Cirque du Soleil – Totem

You cannot miss the big blue and yellow grand chapiteau in Vancouver. Cirque du Soleil is back in town. I have seen this tent pop up in town for many years, and I’ve always been intrigued to check out just what is going on over at the big tent. My Mom and I had an incredible opportunity to go and attend one of the performances of TOTEM.

TOTEM was a show containing a mix of cultures, full of colour, acrobatics, sparkle, and many surprises. While I was surprised by how big the inside of the grand chapiteau really is, I wondered how they would make what seemed like a small performance area become larger than life.

That is exactly what happened once the show began. The performing area was transformed. Going from an ocean, to a volcano, and even a night sky thanks to visuals projected onto the stage. There is so much to take in that you are constantly looking up to the heights of the tent, and back down to the main stage, you will even find the aisles filled with unique characters, you may even find yourself as a little part of comic relief during the show. The tacky tourist, or fisherman you see in the crowd before hand are all part of TOTEM. Just be sure that the fisherman does not take you on a trek all over the tent while “helping” you find your seat.

My favourite performances were the Fixed Trapeze Duo who are two love birds performing stunts at a height that will leave you in wonder and disbelief at what they are able to do. Just make sure if you take your child to see this show that they do not try these stunts next time they are on the monkey-bars at the park. The Russian Bars which is full of colour and showcases feats of strength, balance, and acrobatic movements. I also really enjoyed different main characters who showed up throughout TOTEM. Keep an eye out for The Tracker who is a friend to animals, and does not care for those who pollute. As for the tacky tourist, his name is Valentino and you will find out why his name is so fitting once the show begins.

My Mom and I were absolutely amazed by the show. Which is exactly how everyone sums up their Cirque experience. Amazing is always the word I hear. TOTEM continues until July 6th here in Vancouver, if you have the opportunity to go don’t hesitate to do so. Tickets range from $40 to $145 (child and adult prices vary) You will definitely enjoy the show. I am already looking forward to next year when I hope to see Cirque again.

Some facts about Cirque:
* It takes 8 days to set up and 3 days to take down the grand chapiteau and everything connected to it
* Cirque performers learn how to do their own makeup, they undergo up to 18 hours of application training so that  they can apply their own makeup and costume prior to each performance
* 65 trucks transport about 2,000 tons of equipment that is needed for TOTEM
* Cirque has delighted over 100 million spectators in over 300 countries on 6 continents. TOTEM itself has visited 24 Countries.

Disclosure: I received media tickets to this event for review purposes. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my own personal experience. Your experience may differ. Images of the show courtesy of OSA Images, ©2010 Cirque du Soleil Inc.