Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Crystal’ promises to be a spectacular show
For the first time in Cirque du Soleil’s 33year history, Cirque explores the artistic limits of ice with Crystal. Canalta Centre welcomes Cirque’s on-ice production May 23-27.
“It’s really a combination of skating and acrobatics. Within our artists, we have a group of skaters and a group of acrobats. We blend the two disciplines together,” said publicist Julie Desmarais.
In Crystal, gymnasts and skaters perform acrobatics on the ice and in the air, seamlessly combining multiple disciplines for a world-class audience experience, according to the show’s official media release. Audience members will be introduced to worldclass ice skaters and acrobats, as the featured performers explore their new frozen playground with speed and fluidity — challenging the laws of gravity with never-before-seen acrobatics.
“Skaters will go through at a very fast pace and it brings elegance. It’s really a combina- tion of both worlds. You do have skaters and you do have acrobats,” Desmarais added.
Crystal’s surreal stage, Desmarais explained, is bigger than other shows in the Cirque family. “We’re using twothirds of the ice surface for the production,” she noted.
“It’s a big stage,” she said, adding technology is also a big part of the production.
“We have projectors. We use the ice as a blank canvas and we project the story of Crystal.”
Crystal’s opening night is May 23 at 7:30 p.m. There will be performances May 24-25 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be three performances May 26 at 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and two performances May 27 at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
One of the other amazing features of a Cirque show is the live music element.
“There is a live band. There’s a three-piece band,” Desmarais noted. The music of Crystal is cinematic in scope, while supporting the narrative and pulsing to the rhythm of the action on and above the ice, according to the show’s official media release. Cover versions of well-known pop songs specifically recorded for the show were added to Cirque’s signature-style music, as well — a first for Cirque du Soleil.
Did you know Crystal is Cirque’s 42nd original production since 1984? Cirque shows have been performed in more than 450 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has more than 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from 50 different countries.
Not only does Crystal connect well with audiences, Desmarais said, the show also has interesting acrobatics. “And, a lot of wow moments.”
According to Desmarais, the arena tour allows Cirque to visit smaller cities who haven’t experienced a Cirque show.
“We’re able to bring the show closer to communities, where they maybe haven’t had a chance to have a Cirque du Soleil show before,” she said.
Tickets for Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal are on sale now at Ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 1855-985-5000 or in-person at the Canalta Centre Box Office. Tickets start at $35 plus GST and service charges.