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Friday, August 10, 2012

DRALION—Eastern Dragon & Western Lion—Fantasy Theme of Cirque Du Soleil’s Show


A week ago my husband and I went to see the Cirque Du Soleil Dralion show. It was a delayed celebration of our June thirteenth wedding anniversary, and it was a wonderful treat to have tickets in the front row.

The experience was truly magical, combining spectacular acrobatics, dance, drama, live music, costumes, lighting effects, and set design. The huge metallic set suggested a futuristic Chinese temple or a giant plate of medieval armor, depending on the lighting and use. Time after time my breath caught, feeling like I was flying with the crossed circle performer, Kala, the graceful circle hoop dancer in the Hibana aerial act, or many others.

There are 21 different shows, but many are resident shows in Las Vegas, and one remains in Disneyworld. Dralion draws heavily upon Eastern philosophy and the quest for harmony between the human world and nature. The show's name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West.

In Dralion, the four traditional Chinese elements (air, water, fire, earth) that govern the natural order take on human forms. In the show, each element is represented by its own evocative color: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre. In the fantasy world of Dralion, diverse cultures blend, Man and Nature become one, and balance is achieved.

I was swept up by this theme, which coincidentally forms the framework of the magical systems in my current fantasy romance series, Enchanted Bookstore Legends. Many fantasy fiction works are created against a backdrop of this Eastern philosophy for good reason. The dream of unity among all elements of the physical and spiritual worlds is a compelling goal in the battle between good and evil, a requisite for any fantasy plot.

In Dralion, four characters exist outside the representation of Chinese elements and guide the performers of the four elements toward unity. The Little Buddha is the chosen child, possessing special powers that allow him guide the others. Later, that child will grow to join the L'Âme-Force . That force includes the two vocalists of Dralion, who sing an invented ethereal language, modeling and guiding the harmony between the four elements. The fourth guiding character is Kala, performing in the crossed wheel, symbolizes time and the infinite cycle. His internal propulsion of the double wheel makes time evolve. From moment one, I wanted to fly inside that wheel. The second video below gives a sample of his spectacular skill and artistry.

If you get a chance to enjoy one of the Cirque shows, it is a real treat to see fantasy come to life before your eyes.

 
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Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One,SEEKING A SCRIBE, and Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

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