Type: Soundtrack, Lyrics are included with the album
Genre: World
Review
The compositions on Dralion draw not only from classical and new age sources, but also from various world beat idioms, including Indian music, African dances, and Eastern European folk music. It's another typically eclectic and inventive Cirque du Soleil project, and intriguing in the ways it finds commonalties between the disparate approaches of Western music and the other sources from which it draws. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
Dralion (pronounced Drah-lee-on) is a touring production by the Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil. The show combines 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 12th touring production and the first Cirque show since 1985 not to be directed by Franco Dragone.
Azala (air): Azala is the goddess of Air, keeper of the sun and the guardian of immortality. She appears dressed in blue.
Gaya (earth): Gaya is the goddess of Earth, dressed in ochre.
Oceane (water): Oceane is the sensual goddess of Water, dressed in green.
Yao (fire): Yao is the god of fire, both good and evil. He appears dressed in red.
Âme Force: The vocalists of Dralion symbolize harmony between the four elements. The lyrics they sing are an invented language.
Dralions: Dralions are mythical creatures inspired by the imagery of the Chinese lion dance and dragon dance.
Clowns: The clowns manage to push this otherwise harmonious universe slightly off-kilter.
Little Buddha: The Little Buddha is the chosen child. Although he possesses powers that will eventually allow him to become an Âme-Force, he dreams of being a regular child.
Acts
Opening: The Little Buddha enters wearing yellow and holding an hourglass, through which green liquid flows as he turns it upside-down. The four deities take to the stage: Gaya enters first from a hole in the floor, Azala floats down from the ceiling wrapped in two strips of blue silk, Oceane enters from the back of the stage and Yao somersaults out from the hole in the ground. Each of the deities wear costumes representing the colour of their elements. They dance separately and together in a portrayal of life and the creation of their world.
Permanent acts
Single Handbalancing: A single woman balances on one hand while raised above the stage and accomplishes a variety of poses.
Bamboo Poles: Five men take to the stage, each holding a 25-foot long bamboo pole. They twirl and throw these poles as Yao comes to the stage with a flag. Three acrobats jump over as he waves it, performing an act reminiscent of a traditional Chinese flag dance.
Juggling: A man performs a juggling act infused with breakdancing and acrobatics. The act includes contact juggling as well as toss juggling with a stack of neck catches and balancing balls at odd moments. The artist starts with one ball and works his way up to seven.
Trampoline: Acrobats bounce off trampolines, using the set's futuristic backdrop both as a diving board and landing pad.
Duo Trapeze: Two men and two women take to two trapezes. The women spin, flip, and dive into the arms of the men. At the end of their act, the two women are released on cables from which ribbons stream. Their performance marks the end of the first act.
Ballet on Lightbulbs: As the second act begins, six women balance en pointe on a table of illuminated lightbulbs. They perform feats of strength and flexibility, such as one person on one foot with the other leg straight up to their chest, and another person standing on that flexed foot.
Dralions: In an act somewhat like a traditional lion dance, three acrobats and three "dralions" (costumed performers) perform tumbling feats.
Spirits: Four white clad women take to the air, and four black clad men take the ground. The four couples perform a gravity-defying ballet.
Aerial Pas Des Deux: Azala and her male counterpart take to two cloths hanging from the top of the big top. They perform a tender aerial dance.
Hoop Diving: A group of men jump through a tower of hoops, which is sometimes spinning.
Skipping Ropes: A group of children take to the stage for a jump rope number. They jump alone, in pyramids, and in towers.
Acts in rotation
Aerial Hoop: Suspended from a hoop high above the stage, the aerialist presents choreography highlighting her strength and agility.
Foot Juggling: The performer balances and juggles thin umbrellas upon her legs and arms in various directions and speeds.
With the company's departure from its longtime creative team, Dralion features the work of a new Cirque composer, French-Canadian composer Violaine Corradi. The music of Dralion aims to be a fusion of sounds from East and West by the use of acoustic and electric instruments. Featuring rhythmic and lyrical motifs, the influences range from Indian melodies to sounds from Andalusia, Africa, Central Europe, and the West. Instruments used in the CD are drums, violin, winds, keyboards, guitar and percussion instructions. Released on the 9th of November 1999, Dralion’s soundtrack features the vocals of Basque counter-tenor Erik Karol, and Canadian female vocalist Agnès Sohier.
The original album artwork of Dralion, 1999.
Track Listing
Stella Errans (Single Hand-balancing)
Ombra (Foot Juggling / Contortion with Bowls, acts in rotation)
