotate in a death-defying display of fearless acrobatics and astonishing teamwork. Like the High Wire, the Wheel of Death is positioned diagonally, stage left to stage right, in order to break with the usual symmetry and bring the action as close as
possible to the audience.

 

KOOZA - Cirque Du Soliel

 

Sydney – finished
Brisbane - finished
Melbourne - From January 20 2017, Flemington Racecourse
Perth - From April 13 2017, Belmont Park Racecourse, Victoria Park Drive (off Farmer Freeway), Burswood
Tickets at www.cirquedusoleil.com/kooza