Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil's Big Top returned to Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium on opening night, January 21, with its first sports-inspired Big Top production, VOLTA.

Los Angeles is the first city ever visited by Cirque in the USA in 1987 and VOLTA is the 15th Big Top to visit here as well.

VOLTA is energetic, urban, contemporary, and is a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen acrobatics in a visually striking world with beautiful, enchanting and magical live vocals with live band.

The entire show is driven by a melodic score which creates a poetic musical landscape and performance that is perfectly synced with the acrobatics that are inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports.

Written by composer Anthony Gonzalez, the highly cinematic music evokes a complex array of emotions and moods that ebb and flow majestically like the tide. It is a narrative tool in its own right, echoing the different arcs in the storyline and expressing the distinct personalities of the worlds of VOLTA.

It's a story about transformation, about being true to oneself, fulfilling one's true potential, and recognizing one's own power to make it possible. Ultimate freedom comes with self-acceptance, and with the liberation of the judgement of others.

The creators of VOLTA drew inspiration from the spirit of adventure that pervades the world of BMX, street sports and acrobatics. Whether the performers are on a bike, hopping form rooftop to rooftop, or double dutch rope skipping, urban sports enthusiasts constantly challenge themselves and defy convention.

The rope skipping segment was amazing as the performers were moving there feet at light speed and the finale of the show featured a full-blown BMX park mounted on the stage where riders delivered fast and furious, nonstop acrobatics on wheels. The riders go up the jump boxes and perform air tricks before landing and leaping off the ramps again, crisscrossing and spinning their bikes in midair in a spirit of brotherhood.

One other highlight, of the many, was the trampoline act. An apartment style set is on stage with the trampolines below. Ten acrobats jump from the windows hight above and then bounce back up to the top of the building, and then dive back down. The set rotates so the audience members can see both sides from every angle of the venue.

Kudos also to Emmy Award winning Zaldy Goco for the colorful and creative costumes. He is famous for his work with Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and others.

VOLTA will be at Dodger Stadium through March 8, 2020 and at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa March 18-April 19. Tickets, starting at $49, are available to purchase by visiting cirquedusoleil.com/volta or calling 1-877-9CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783).