Humans and horses dazzle

BASYA LAYE

Human feats of strength and agility are cause for awe, for sure. Add horses to the mix and the wow-factor is exponential. Cavalia, now under the white big top just east of the Cambie bridge, has been selling out since its arrival here in Vancouver in March.

More than 30 acrobats, equestrians, aerial artists, horse trainers and dancers from Canada, Mexico, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and elsewhere, are joined by 49 equine performers, stallions and geldings of various breeds, for a multimedia – and stunning – spectacle.

Cavalia starts out slowly, mainly with acrobatics. In the second half, however, the horses – and the humans – get fast and wild, with trick riding being the dominant show-stopping – and heart-stopping – act.

The show is visually striking, with fantasy-inspired costumes and projected landscapes that match the tone and even, at times, the horses’ coats producing a stimulating backdrop, and the haunting soundtrack is performed live, all very much in the style of Cirque de Soleil, it’s obvious antecedent. In fact, the founder of Cavalia, Normand Latourelle, spent five years building Cirque du Soleil into an international sensation before turning his attention horse-ward in 2003. Cavalia has been touring ever since.

The true highlight though, is Sylvia Zerbini, her nine white Arabian horses and their Grande Liberté act. Zerbini has been a horse trainer since the age of 15 and she mesmerizes the audience with a dazzling display of communication and trust with her equine charges. On the company’s website, Zerbini says, “Gaining the confidence of an Arabian horse is challenging but, once you do, he will do everything in his power to please you. With so many horses around me, our communication depends on body language, but I also interact with them by name. That way, they know who I’m speaking to.”

Regarding the animals’ welfare, Cavalia says it provides a full veterinary staff and regular rest and companionship for the horses.

The only small critique of the show is that the seats on the far edges of the stands have poor sightlines. When people lean in to get a better look, they block the view of those at the end of the rows, an unfortunate fact that could easily be fixed with semi-circular seating.

Overall, Cavalia is a thrilling and beautiful spectacle – even for those who are not horse enthusiasts or big fans of the circus. It runs until May 1. Tickets are $54.50-$189.50 and are available at 1-866-999-8111 or cavalia.net.

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