Cirque Eloize:Hotel made its world premier in Pittsburgh
and kicked off the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts. Since 1993, the
Canadian company, Cirque Eloize, has preformed a modern circus that merges live
music, acrobatics and dance. I have never been a big fan of traditional circuses but Cirque
Eloise: Hotel is a contemporary circus and a theatrical creation
using these art forms to tell a story of lives passing through this grand
1920’s hotel. (see preview here)
Reflection
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| Immersive Art-Beyond till Oct 26th in Pgh |
Every four years since
2004, The Pittsburgh Festival of Firsts (Festival) has bought inventive and unique international never
before seen art forms to the city. From September 21 through November 11, 2018
this festival will energize the city
with a multitude of performances and art
from 30 international companies and artists that represent 20 different
countries. Throughout the city you can experience immersive art (Beyond), visual
art (Nonotak), (Machine Culture) and more. The world premier, Cirque Eloize: Hotel jump
started the Festival’s performances with this story telling chic circus.
This circus was not under the big top but in a 1920’s Art
Deco designed hotel. The dim lit set and costumes with hues of purples, grays and
blues could have fit in a good Alfred Hitchcock Film or the Hotel Cortez from the episode Checking Inn of the television show, American Horror Story.
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| Instead of a three ring circus - three triangular back drop |
Instead of a three ring circus, the hotel had three
triangular back drop compartments
with continual movement of travelers,
acrobatic climbers, musicians, or singers. The dancing and the “circus acts” occurred
at stage center. Your eyes jumped around the set watching all the mysterious activity.
The show opened
with a traveler entering the hotel and
meeting his friend in an embrace. The acrobats stayed connected as they
entwined, twisted and flipped. The show’s music was jazzy and at times sultry
with a twist of an indie vibe when Sabrina Halde’s added her vocals. This was
not what I expected but it was hypnotic as I absorbed it all.
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| The performers did it all-danced, acrobatics and even played instruments. |
The show injected dance numbers and like all circuses, comic relief
between the acts. We laughed at the cleaver love story between two pieces of luggage that was told with pantomime!
Tuedon Ariri with her long
legs and flexibility glided with grace in aerial straps. The show had some
breath taking moments as it ended with a variety of continual pole climbing and
some fast falling that hauled the performer's head inches from the stage.
I enjoyed this modern circus with its theatrical thread. Watching Cirque Eloize Hotel I thought about all the
people who have woven in and out of my own life and all the relationships that I have made along life's journey- we are all just passing through.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust by
bringing these never before seen shows gives us all an opportunity to see things
like a child does because it is so new. No
matter how long you have been on this earth, don’t miss the opportunity to see
something new for the first time by trying a show or art installation during
the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts!
(Cirque Eloise Hotel at the Benedum runs September 25-30,2018. For the Cirque Eloize:Hotel tour schedule go here. For more information about the Pittsburgh
International Festival of First go to Trustarts.org)
Spiritual Source
The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Psalm 127:8)
Other Sources
Festival https://trustarts.org/pct_home/events/groups/pittsburgh-international-festival-of-firsts
Other Sources
Festival https://trustarts.org/pct_home/events/groups/pittsburgh-international-festival-of-firsts