Дралион: Шоу Cirque du Soleil – Встреча Востока и Запада

Former Cirque du Soleil production

Dralion (pronounced Drah lee on) was a touring production by the Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil. The show combined elements of traditional Chinese circus with Western contemporary circus, complementing the "East meets West" theme implied in the title—the name is a portmanteau of "dragon" (representing the East) and "lion" (representing the West). It is Cirque du Soleil's twelfth touring production and the first Cirque show since 1985 not to be directed by Franco Dragone. Dralion performed its final show at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska on January 18, 2015, bringing its fifteen year world tour to a close.

The backdrop for Dralion was a metallic structure 60 feet (18 m) in width and 26 feet (8 m) in height. It was covered in perforated aluminum tiles, giving it the appearance of medieval armor or a futuristic Chinese temple. Sitting atop the structure were six giant claws which allow performers to climb the wall and suspend in mid air. Above the stage itself were three large concentric aluminum rings. The first was utilized as a catwalk; the second was used to support acrobatic equipment; and the third is used by performers to move up and down and suspend in the air. Portions of the Dralion stage were redesigned and incorporated into the Ovo arena tour in early 2016.

Dralion featured 50 members in its performance troupe, of which about 5 or 6 play principal characters. Dance of the Elements: The show began with the goddesses and god of the four elements dancing. Single Handbalancing: A single woman balances on one hand and accomplishes a variety of poses. Bamboo Poles: Five acrobats twirl and throw 25 feet (8 m) bamboo poles while Yao waves a flag as the acrobats jump over it. Juggling: An artist performs juggling infused with breakdancing and modern dance. This act was performed by Viktor Kee but now is performed by Vladik Myagkostoupov. Trampoline: Surrounding Océane, a group of acrobats perform on trampolines using the set's futuristic backdrop both as a diving board and landing pad. Crossed Cyr Wheel: A cyr wheel that is infused with another cyr wheel forming a globe. The performer spins and twists this apparatus in an act that represents the circle of life and the passing of time. Dralions: Three acrobats and three Dralions perform tumbling feats and Chinese lion dance like dance. Medusa: A group of artists execute graceful and lithe movements, in the style of acrosport. Aerial Hoop: A single artist performs choreography using a hoop suspended in mid air. Diabolo: Artists perform tricks with diabolos trying to outperform each other. Aerial Pas de Deux: Azala and her male counterpart perform an aerial dance in silks. Hoop Diving: Acrobats jump through a tower of hoops, which is sometimes spinning. Skipping Ropes: A group of acrobats perform jump rope alone or together in pyramids and in towers.

Contortion: A solo act featuring a very flexible performer who stays in handstands with their legs over their head. Aerial Straps: Used commonly in place of Aerial Pas de Deux.

Contortion with Bowls: This was a contortion act made even more precarious with the added difficulty of balancing a stack of bowls on the artists head. Teeterboard: An original Dralion act, it featured an all female troupe. The flyer would stand at one end of the trapeze as two performers jumped onto the opposite end, shooting the flyer up and onto a high tower of other performers. Ballet on Lightbulbs: An original Dralion act that was unlike anything else. A group of female artists wore ballet pointe shoes and balanced while other performers climbed onto their shoulders creating high towers of people all on a platform of light bulbs. Double Duplex Trapeze: An original Dralion act, two trapezes that had one bar at the bottom and another bar about a metre above it, the artists would jump or flip from the higher bar into the hands of another performer at the bottom bar. Foot Juggling: An original Dralion act, this foot juggling act featured a female artist who manipulated and spun an open Chinese parasol on her feet, at one moment she would have a parasol on each foot and each hand, all spinning simultaneously. Balancing on Chairs: This act had an artist stack a pile if chairs, at the top of the pile the artist performed a hand balancing act. Spirits: Four couples perform a gravity defying ballet.