A traditional Chinese discipline
Hoop diving is a very popular discipline for many traditional circus troupes in China. Dralion is the only Cirque du Soleil show to offer this act. As one of the show’s signature piece, it is a big group act in which several of the house troupe artists dive through small fixed or spinning hoops.
Peoples of the earth awakened
Dralion showcases the four natural elements in its staging: earth, wind, fire and water. The artists in the hoop diving act portray the peoples of the earth. They represent different nations, peoples and tribes. Appearing in the second part to world-beat style music, this act encapsulates the show’s theme of the meeting between Eastern and Western cultures.
I’ll tumble for ya
The 16 hoops used in this act are made of fine wood, and are held in place by magnets. At the climax, one artist has to jump nearly seven feet high to go through the fifth ring. One of the artists’ greatest challenges lies in gaining the height they need. While they are used to performing this traditional discipline with the help of a small trampoline, in this act they have only a thin mat.
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{ SOURCE: CirqueClub }
