Once Upon a Twilight!: Review: Cirque du Soleil's #Amaluna Recap plus Interview with Performers!

We are so excited to bring you a behind the scenes interview with the Cirque du Soleil cast now touring in Houston, TX!!

After watching the breathtaking performance of Amaluna, Once Upon a Twilight was invited to stay for a special Q & A session.

PERFORMANCES UNTIL MARCH 22, 2015

Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honors femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next. In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony.

In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony.

Amaluna is a fusion of the words ama, which refers to “mother” in many languages, and luna, which means “moon”; a symbol of femininity that evokes both the mother-daughter relationship and the idea of goddess and protector of the planet. Amaluna is also the name of the mysterious island where this magical story unfolds.

I was so excited pulling up to the blue and yellow tents that I drive by all the time, but never get to stop and go in. As soon as I pulled up, the air was full of electricity and anticipation of the wonderful acrobats awaiting us. From the moment you step into the tents, you are a part of the experience. Cirque du Soleil knows how to tickle all of your senses with the smells of popcorn, the sounds of the soundtrack, and the blue and yellow lights setting the tone of what's to come.

My favorite part of the show was the hunky acrobat guys. I know, I know...it sounds cheesy, but they were really good! I had no idea that they were once World Championship Trampolinists. Actually, I didn't even know they had those...but now I can see why they are champions!

The costumes were also fabulous and I would die to get my hands on one, or all!! The colors, the designs, and even the craftsmanship was perfect. Each performer was unique, but also fit together nicely. My favorite costume was the Black Peacock. The headdress makes the whole outfit pop.

I would recommend going to see Amaluna while they're still in Houston (until March 22nd) or in any of their other stops!! It's fun for all ages!!

And now here is the Q & A session!!

What would you say is the theme of Amaluna?
Female Empowerment

For the first time in Cirque du Soleil’s history, Amaluna features a cast that comprises 70% women, with a 100% female band. “Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women”, explains Director of Creation Fernand Rainville. “The show is a reflection on balance from a women’s perspective”, he adds. Director Diane Paulus, winner of a 2013 Tony Award (Pippin) and recently named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2014, says: “I didn’t want to build a ‘women’s agenda’ show. I wanted to create a show with women at the center of it, something that had a hidden story that featured women as the heroines.” Paulus drew from a series of classical influences when creating the concept of the show; including tales from Greek and Norse mythology, Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Music plays such a huge role in the Amaluna show, who chooses it and does it help the performers come up with their routine?
The composer comes in three months after the performers. The musicians drew their inspiration from the performers and they worked together to come up with the final performance. Six to eight weeks after they had been working, a group of professionals, known as the "Lion's Den," came to see a dress rehearsal of the show, didn't like it, and so they had to change quite a bit of the show.

Where do you find your performers?
We find our performers from all over the world. Cirque du Soleil scouts travel around to NCAA Gymnastics Championships looking for gymnasts, other circus performances, circus schools, World Trampoline Championships, and people even send in videos.

What happens if there's an injury?

There are no understudies at Cirque du Soleil because everyone is an expert in their own field. There are countless other acts, though, that can be moved in to replace it until the performer is given the okay to come back. On their time off, the performers help teach each other their area of expertise because they're always wanting to learn more and be better performers.

What makes Cirque du Soleil so special?

Some 30 years ago, Cirque du Soleil was but a dream. It was the dream of a small community of travelling performers who would do anything to share their love of the stage, of circus and of the world. The family has grown since then and now includes thousands of dreamers—creators, artists, technicians and workers who toil in the shadows. The dream has become a symbol of Québec pride, an international entertainment company that has brought 35 large-scale shows to life—20 of which are still in operation. The company, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in June 2014, has brought wonder and delight to close to 150 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.