Cirque du Soleil has been astounding audiences around the world for years with their larger than life theatrical productions. Now for the first time, they have established a resident show in Latin America. It’s called JOYÀ, and Cirque has partnered with luxury resort brand Grupo Vidanta to create a one-of-a-kind, completely immersive experience in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.
We had the opportunity to join Cirque for the world premiere of JOYÀ just before Thanksgiving, and now we can give you the dish – both literally and figuratively – on this combination of entertainment, food, and culture that will leave you wanting more.
Cirque du Soleil’s 36th production and its first permanent show in Latin America, JOYÀ tells the story of its title character, a spirited teenager who is pulled into the fantastic through her grandfather, an aging naturalist who is eager to pass his wisdom on to his granddaughter. The production contains everything a young child or teenager would consider fantastic: there’s a boat full of pirates, characters who somewhat resemble ninjas, and at one point, a rampaging Tyrannosaurus Rex.
All of this serves as the story against which the typical Cirque elements are set: there are musicians, clowns, and of course acrobats, with performers descending from the rafters, rising up from beneath the stage, and occasionally making their way into the audience.
JOYÀ may surprise theatregoers who are used to the massive productions of the troupe’s shows in Las Vegas. It is one of Cirque’s shorter productions at an hour and ten minutes long, and much lighter in tone than the likes of anything you’d find on the Strip. The acrobatics, too, are considerably toned down. This is a different Cirque du Soleil, one that is more playful and scaled back.
While that might sound like a bad thing, in actuality it’s perfectly tailored for the environment in which the production is set. JOYÀ doesn’t take place in a massive Las Vegas venue; instead, it is housed in a much more intimate theater designed specifically for Cirque du Soleil by Grupo Vidanta architect Arturo Hernandez, which seats just 600 people.
This means that the stunts must therefore be smaller, but it also makes for a much more intimate experience, where from any vantage point in the house you can see just about all of the action. For example, we were seated in the third tier and able to see the full stage plus everything that was going on up in the rafters. By having a smaller theater, Cirque and Vidanta have ensured that the audience does not feel removed from the show.
It’s quite the opposite: aside from the showroom itself, going to the theater is an experience. It’s not simply one building, but an entire mini-property that does the job of separating the audience from the outside world and bringing them into the Cirque experience. Guests don’t just walk in and sit down; they travel through an on-site restaurant and numerous long walkways with picturesque views, culminating in their arrival at the theater.
And JOYÀ’s tone is perfect for the expected clientele. The theater is located just minutes from Vidanta’s massive Riviera Maya resort property, which welcomes guests from all over the world on their vacations. People who are coming to relax may not be in the mood for a long, dark production; this is something they can appreciate and then go on to enjoy everything else that Vidanta has to offer.
The most major selling point for JOYÀ is that it’s not just a new locale for Cirque, but it’s also a new creative direction. The brainchild of a whopping eleven creative directors, the production mixes in all kinds of references and tributes to Mexican culture. And for the first time, Cirque is combining one of their shows with a culinary experience. Grupo Vidanta’s world-class culinary team has prepared a three-course menu that perfectly compliments the story that unfolds in JOYÀ.
Guests can still simply purchase a ticket to the show (starting at $72), but there are now two additional options: a “champagne and show” package which is just that, and then a “dinner and show” tier (starting at $182) that invites audience members to sit down an hour before showtime and take this culinary trip into wonder. It may sound pricey, but if you’re going to make the trek to Riviera Maya, it’s worth the upgrade.
The dinner consists of an appetizer tray, one of two entree options, and a dessert course. The quality of the food is such that this would stand on its own as fine dining in any restaurant; we had the short rib entree and it was the best short rib we’ve ever experienced, while the desserts are so good that you’ll want seconds and possibly thirds. Even the menu is edible.
Yet the folks at Vidanta have clearly taken pains to make dining as much of an experience as watching the show. The presentation of the food is just a little different than what you’d expect, leading up to the fact that the dessert is contained in a box made to look like a book right off the naturalist’s shelf, including a faux periodic table printed on the inside. Both in quality and presentation, the dinner is so good that one wishes there was more time to savor it before the production begins.
Which leads us to the Vidanta portion of the JOYÀ experience. If you’re reading this review, chances are you’re not simply going to fly down to Cancun just for an hour-long show; you’ll make a vacation out of it. And Cirque has picked the perfect partner in Vidanta, because while they may not have pirates and dinosaurs rampaging across their properties, staying at one of the Vidanta resorts is as eye-opening as watching a performance by Cirque du Soleil.
All of Vidanta’s properties are interconnected in one complex, and the JOYÀ theater is located closest to their mid-level resort, The Grand Mayan. It might be the third tier of the Vidanta hierarchy, but it will probably make you never look at a standard hotel room the same way again. Our hotel suite featured an expansive bedroom, a separate living room with dining area, a full kitchen, and a private balcony with its own individual pool.
And because all the properties are connected, once you leave you can easily walk to any of the nearby restaurants, multiple pools, or golf courses – but if you don’t want to, there’s a shuttle service, too. Speaking of the food, the quality extends past JOYÀ to all of the many options that Vidanta offers; it’s better dining than we’ve had at some highly rated American properties. You could spend a whole day here just eating, and then you can walk it off after.
Yet the biggest reason to make Cirque and Vidanta part of your next travel plans is that backbone of all travel experiences: the people. The service we experienced at The Grand Mayan would make Anthony Melchiorri from Hotel Impossible proud. The folks at these hotels do the big things and the little things right, and then some things you wouldn’t even expect.
To name just a few: when we arrived, the bellman took the time to show us our in-room property map and help us figure out how to get to the restaurant we wanted to dine at. The room service staff don’t just deliver your food, but they’ll bring it into the room and set the whole table for you, and then ask how your day was. And the one afternoon we spent simply relaxing in our hotel suite, housekeeping actually called up to confirm that we didn’t need them to come by. At The Grand Mayan, there is a tremendous attention to detail, and an obvious commitment to making guests feel welcome.
That is ultimately what makes this partnership between Cirque du Soleil and Grupo Vidanta a worthwhile adventure. These two major brands have come together to create a unique fusion of entertainment and food that you won’t find anywhere else – but they’ve also extended it beyond that to create an entire experience, from a uniquely designed theater to a resort that goes above and beyond expectations. You’re not simply seeing a show; you’re stepping into an entirely different world. And that is what Cirque du Soleil is all about.
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