Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion received an animated response at Thursday’s opening performance in the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre (AESC).
The packed arena gasped, cheered, and laughed in unison throughout the show, attended by all ages.
What started with a group of clowns dressed in black and white ill-fitting costumes, quickly turned into a colourful affair.
The mix of circus acts and entertainment followed the four elements – air, water, fire and earth – on their road to living in harmony, blending melodies from India, Africa and Europe along the way.
Each element took its turn on stage to introduce itself to the audience.
It started with Gaya, the Goddess of the Earth, who shimmied to the centre spotlight in an African-inspired feathered costume.
She was quickly followed by two aerialists dressed in blue, representing air.
They slithered down their aerial drapes and swung around the stage with ease.
Green dancers, representing water, performed in the mist, until a group dressed in red, representing fire, emerged.
The backdrop of a large metal wall, symbolizing the doors of a Chinese temple, was unveiled as the stage filled with dancers, mist and pounding music.
The show highlighted the strength and flexibility of its cast with acts like hand balancing and the aerial hoop.
Intense precision was shown right to the end, which saw artists keep time with skipping ropes while positioned in a human pyramid.
Dralion has shows running until Sunday evening at the AESC, 33800 King Rd.
To buy tickets visit www.abbotsfordcentre.ca, or call 1-866-977- AESC (2372).