Cirque Du Soleil Brings Dralion to the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland

If you have ever taken a vacation to Las Vegas, chances are that you are familiar with the term "Cirque Du Soleil." Since 1948 they have been creating of some of the most entertaining shows in the world that have been performed in 300 cities on five continents, and they are headed to the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado this February with their show Dralion! Performances start on Thursday, February 2nd and run through Sunday, February 5th; check out the detailed schedule and buy tickets on the Budweiser Events Center's Website. Ticket prices vary by the day of the performance, but the cheapest I found available were $48 on Sunday, February 5th. Cique Du Soleil shows aren't cheap, but these are very high quality form of entertainment that are well worth the price!

Dralion has been around for a little over a decade, first premiering in 1999. The show fuses the 3000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The show's name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West.

In Dralion, the four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form. Thus embodied, each element is represented by its own evocative colour: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre. In the world of Dralion, cultures blend, Man and Nature are one, and balance is achieved.

There is a great trailer below that shows off Dralion and in all of its wonder and stuning visual awe. Information on the individual show acts also follow. If you are looking for more great entertainment within a reasonable driving distance from Laramie, make sure to check out the other articles in our "Quick Trips" series as well!

Aerial Hoop - Hibana

An awe-inspiring creation of strength and agility, this exotic aerial ballet captures the passion and energy of its signature element, "fire". Suspended from a hoop high above the stage, the artist presents an evocative choreography in which the hoop and body become one in a dance of acrobatic precision.

Aerial Pas de Deux

Pas de deux is a languorous aerial dance. A couple, intertwined, flies over the stage in a long band of blue cloth. Within the cloth, they perform various acrobatic figures that demand great feats of strength and flexibility.

Bamboo poles

In Bamboo Poles, six men balance long decorative poles symbolizing fire. A traditional act of the Chinese acrobatic arts, the performers keep the poles 'in flight' overhead while performing acrobatic feats on the ground.

Chairs (Act in rotation)

In the Chairs act, the artist delicately stacks chairs to create a tower on which to perform a balancing act that displays the human body at the very peak of condition and muscular control.

Diabolo (act in rotation)

The diabolo, or Chinese yo-yo, is a children's game which involves holding two sticks linked by a string while sliding, juggling and tossing a wooden spool. With increasingly difficult maneuvers, the artists attempt to outdo each other in dexterity and ingenuity.

Dralions

A blend of traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances takes on new scope when reimagined by Cirque du Soleil. In a dynamic and energetic tumbling sequence, the artists perform acrobatic moves while balancing on large wooden balls as the dralion characters surround them with a spirited dance.

Hoop Diving

Derived from Chinese acrobatic tradition, the Hoop Diving act takes on a tribal flavor from the African-influenced music to which it is performed. Ten male artists dive and throw themselves like arrows through small wooden hoops. The hoops are stacked on top of each other; some are stationary while others rotate.

Juggling

With stylized choreography that makes the most of his incredible flexibility, the artist incorporates a fast-paced performance with hints of modern dance. His incredible precision and mastery of his art are evident as he juggles up to seven balls simultaneously.

Medusa

The artists execute graceful and lithe movements which emphasize their extreme flexibility and balance. Together, they create extraordinary and harmonious figures.

Single Handbalancing

This act requires great strength and flexibility. Displaying impressive control, the artist balances on canes of various heights, slowly executing a series of astounding figures while maintaining a delicate equilibrium.

Skipping Ropes

A children's game familiar to everyone, the skipping rope takes on a new dimension in Dralion with heightened level of acrobatic prowess. As the artists keep time with the long skipping ropes, they perform flips, make pyramids and even form a human column.

Trampoline

Defying the rules of gravity, fearless aerialists bounce off trampolines using the futuristic backdrop both as a diving board and landing pad. They cascade perilously through the air performing spectacular stunts at a dizzying pace.