Wow, And a Bit of Ooh and Ahh, Too- Cirque Du Soleil Volta

Entertainment — By Buddy Sampson on February 2, 2020 at 5:06 pm

A Hair-Raising Experience

By Buddy Sampson

Wow. That one word can sum up the latest installment of the Cirque Du Soleil series, Volta. With the pyrotechnic performances of the many participants of the extravaganza, Volta is a must-see show.

Located at Dodger Stadium, under a circus-style big tent, Cirque Du Soleil is unlike any circus performance you’ve seen. With pristine acrobatics, a great story with hidden meanings and crisp, razor sharp choreography, Cirque Du Soleil is a visual treat that will delight families, couples and kids of all ages.

Patrons are treated to a very exciting array of dance moves and mind-boggling routines, all based around the central character Waz. Waz is a contestant on the Mr. Wow Show, a show that will take Waz to new heights if he excels. His contestant rivals excel, including a set of his rivals that had a rope and double-dutch routine like you’ve never seen, and a juggling act that was simply sensational.

But Waz, perhaps intimidated by the performances of his rivals does poorly and is ostracized out of the contest. Cirque Du Soleil deftly uses symbolism that mirrors world culture today- Waz is a terrific artist, but is ignored by those that would notice, because his peers (and society in general) are all self-absorbed, deep in the technology of their cell phones, ignoring the genius that’s in front of them.  The choreography of the cell phone users, in a dance routine, ignoring Waz was crisp and moving, symbolizing the deviation of human connection to the technology of the future.

The show effectively traced Waz’s life- his motivations for being a dancer and performer from his childhood. It traced his mentors- the angels that guided him and shaped him. The most moving scenes involved the lead violinist, whose stellar playing captures the audience. An interactive experience, the performers often go into the aisles of the big top, which engages the audience.

At one point in the performance, the acrobats build a ladder and are executing intricate moves on the ladder, perhaps indicating the rise on the ladder of success.

Our favorite portion of the show takes place after intermission, a moving, spiritual vignette that has one of the acrobats, a performer, seemingly suspended in the air by her hair, a hair-raising scene to watch. The costumes, designed by Zalco Goco are simply fabulous, awe-inspiring and eye-catching. And the choreography, by choreographer Julie Perron is magnificent. But Volta is a story of redemption, of realizing your dreams as an artist or creative person. It’s a must see for anyone that has endeavored to be in the creative realm of entertainment. The one name for Volta could be “wow!” But Volta, a hair-raising experience, also has a bunch of oohs and aahs, too.

VOLTA, performing under the Big Top at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles through March 8, 2020 and at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa March 18–April 19, 2020! Tickets, starting at $49, are available for purchase by visiting cirquedusoleil.com/volta or calling 1-877-9CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783).