Cirque Eloize Cirkopolis to Play RiverCenter, 9/16-17

In the heart of a stern and imposing city, giant gears and dark portals abound. This is a mechanized world where people are robbed of their individuality and spend their days and nights working tirelessly, buried under stacks of never-ending paperwork. Sound familiar?

But wait! What light through yonder breaks? Splashes of color pierce through the grayness, and mesmerizing music begins to stir the soul of our main character, taking us on a fantastical journey that combines the worlds of circus, dance and theater.

Experience illusion and acrobatics, intermingled with demonstrations of strength, grace, speed and agility as Cirque Éloize Cirkopolis seamlessly crosses the boundary between what's possible, and what you never dreamed could be possible, but some how is.

"Cirkopolis was imagined as a crossroads between imagination and reality, between individuality and community, between limits and possibilities," says Jeannot Painchaud, Cirque Éloize artistic director and co-director of Cirkopolis. "The show is driven by the poetic impulse of life, the physical prowess of the circus, and the humor, at once serious and light-hearted. Cirkopolis is all about letting go and allowing yourself to be borne aloft by hope."

Featuring 12 world-class artists who perform advanced acrobatic disciplines this show has spectators questioning their daily routine, social behavior and deepest desires. But parents can rest easy as this production is appropriate for children of all ages.

With nine original productions to its credit, Cirque Éloize has presented more than 4,000 performances in more than 436 cities and 36 countries. Over the past 20 years, the company has also been invited to perform at prestigious show halls, such as the Théâtre du Rond-Point in Paris, the Picolo Teatro in Milan and the Sony Center for the Performing Arts in Toronto, as well as large festivals around the world, including the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogota, the Hong Kong Festival, the Belfast Festival in Ireland, the Festival Internacional Cervantino México, the Bergen Festival in Norway and the Recklinghausen Festival in Germany.

Cirque Éloize currently has two shows on tour and has partnered with Cirque du Soleil for a long-term relationship based on common creative visions and international entertainment appeal. From the Artistic Director, to the costume and stage designers, and a number of the performers themselves, each are either currently working with Cirque du Soleil or have worked with them in the past.

Tickets range from $39.50 - $49.50 and can be purchased online at rivercenter.org, by phone at 706.256.3612, or in the Box Office, Mon.-Fri., 10:00am-5:30pm.