There was a tingle in the air as we made our way toward the white spires next to Marina Bay Sands to catch Cavalia on opening night. And well there should, for this is a show that is unlike any other.
It isn’t everyday that you get to see horses in the middle of the business district, but that’s what you get at Cavalia — and more. Expect to see exciting acrobatic stunts, some amazing riding, beautiful dream-like sequences, and at the heart of it all, a showcase of that bond between humans and horses.
I went to the show expecting it to be good, but I was honestly quite blown away by the whole experience. It was action from the get go, as the performers thrilled with acts of agility and strength. With a live band supporting them from behind the scenes, there was a raw energy pulsating through that had me clapping and bouncing in my seat. Good as the performers were, the real stars of the show were undoubtedly the horses, and when they first made their appearance, an audible gasp rippled through the audience.
Having met the horses, I can say that they are truly majestic, both on stage and off it. It was quite a sight to see them cantering around the stage, sometimes freely! The beauty of Cavalia however, really shines through that intimate relationship that the horses have with their riders and handlers. I thought this was particularly evident in three acts.
The first was the highly entertaining and thrilling Trick Riding acts. My favourite was the Roman Riding segment, where riders stood astride a pair of horses, rode them and even jumped while standing. Something you probably don’t know about me is that I used to ride when in my youth. My parents unbelievably signed my sister and I up for several terms of riding lessons and those were, hands down, the coolest classes they’ve ever signed us up for. That also means that I have just about enough riding knowledge to know that what the riders like Fairland Ferguson attempt here is truly difficult! My heart was definitely in my mouth at certain points! It takes a great amount of trust and understanding between the horse and the rider to be able to pull it off, especially when additional teams are added. And my, did they pull it off flawlessly.
The traditional art of Dressage is another such act. Dressage is very delicate — horse ballet, they call it. It actually takes both horse and rider a significant amount of time working together to make it look effortless! I marvelled as we watched the horse here dance lightly on his toes, moving to the music, responding to just the smallest of cues from the rider. While not as arresting as trick riding, it again takes the horse and rider to truly know each other to move in sync.
Finally the act that I felt really exemplified the essence of Cavalia was watching Keith Dupont talk his horses into running in unison, changing direction and even executing synchronised pirouettes with just his voice. The horse whisperer, he was. It wasn’t high key but it was incredible to watch.
The fact that the show was such a stunning visual treat was also because of the amazing set. Featuring a single 50-metre wide stage, with a 60-metre wide screen behind it, the horses are given the space to move and run against an ever-changing digital backdrop. This, together with creative lighting and special effects, draws the audience into the action and into another world. At one point, a water screen forms on which images are projected in tandem with the performances. Even more amazingly, 120,000 litres of water are also pumped in towards the end of the show to create a lake, which the horses thunder through.
Guess it was no wonder that when the show was brought to a close, the audience were brought to their feet spontaneously. Cavalia really is spectacular. We LOVED it. Do yourselves a favour and don’t miss it!
Cavalia Ticketing and Show Information
Season: 12 August to 14 September 2014
Venue: Under the White Theatre Tent at Bayfront Avenue beside Marina Bay Sands
Performance Times: Tuesday to Friday 7.30pm; Saturday 2pm & 7.30pm; Sunday 12pm & 5.30pm (No shows on 13, 19 and 26 August)
Ticket Prices: VIP: $308, $288, $248, $208; Standard: $188, $148, $98, $88, $58.
Booking Through Internet: www.cavalia.sg or Sistic
Booking By Phone: +65 31586735 (Cavalia) or +65 6688 8826 (Sistic)
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