Cirque du Soleil - Dralion [DVD]

Amazon.com The Chinese consider the lion a symbol of good luck, so it's a half-dragon, half-lion--a dralion--that is the symbol of the East-meets-West fusion of this Cirque du Soleil show, in which 36 Chinese acrobats join the renowned Canadian troupe. Celebrating the four elements as represented in four colors-- blue (air), green (water), red (fire), and ochre (earth)--Dralion combines ancient Chinese circus traditions with Cirque du Soleil's usual stunning elements: the techno-oriented single ring; the multicolored lights and costumes; the music that mixes rock, New Age, and various world influences (though not Chinese); and the madcap clowns that pull a victim out of the audience (he turns out to be a terrific sport). But of course the main reason to watch a Cirque du Soleil show is the acrobatic stunts, those eye-popping displays of agility, balance, and strength. You'll see an acrobat balancing on one hand, a brawny juggler, a high-flying teeterboard act, a double trapeze, contortionists, a parasol turned and tossed atop a foot, furiously synchronized hoop-diving, unbelievable rope-skipping, and more. While nothing can match the experience of seeing this troupe live, the video does offer some choice close-ups that you would never get from your seat, and you can't ask the live performers to repeat your favorite stunts over and over again. And you'll want to see them over and over because Dralion is a dazzler. --David Horiuchi Product Description They've revolutionized the entertainment arts and reinvented the circus. Now the world-renowned CIRQUE DU SOLEIL takes you on another awe-inspiring journey of the senses with its latest acclamimed production, DRALION . An imaginative fusion of ancient Chinese circus traditions with the CIRQUE'S own unique performance artistry, this collector's cassette immortalizes the timeless magic of a show destined to delight viewers of all ages! Set Contains: The DVD includes "In the Heart of the Dralion," a 23-minute making-of documentary. Director Guy Caron discusses the challenges of traveling to Kunming, China, in order to create a new show, Dralion, with the Chinese, and choreographer Julie Lachance, costume designer François Barbeau, composer Violaine Corradi, and set designer Stéphane Roy provide various insights into the show. Also included are four scenes (single-hand balancing, teeterboard, dralions, and skipping rope) that can be viewed from three different angles each. Note that this multiple-angle option