“DRALION final show in Mexico City: A magical night!”
By: Rodolfo Elizondo – Monterrey, NL (MEX)
I woke early on the morning of Sunday, January 17, 2010, ready to take my early flight. I was flying with La Nouba silk artist Ana Cuellar’s mother to visit her daughter in Mexico City and watch Dralion in its last performance under the Grand Chapiteau. The rising of the sun (the “soleil”) as we were flying over the mountains of Monterrey was an image I won’t soon forget.
After arriving in Mexico City I parted ways with Ana’s mother and had lunch with some friends. When I arrived at the Grand Chapiteau in Santa Fe I got a very special feeling – my mind took me back to all those great memories from CirqueCon 2009: Monterrey! This time the atmosphere was also special, but for a different reason. I knew this wasn’t going to be a typical performance. It felt like I wasn’t in Mexico anymore since the grounds were full of the sounds of different languages spoken by people from other countries. Then I started recognizing several of them: Cirque du Soleil staff and artists from all of the shows were there for the grand finale of Dralion! Then my close friend Ana Cuellar (aerialist from La Nouba and from my home town of Monterrey) arrived with other several artists and staff from La Nouba.
When we walked into the Tapis Rouge tent there was another surprise, several Cirque du Soleil directors and creators were already there: Gilles Ste-Croix, (Dralion musical composer) Violaine Corradi, (Dralion director) Guy Caron and of course Guy Laliberté to mention just a few! It looked like almost half of tonight’s audience would be people from Cirque du Soleil – all there, together as one, ready to give all their energy, support and magic to their friends in the very last performance of Dralion.
I can’t describe the magic I felt; it permeated the Grand Chapiteau. While I was walking to my seat (I was in Seat 1 of Row A in Sec. 103, in the very center!) I saw Guy Laliberté sitting in the center of Section 200 and I had the chance to say “hola!” to him. I was excited and surprised when he recognized me (we had previously met in Montreal during the 25th Anniversary Party). It was an amazing conversation and I was a bit dazed when the lights suddenly went down.
Dralion’s last performance was about to begin.
But before the show started, the music that had been playing suddenly stopped and Bruce Mather, the Artist Director of Dralion came to the stage. He was very emotional and excited and spoke to the audience (in Spanish and English) about how this was the last performance of Dralion after 3,852 performances, 9 million spectators and 13 countries. At that moment the Grand Chapiteau rocked with cheers! Bruce thanked all the people involved in Dralion throughout its history, and then announced – DRALION!
And the show began.
Never in the 116 times I have seen a Cirque Du Soleil show have I witnessed anything like this performance – the energy, the sound, the ovations from the audience were totally out of this world. It would take pages and pages to describe the whole magical experience of this performance of Dralion. What I can say is that the audience never stopped expressing their support to the entire cast of the show. Applause erupted several times in every act. Since I was close to the stage I had the chance to see the emotions revealing themselves on the faces of the artists. All too soon the moment arrived – the last number of DRALION, skipping ropes. And after that the Finale when the whole cast appeared on stage. How can I describe it? Well, it was as if the Popocatepetl Volcano near Mexico City had exploded in a huge eruption like never before. It was the longest explosion of love and appreciation I have ever seen at a Cirque show! The artists, crew and technicians were all so touched they were all crying. They all received flowers and came back for many curtain calls. Then another special moment as Guy Laliberte toasted all the cast and crew, and the big success of Dralion.
Then the fun began.
After the show we travelled to a special hotel in Santa Fe where the post-performance party for Dralion was held. The decorations were totally amazing, with the focus on Dralion and China but with some very traditional Mexican decorations. A grand entrance area welcomed us, followed by an area where an artist was doing a special memento painting. The bars and food were all impressive. There were also several big banners documenting the milestones and records of Dralion. Several projectors splashed hundreds of pictures of Dralion’s best moments onto the ceiling. Later there was a Chinese dance performance with Dralions and martial arts, followed by a delicious buffet of a great selection of Asian Food.
And the party continued.
I had a terrific time with Ana and her friends from La Nouba. We were at the party until very late; I believe it was about 5AM when we finally left. But before we left the party we received a special souvenir; a commemorative picture of us taken as we arrived at the party!
The evening was incredible, unforgettable, and one of the most magical experiences I have ever had with Cirque Du Soleil.
FOREVER DRALION!
(Muchas gracias Ana por todo..¡FUE MAGICO!)
