Odysseo is a first-rate horse-of-a-different-color show
- 12/30/11
- Categorized in: Lifestyle
Spectacular.
Fantastical.
Mindblowing.
None of these come close to adequately describing the otherworldly experience that is Cavalia’s new equestrian adventure Odysseo.
Housed under what’s billed as the “world’s largest touring big top” at 8th and Spring streets in Atlanta, Odysseo is a combination horse, acrobatic and aerial show but infused with an extreme level of athleticism, artistry and mindboggling visual effects. “Wow,” “No way” and “How do they do that?” were uttered by the audience throughout the two-and-a-half-hour performance.
At times, the 69 horses (including Appaloosas, Arabians, Lusitanos, Paint Horses, Quarter Horses and Spanish Purebreeds) in the show are ridden bareback. Other times they roam freely on what is one of the most creative and imaginative sets I’ve ever seen. In one segment, female riders stand with one foot on the backs of two horses that are galloping on the stage side by side.
The 55 artists (acrobats, aerialists, dancers, musicians and riders) hail from around the globe—Canada, Ukraine, Guinea, Brazil, France, Russia, Spain and the United States.
“A new tribute to horses and the relationship humans have shared with them for thousands of years, Odysseo is an invitation to dream, to travel beyond the boundaries of time and space and to journey toward the mystery of new horizons and cultures,” states a press release from the show.
For Normand Latourelle, Cavalia’s president and artistic director, “It’s only because of horses that humans were able to imagine that they could travel to the ends of the world. The horse is a powerful and natural wonder. This animal enabled mankind to build bridges between cultures, to create alliances amongst people and thus freely roam the planet. He has been one of the most important instruments in the evolution of humanity. This is the essence of Odysseo.”
I could go on about the amazing carousel sequence in which dancers execute a mesmerizingly graceful pole routine or how African artists perform mind-boggling somersaults or the heart-stopping tricks riders carry out at breakneck speeds. However, my description wouldn’t do it justice.
Simply put, Odysseo is a not-to-be missed five-star experience.
Tickets range from $29 to $229.50. The show has been extended until Jan. 15.
For more information, visit www.cavalia.net.