Cirque du Soleil: Dralion opens at the 02 Arena

Dancers, acrobats, clowns and trapeze artists: Cirque du Soleil are performing at the O2 arena with new tour Dralion. The outstanding show, with its oriental influences, combines Chinese acrobatic arts with contemporary Western circus.

Divided into short sections, Drailon is an extraordinary show that takes the viewer’s breath away. Everything is arranged with careful attention to perfect details, from the lighting, to the costumes to the exotic music, the latter working as the perfect accompaniment, giving the rhythm to the show.

The cast of 50 is fantastic, their antics onstage leaving the viewer agog. In particular the performance of the dancer and elastic juggler, and the gravity-defying trapeze artists. The synchronised trampoline performance is unique, demanding the audience’s entire attention.

The minimal scenery, composed only of a panel and an arch, is substituted by the lights and the smoke that make this show even more engaging and mysterious.

Every performance is different and the artists’ talent is incredible. Their superhuman flexibility, the speed with which they jump through metal hoops… It all appears almost impossible to achieve!

The only little thing that doesn’t work in the show’s favour is the clown act. Though they are funny and talented, they just don’t quite fit into the artistic and dynamic atmosphere, sometimes breaking the harmony by crashing onto the scene to joke with the audience.

Emotional, well-crafted and totally original, Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion is definitely well worth seeing.

Ludovica Uggeri

Cirque du Soleil: Dralion is on at the 02 Arena until 8^th of June 2014, for further information or to book visit here.

Watch the trailer for Cirque du Soleil: Dralion here: