The “Cirque” is Coming to Town!
Photo Courtesy of Cirque de Soleil, Credit to Daniel Desmarais, Costumes by Francois Barbeau
The legendary Cirque de Soleil’s traveling show Dralion is coming to the Richmond Coliseum this summer, August 8 – 12, 2012! The presentation fuses the 3,000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the “multidisciplinary approach” of Cirque de Soleil. It debuted in 1999 under the big top. The traveling production now plays arenas worldwide and preserves the concept and impact of the original show.
The name Dralion is derived from the show’s two central characters, the Dragon representing the east and the Lion representing the west. Each of the world’s natural elements is indicated by a color: air is blue, water is green, fire is red and earth is ochre. The production features 50 international acrobats, gymnasts, musicians and singers.
The costumes of Dralion are elaborate and require extensive care. The production tours with its own washers and dryers, and the wardrobe team includes 4 permanent members as well as 3 local staffers in each tour city. Over 300 pairs of shoes are cleaned and painted every week!
Cirque de Soleil was created in 1984 with a band of 20 street performers in Quebec. Its mission is to “invoke the imagination, provoke the senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world. While the company employed 73 people in 1984, it currently has over 5,000 employees worldwide! More than 100 million spectators have seen the company perform since it began, and close to 15 million will see a production in 2012.
It’s your turn to join the ranks of the Cirque de Soleil fans at the August 2012 performances of Dralion at the Richmond Coliseum. There is no better way to catch a world-renowned production in Richmond than to pair it with a stay at one of the Historic Richmond Inns. Enjoy easy access to the Coliseum as well as hundreds of pre- and post-performance dinner options, gourmet breakfasts each morning and premium accommodations with our signature Southern hospitality as a bonus! Don’t wait. Make your reservations today.