07 October 2024
Take a journey through a dream of Mexico, from the folklore of old to the urban landscape of today, now playing in Brisbane until 10 November.
Twenty-five years ago, Canadian-based Cirque du Soleil made their first tour to Australia with the show, Saltimbanco. The show wowed people across the country, and forever changed the face and experience of live performance.
Queensland audiences in particular fell in love with Cirque and this love affair continues.
At the premiers, 2,500 people filled the now iconic grey and white Big Top to witness Luzia in all its technicolour glory. The capacity crowd dressed up (thank you Brisbane) and engaged with the show from the very first act, Hoop Diving.
With extraordinary acrobatic performances, Luzia brings traditional and contemporary circus disciplines to a whole new level.
Cyr Wheel artists perform the unprecedented feat of rolling and spinning under the rain, while an aerialist suspended from a Trapeze flies and twirls through pouring showers. Hoop Diving is taken onto gigantic treadmills, expanding exponentially the speed and amount of daring leaps executed.
A powerful Aerial Straps specialist defies the laws of gravity at the centre of a cenote (natural sinkhole), a juggler tosses seven pins at breakneck speed, and two football freestylers deftly mix street dance with mind-blowing ball manipulation.
Luzia unfolds as a stunning kaleidoscope of colour, sound and gravity-defying feats, with 47 artists from 26 countries wearing 1,000 costumes, and the story is a tribute to Mexico, exploring some of the deep and rich myths and characters of the country through colour, performance and music, all of which is played live.
A magic moment is the Rain Wall, a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production. Cirque du Soleil makes athletes artists, and artists athletes and the cast was a standout – and so joyful in their craft – making these incredibly difficult acts look easy.