Dralion

Dralion
Performers balance on illuminated lightbulbs in a Vienna performance of Dralion.
Company	Cirque du Soleil
Genre	Contemporary circus
Show type	Touring arena show
Date of premiere	April 22, 1999
Creative team
Director	Guy Caron
Director of creation	Gilles Ste-Croix
Set designer	Stéphane Roy
Composer	Violaine Corradi
Costume designer	François Barbeau
Clown act designer	Michel Dallaire
Lighting designer	Luc Lafortune
Choreographer	Julie Lachance
Sound designer	Guy Desrochers
General artistic director	Sylvie Galarneau
Company founder and CEO	Guy Laliberté
Other information
Preceded by	La Nouba (1998)
Succeeded by	Varekai (2002)
Official website

Dralion (pronounced Drah-lee-on) is a touring production by the Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil. The show combines elements of traditional Chinese circus with Western contemporary circus, complementing the "East-meets-West" theme implied in the title — the name is a portmanteau of "dragon" (representing the East) and "lion" (representing the West). It is Cirque du Soleil's 12th touring production and the first Cirque show since 1985 not to be directed by Franco Dragone.

Set and technical information

The backdrop for Dralion is a metallic structure 60 feet (18 m) in width and 26 feet (7.9 m) in height. It is covered in perforated aluminum tiles, giving it the appearance of medieval armor or a futuristic Chinese temple. Sitting atop the structure are six giant claws which allow performers to climb the wall and suspend in mid-air. Above the stage itself are three large concentric aluminum rings. The first is utilized as a catwalk; the second is used to support acrobatic equipment; and the third is used by performers to move up and down and suspend in the air.

Cast

Dralion features 50 members in its performance troupe, of which about 5 or 6 play principal characters.

• Azala (air): The goddess of air who is dressed in blue, keeper of the sun and the guardian of immortality.
• Gaya (earth): The goddess of earth, dressed in ochre.
• Océane (water): The goddess of water, dressed in green.
• Yao (fire): The god of fire, dressed in red, who is both good and evil.
• L'Âme Force: The show's singers who symbolize harmony between the four elements.
• Kala: Represents the heart of the wheel of time, making time evolve.
• Little Buddha: The chosen child who possesses powers that will eventually allow him to become an Âme-Force, but dreams of being a regular child.
• Dralions: Mythical creatures inspired by the imagery of the Chinese lion dance and dragon dance.
• Clowns: The clowns manage to push this otherwise harmonious universe slightly off-kilter.

Acts

The acts of Dralion combine unique western and eastern acrobatic skills.

• Single handbalancing: A single woman balances on one hand and accomplishes a variety of poses.
• Bamboo poles: Five acrobats twirl and throw 25-foot-long (7.6 m) bamboo poles while Yao waves a flag as the acrobats jump over it.
• Juggling: An artist performs juggling infused with breakdancing and acrobatics.
• Trampoline: A group of acrobats perform on trampolines using the set's futuristic backdrop both as a diving board and landing pad.
• Dralions: Three acrobats and three Dralions perform tumbling feats and Chinese lion dance-like dance.
• Medusa: A group of artists execute graceful and lithe movements, in the style of acrosport.
• Aerial hoop: A single artist performs choreography using a hoop suspended in mid-air.
• Spirits: Four couples perform a gravity-defying ballet.
• Aerial pas de deux: Azala and her male counterpart perform an aerial dance in silks.
• Hoop diving: Acrobats jump through a tower of hoops, which is sometimes spinning.
• Skipping ropes: A group of acrobats perform jump rope alone or together in pyramids and in towers.

Rotation acts

• Diabolo: Artists perform tricks with diabolos trying to outperform each other.
• Balancing on chairs: An artist stacks chairs on top of one another and performs various hand balancing maneuvers on top of them.

Retired acts

• Contortion with bowls
• Teeterboard
• Ballet on lightbulbs
• Duo trapeze
• Foot juggling

Costumes

Dralion's costumes are vibrant in color; inspired by clothing from India, China, and Africa; and are shaped according to the movements of each performer's choreography. In total there are around 1500 wardrobe pieces for the show, taking into account that some artists have up to four costume changes during a a single performance.

• Yao: As the symbol of fire, Yao is clad in red.
• Océane: As the goddess of water, Océane's costume is Indian inspired and green in color.
• Azala: As the goddess of air, Azala's primary color is blue. Her dress is fashioned with Asian crystal beads.
• Gaya: As the goddess of earth, Gaya's color is Ochre. Her costume is inspired by african designs.
• L'Âme Force: The texture on the front of their golden costumes is made by moulding small plastic soldiers.
• Dralions: The dralions are constructed from a mélange of items both natural and synthetic: lycra, leather, silk, mosquito netting, polystyrene foam, springs, raffia, horse hair, emu feathers, and other fabrics and decorations.

Music

With the company's departure from its longtime creative team, Dralion features the work of a new Cirque composer, French-Canadian composer Violaine Corradi. The music of Dralion aims to be a fusion of sounds from East and West by the use of acoustic and electric instruments. Featuring rhythmic and lyrical motifs, the influences range from Indian melodies to sounds from Andalusia, Africa, Central Europe, and the West. Instruments used in the CD are drums, violin, winds, keyboards, guitar and percussion instructions. Released on November 9, 1999, Dralion’s soundtrack features the vocals of Basque counter-tenor Erik Karol, and Canadian female vocalist Agnès Sohier. The tracks for the CD are listed below, with their corresponding acts alongside in italics.

The original album artwork of Dralion, 1999

Track listing

1. Stella Errans (Single handbalancing)
2. Ombra
   • Originally was for foot juggling and contortion with bowls, but currently is played during balancing on chairs.
3. Spiritual Spiral '(Interlude)
4. Miracula Æternitatis (Spirits)
5. Bamboo (Bamboo poles)
6. Ballare (Aerial Pas De Deux)
7. Ravendhi (Teeterboard)
8. Ninkou Latora (Double trapeze)
9. Aborigenes Jam (Hoop diving)
10. Hinkò (Ballet on lightbulbs)
11. Kamandé (Skipping rope and finale)

Further information: Cirque du Soleil discography

Tour

Dralion started out as a touring show in 1999 traveling under the grand chapiteau, but was converted in 2010 to a format suitable for arenas.

The following colorboxes indicate the region of each performance:   EU   Europe   NA   North America   SA   South America   AP   Asia/Pacific   OC   Oceania

Arena tour 2010-2011  2010 schedule   NA   Trenton, NJ - From 21 Oct 2010 to 24 Oct 2010   NA   Buffalo, NY - From 27 Oct 2010 to 31 Oct 2010   NA   Reading, PA - From 3 Nov 2010 to 7 Nov 2010   NA   Youngstown, OH - From 10 Nov 2010 to 14 Nov 2010   NA   Windsor, ON - From 17 Nov 2010 to 21 Nov 2010   NA   Oshawa, ON - From 24 Nov 2010 to 28 Nov 2010   NA   Worcester, MA - From 16 Dec 2010 to 19 Dec 2010   NA   Philadelphia, PA - From 21 Dec 2010 to 2 Jan 2011 2011 schedule   NA   Boston, MA - From 5 Jan 2011 to 9 Jan 2011   NA   Grand Rapids, MI - From 12 Jan 2011 to 16 Jan 2011   NA   St. Louis, MO - From 19 Jan 2011 to 23 Jan 2011   NA   Chicago, IL - From 26 Jan 2011 to 30 Jan 2011   NA   Mobile, AL - From 2 Feb 2011 to 6 Feb 2011   NA   Columbus, OH - From 9 Feb 2011 to 13 Feb 2011   NA   Detroit, MI - From 16 Feb 2011 to 20 Feb 2011   NA   Austin, TX - From 10 Mar 2011 to 21 Mar 2011   NA   San Antonio, TX - From 23 Mar 2011 to 27 Mar 2011   NA   Des Moines, IA - From 30 Mar 2011 to 3 Apr 2011   NA   Fargo, ND - From 5 Apr 2011 to 7 Apr 2011   NA   Sioux City, IA - From 9 Apr 2011 to 10 Apr 2011   NA   Council Bluffs, IA - From 13 Apr 2011 to 17 Apr 2011   NA   Moline, IL - From 19 Apr 2011 to 20 Apr 2011   NA   Peoria, IL - From 22 Apr 2011 to 24 Apr 2011   NA   Madison, WI - From 26 Apr 2011 to 27 Apr 2011   NA   Green Bay, WI - From 29 Apr 2011 to 1 May 2011   NA   Rockford, IL - From 4 May 2011 to 8 May 2011   NA   Kansas City, MO - From 11 May 2011 to 15 May 2011   NA   Abbotsford, BC - From 2 Jun 2011 to 5 Jun 2011   NA   Eugene, OR - From 8 Jun 2011 to 12 Jun 2011   NA   Portland, OR - From 15 Jun 2011 to 19 Jun 2011   NA   Victoria, BC - From 22 Jun 2011 to 26 Jun 2011   NA   Penticton, BC - From 29 Jun 2011 to 3 Jul 2011   NA   Edmonton, AB - From 6 Jul 2011 to 10 Jul 2011   NA   Saskatoon, SK - From 13 Jul 2011 to 17 Jul 2011   NA   Winnipeg, MB - From 20 Jul 2011 to 24 Jul 2011   NA   Frisco, TX - From 27 Jul 2011 to 31 Jul 2011   NA   Indianapolis, IN - From 3 Aug 2011 to 7 Aug 2011   NA   Atlanta, GA - From 25 Aug 2011 to 28 Aug 2011   NA   Duluth, GA - From 31 Aug 2011 to 4 Sep 2011   NA   Tupelo, MS - From 6 Sep 2011 to 8 Sep 2011   NA   Huntsville, AL - From 10 Sep 2011 to 11 Sep 2011   NA   New Orleans, LA - From 14 Sep 2011 to 17 Sep 2011   NA   Orlando, FL - From 21 Sep 2011 to 25 Sep 2011   NA   Tallahassee, FL - From 28 Sep 2011 to 2 Oct 2011   NA   Birmingham, AL - From 5 Oct 2011 to 9 Oct 2011   NA   Gainesville, FL - From 11 Oct 2011 to 13 Oct 2011   NA   San Juan, PR - From 19 Oct 2011 to 23 Oct 2011   NA   Santo Domingo, DR - From 27 Oct 2011 to 30 Oct 2011   NA   Cypress, TX - From 17 Nov 2011 to 20 Nov 2011   NA   Beaumont, TX - From 23 Nov 2011 to 27 Nov 2011   NA   Houston, TX - From 30 Nov 2011 to 4 Dec 2011   NA   Lafayette, LA - From 6 Dec 2011 to 8 Dec 2011   NA   Bossier City, LA - From 10 Dec 2011 to 11 Dec 2011   NA   Little Rock, AR - From 13 Dec 2011 to 14 Dec 2011   NA   Montréal, QC - From 18 Dec 2011 to 30 Dec 2011 2012 schedule   NA   Quebec, QC - From 3 Jan 2012 to 8 Jan 2012   NA   Kingston, ON - From 11 Jan 2012 to 15 Jan 2012   NA   Loveland, CO - From 2 Feb 2012 to 5 Feb 2012   NA   Broomfield, CO - From 8 Feb 2012 to 12 Feb 2012   NA   El Paso, TX - From 15 Feb 2012 to 19 Feb 2012   NA   Colorado Springs, CO - From 22 Feb 2012 to 26 Feb 2012   NA   Río Rancho, NM - From 29 Feb 2012 to 4 Mar 2012   NA   Laredo, TX - From 6 Mar 2012 to 7 Mar 2012   NA   Corpus Christi, TX - From 9 Mar 2012 to 11 Mar 2012   NA   Hidalgo, TX - From 14 Mar 2012 to 18 Mar 2012   NA   Highland Heights, KY - From 28 Mar 2012 to 1 Apr 2012   NA   Cleveland, OH - From 4 Apr 2012 to 8 Apr 2012   NA   Hamilton, ON - From 26 Apr 2012 to 29 Apr 2012   NA   Halifax, NS - From 2 May 2012 to 6 May 2012   NA   Saint John, NB - From 9 May 2012 to 13 May 2012   NA   London, ON - From 16 May 2012 to 20 May 2012   NA   Manchester, NH - From 30 May 2012 to 3 Jun 2012   NA   Bridgeport, CT - From 13 Jun 2012 to 17 Jun 2012   NA   Rosemont, IL - Coming soon

Grand Chapiteau tour 1999 schedule   NA   Montréal, QC - From 22 Apr 1999 (show première)   NA   Québec, QC - From 24 Jun 1999   NA   Toronto, ON - From 29 Jul 1999 to 5 Sep 1999   NA   Santa Monica, CA - From 23 Sep 1999 to 21 Nov 1999   NA   Irvine, CA - From 2 Dec 1999 2000-2009  2000 schedule   NA   San Francisco, CA - From 3 Feb 2000   NA   San Jose, CA - From 6 Apr 2000   NA   Denver, CO - From 6 Jun 2000   NA   Minneapolis, MN - From 17 Aug 2000   NA   Washington, DC - From 11 Oct 2000 to 19 Nov 2000   NA   Atlanta, GA - From 30 Nov 2000 to 28 Jan 2001 2001 schedule   NA   Miami, FL - From 14 Feb 2001 to 18 Mar 2001   NA   New York, NY - From 4 Apr 2001 to 20 May 2001   NA   Chicago, IL - From 22 Jun 2001 to 15 Jul 2001   NA   Boston, MA - From 15 Aug 2001 to 16 Sep 2001   NA   Philadelphia, PA - From 27 Sep 2001 to 4 Nov 2001   NA   Dallas, TX - From 16 Nov 2001 to 9 Dec 2001 2002 schedule   NA   Houston, TX - From 17 Jan 2002 to 17 Feb 2002   NA   Santa Monica, CA - From 6 Mar 2002 to 24 Mar 2002   NA   San Diego, CA - From 18 Apr 2002 to 12 May 2002   NA   Portland, OR - From 12 Jun 2002 to 21 Jul 2002   NA   Seattle, WA - From 1 Aug 2002 to 15 Sep 2002   NA   Sacramento, CA - From 4 Oct 2002 to 20 Oct 2002   NA   Phoenix, AZ - From 13 Nov 2002 to 8 Dec 2002 2003 schedule   NA   New Orleans, LA - From 6 Feb 2003 to 2 Mar 2003   NA   Raleigh, NC - From 13 Mar 2003 to 5 Apr 2003   NA   Baltimore, MD - From 11 Apr 2003 to 4 May 2003   NA   Montréal, QC - From 15 May 2003 to 15 Jun 2003   NA   Hartford, CT - From 24 Jun 2003 to 13 Jul 2003   NA   Columbus, OH - From 24 Jul 2003 to 10 Aug 2003   NA   St. Louis, MO - From 23 Aug 2003 to 14 Sep 2003   NA   Mexico City, MX - From 2 Oct 2003 to 14 Dec 2003 2004 schedule   EU   London, UK - From 9 Jan 2004 to 15 Feb 2004   EU   Amsterdam, NL - From 27 Feb 2004 to 23 May 2004   EU   Vienna, AT - From 3 Jun 2004 to 1 Aug 2004   EU   Antwerp, BE - From 12 Aug 2004 to 3 Oct 2004   EU   Madrid, ES - From 15 Oct 2004 to 21 Dec 2004 2005 schedule   EU   London, UK - From 6 Jan 2005 to 6 Feb 2005   EU   Barcelona, ES - From 17 Mar 2005 to 24 Apr 2005   EU   Rotterdam, NL - From 3 Jun 2005 to 19 Jun 2005   EU   Oostende, CH - From 21 Jul 2005 to 28 Aug 2005   EU   Zurich, CH - From 8 Sep 2005 to 6 Nov 2005   EU   Bilbao, ES - From 18 Nov 2005 to 8 Jan 2006 2006 schedule   EU   Seville, ES - From 19 Jan 2006 to 26 Feb 2006   EU   Geneva, CH - From 10 Mar 2006 to 16 Apr 2006   EU   Valencia, ES - From 4 May 2006 to 11 Jun 2006   EU   Málaga, ES - From 22 Jun 2006 to 30 Jul 2006   EU   Berlin, DE - From 30 Aug 2006 to 5 Oct 2006   EU   Frankfurt, DE - From 19 Oct 2006 to 26 Nov 2006   EU   Düsseldorf, DE - From 7 Dec 2006 to 7 Jan 2007 2007 schedule   AP   Tokyo, JP - From 7 Feb 2007 to 6 May 2007   AP   Sendai, JP - From 23 May 2007 to 8 Jul 2007   AP   Osaka, JP - From 25 Jul 2007 to 14 Oct 2007   AP   Nagoya, JP - From 31 Oct 2007 to 6 Jan 2008 2008 schedule   AP   Tokyo, JP - From 25 Jan 2008 to 6 Apr 2008   AP   Fukuoka, JP - From 23 Apr 2008 to 15 Jun 2008   OC   Sydney, AU - From 16 Jul 2008 to 12 Oct 2008   OC   Canberra, AU - From 23 Oct 2008 to 16 Nov 2008   OC   Brisbane, AU - From 27 Nov 2008 to 11 Jan 2009 2009 schedule   OC   Perth, AU - From 29 Jan 2009 to 25 Mar 2009   OC   Melbourne, AU - From 10 Apr 2009 to 14 Jun 2009   OC   Auckland, NZ - From 9 Jul 2009 to 24 Aug 2009   NA   Monterrey, MX - From 17 Sep 2009 to 11 Oct 2009   NA   Guadalajara, MX - From 22 Oct 2009 to 15 Nov 2009   NA   Mexico City, MX - From 26 Nov 2009 to 17 Jan 2010

External links

• Official website