Freedom is the ultimate rush
VOLTA tells a spellbinding story about the freedom to choose and the thrill of blazing your own trail. Inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of action sports, the show weaves acrobatics in a visually striking world driven by a stirring melodic score.
VOLTA is a story of transformation. It is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and the power of the group to make that possible. It celebrates freedom as a movement.
While I’ll admit I’ve grown a bit jaded over the years, expecting the Cirque shows to keep raising the bar and showing me something I haven’t seen before, they always seem to win me over. Because the narrative is told visually, there’s a lot of symbolism at work in a Cirque du Soleil show.
The breathtaking accomplishments, throughout the show, are astounding. Bicyclists fly from a high structure as they spin their bicycles in the air. A lovely woman performs a ballet suspended at the top of the tent by her hair. There are unique accomplishments by all of the performers that will take your breath away.
The two acts of "Volta" thrust the audience into a spectacular world of physical stunts and sweeping athleticism that showcase a healthy spirit of life and wonder. From the simplicity of a roller-skating, a flight aboard an Acro Lamp, the joyful twists and turns on a Trampowall, to a BMX bike finale that wows, there's never a dull moment as Waz tries to awaken his inner confidence.
It's true that you have to be there to get the full effect. Mere words can't convey the magic of the Cirque, and marveling at the skills of the performers never gets old. Gasps, oohs and aahs are the order of the day.
To be honest, it was hard to follow. The storyline was missing in action, but it really didn’t matter because of the razzle-dazzle happening on stage. I actually lost the story of Waz and just focused on the performances.
What is most glaringly different this time out is the austerity of the performance. The production is nowhere near as technically dazzling as previous Cirque touring shows. The hydraulics are at a minimum and gone are any pyrotechnics or fireworks or set pieces that look like the surface of an alien planet. Instead, the emphasis is on the performances and what these unearthly limber and courageously gravity-defying daredevils are able to accomplish without all the technical augmentation.
Experiencing the jelly-limbed Brazilian beauty Vanessa Ferreira Calado’s sublime hair suspension alone is worth the price of admission to see Volta. She is the enchanting sorceress Circe of Cirque.
As in all Cirque shows that I have seen and reviewed, the theme of each show provides a thin veneer of context and story as a platform for astounding physical feats performed by acrobats, aerialists, and dancers. They twist and turn high above the circular stage, on the stage proper, and other platforms, writhing, leaping, bouncing, skating, cycling, and contorting to sounds of music that is aggressively modern, or sometimes lyrical, as when the excellent musician, Camilla Bäckman, runs her bow across the strings of an electrical violin. As a singer, she joins with a nominal master of ceremonies, Eric DeShan, who accompany the action with songs throughout the show.
The show is infused with highly dramatic music, which adds a cinematic element to the acts. Singer and violin player Camilla Bäckman and singer Eric DeShan layer each act with evocative songs, punctuating the drama, emotion and awe-inspiring beauty of what the human body is capable of. Every aspect of the show play into the theme of urban, contemporary transformation- while in true Cirque form still manage a dreamlike quality.
VOLTA is one of Cirque du Soleil's finest. The performers infectious adventure and spirit fuels inspiration for the character WAZ to transform and become his true self. By fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power, he is liberated and discovers freedom and happiness.
The obscure storyline and so-so clowning may lessen comprehension for young viewers, but physically, Volta still manages moments of spectacle and pageantry that are sure to electrify you. Cirque du Soleil has visited Los Angeles about two dozen times in the past three decades; Volta holds up well with previous visiting editions, especially in its best acts and most glitzy visual effects.
VOLTA is a story of transformation, being true to oneself, fulfilling one's true potential, and recognizing one's own power to make it possible. The production is perhaps the most acrobatic show ever staged by Cirque du Soleil, with acts from around the world offering amazing displays of roller skating, balance, trampoline leaps through windows to rooftop, Double Dutch rope skipping, tumbling, rings, and BMX bicycle flips that challenge gravity.
While I’ll admit I’ve grown a bit jaded over the years, expecting the Cirque shows to keep raising the bar and showing me something I haven’t seen before, they always seem to win me over. Because the narrative is told visually, there’s a lot of symbolism at work in a Cirque du Soleil show.
The breathtaking accomplishments, throughout the show, are astounding. Bicyclists fly from a high structure as they spin their bicycles in the air. A lovely woman performs a ballet suspended at the top of the tent by her hair. There are unique accomplishments by all of the performers that will take your breath away.
The two acts of "Volta" thrust the audience into a spectacular world of physical stunts and sweeping athleticism that showcase a healthy spirit of life and wonder. From the simplicity of a roller-skating, a flight aboard an Acro Lamp, the joyful twists and turns on a Trampowall, to a BMX bike finale that wows, there's never a dull moment as Waz tries to awaken his inner confidence.
It's true that you have to be there to get the full effect. Mere words can't convey the magic of the Cirque, and marveling at the skills of the performers never gets old. Gasps, oohs and aahs are the order of the day.
To be honest, it was hard to follow. The storyline was missing in action, but it really didn’t matter because of the razzle-dazzle happening on stage. I actually lost the story of Waz and just focused on the performances.
What is most glaringly different this time out is the austerity of the performance. The production is nowhere near as technically dazzling as previous Cirque touring shows. The hydraulics are at a minimum and gone are any pyrotechnics or fireworks or set pieces that look like the surface of an alien planet. Instead, the emphasis is on the performances and what these unearthly limber and courageously gravity-defying daredevils are able to accomplish without all the technical augmentation.
Experiencing the jelly-limbed Brazilian beauty Vanessa Ferreira Calado’s sublime hair suspension alone is worth the price of admission to see Volta. She is the enchanting sorceress Circe of Cirque.
As in all Cirque shows that I have seen and reviewed, the theme of each show provides a thin veneer of context and story as a platform for astounding physical feats performed by acrobats, aerialists, and dancers. They twist and turn high above the circular stage, on the stage proper, and other platforms, writhing, leaping, bouncing, skating, cycling, and contorting to sounds of music that is aggressively modern, or sometimes lyrical, as when the excellent musician, Camilla Bäckman, runs her bow across the strings of an electrical violin. As a singer, she joins with a nominal master of ceremonies, Eric DeShan, who accompany the action with songs throughout the show.
The show is infused with highly dramatic music, which adds a cinematic element to the acts. Singer and violin player Camilla Bäckman and singer Eric DeShan layer each act with evocative songs, punctuating the drama, emotion and awe-inspiring beauty of what the human body is capable of. Every aspect of the show play into the theme of urban, contemporary transformation- while in true Cirque form still manage a dreamlike quality.
VOLTA is one of Cirque du Soleil's finest. The performers infectious adventure and spirit fuels inspiration for the character WAZ to transform and become his true self. By fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power, he is liberated and discovers freedom and happiness.
The obscure storyline and so-so clowning may lessen comprehension for young viewers, but physically, Volta still manages moments of spectacle and pageantry that are sure to electrify you. Cirque du Soleil has visited Los Angeles about two dozen times in the past three decades; Volta holds up well with previous visiting editions, especially in its best acts and most glitzy visual effects.
VOLTA is a story of transformation, being true to oneself, fulfilling one's true potential, and recognizing one's own power to make it possible. The production is perhaps the most acrobatic show ever staged by Cirque du Soleil, with acts from around the world offering amazing displays of roller skating, balance, trampoline leaps through windows to rooftop, Double Dutch rope skipping, tumbling, rings, and BMX bicycle flips that challenge gravity.
