Do you like horses? Do you think they are noble, majestic creatures? Did you beg your parents for riding lessons and have a vast collection of My Little Ponies when you were a kid? Did you fantasize about riding Starlite through a magical forest wearing a princess gown and a sparkly tiara? If so, by all means, GO SEE CAVALIA.
Yes, we’re talking about the horse show that premiered last night in San Jose. Cavalia is kind of like Cirque du Soleil but with horses (its founder, Normand Latourelle, also helped create Cirque du Soleil, and both companies are based in Montreal). There’s lots of (human) acrobatics and trapeze work, plus horses — galloping, prancing, and performing various gaits. The show — deemed “The greatest show I have ever seen!” by Jay Leno, according to Cavalia press materials — is marketed as a “spectacular and moving tribute to the relationship between men and horses throughout history, a dream of freedom, cooperation and harmony.” A bit of hyperbole, perhaps, but you get the idea.
