Theater: Cirque du Soleil Varekai

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Cirque du Soleil translates to a different world of entertainment that stands out for its daredevil balancing acts, acrobatics and body contortions. But his shows are not just wonderful spectacles but are a lesson in themselves. These shows combine wisdom, sentiment and are a testament to Soleil's understanding of the art. His shows are far removed from the old-fashioned pomp of a traditional circus

VAREKAI (pronounced ver-ay-kie) is the latest live Cirque du Soleil touring production. VAREKAI translates to "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies, who are the universal wanderers. This production is a tribute to the nomadic soul present in all of us, and also to the spirit and art of the circus tradition. The show is for those who quest with infinite passion and move along the path that leads to VAREKAI.

The show is a highly imaginative, allegorical tale that tells the story of a young man who falls from the sky into the base of a volcano. It is a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastic creatures. Characteristic of Soleil the show displays spectacular acrobatics performed by well over 50 artists from 13 countries. There are eye popping performances on the aerial straps, hand-balancing on canes, triple trapeze, juggling, Russian swings and many other unbelievable stunts.

Michael Montanaro, the show's chief choreographer, is the man behind the eye popping action. He is a veteran of both the Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and the Boston Ballet. His dance style is a happy coincidence of serendipity and planning. The performance that one gets to see at the show is a result of choreographic cross-pollination. "There was no boundary separating directing, choreography, lighting or even performing. We worked as a team,'' is what he has to say about the collective efforts. He volubly complements the Director Dominic Champagne for his collaborative strategies.

There are the British identical twins, Andrew and Kevin Atherton, who steal the show with their new style acrobatics. They soar above the earth in their characteristic, trapezelike strap routine. Their bodies intermingle in the air until they form ephemeral, geometric shapes a la Pilobolus. Then there is the gymnast Olga Pikhienko, whos does astounding feats on canes extending her legs in superhuman contortion. Michael Montanaro says that "I'd pull my leg up at an angle to demonstrate something to Olga, and, thanks to her incredible gifts, she'd pull her leg up all the way until her toe touched her forehead. All dance aims to defy gravity. But in the case of the twins and their strap act, I found myself working, for the first time ever, with performers who can actually fly."

VAREKAI is summed by an quotation from its press releases- Life is subject to change without notice. Take comfort in the chaos. Everything is possible if you just lose your mind to it