How Cirque du Soleil Is Growing New Nuevo Vallarta Display ‘LUDO’

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As we watched acrobats twirl and twist around the air, committing to gravity-defying feats amidst the backdrop of elaborate units — a full-sized pirate send, two story-tall books opening their pages — all I will suppose again to is the pre-show of this efficiency of Cirque du Soleil‘s JOYÁ: 3 seasoned musicians, humbly spotlit at the level, merely appearing the son cubano vintage, “Chan-Chan”.

Some of the underrated sides of Cirque du Soleil performances are the soundtracks, until in fact, you’re attending one in every of their extra in style jukebox musical-style residencies (Love, Viva Elvis, and Michael Jackson: The Immortal Global Excursion, in particular). It’s simple to know why — I used to be captivated in the beginning sight by way of the luxurious Mayan jungle surroundings of VidantaWorld Riviera Maya’s theater, the place JOYÁ enjoys its residency. Ambient chook calls play over the audio system, blue jellyfish-shaped lighting fixtures hung from the ceiling, whilst vines twist and encroach on an outdated professor’s expansive find out about on level. However because the reputable demonstrate began after dinner, it will be onerous to not notice the musicians who transform nearly a part of the tale’s set themselves, stepping within the background, but visual all the time.

Displays like JOYÁ are a shot of natural, concentrated power, and worthy touring miles to witness — the are living song is part of that. From authentic compositions, to “global” beats (a nebulous style, but given CdS’s world presence and affect, appears like an apt descriptor), the conception of the rating is sort of as essential as crafting the narrative of the demonstrate itself, consistent with Govt Vice Chairman and previous Cirque du Soleil CEO, Daniel Lamarre. “It’s crucial, and I’d say that it’s one of the vital parts that make our displays distinctive. We call to mind the song nearly like a film, however much more so, for the reason that performers are a part of the solid of characters, taking part in are living.”

This brings new inventive demanding situations when generating a recent thought — proceeding a decade-long partnership with Grupo Vidanta, their newest demonstrate LUDÕ is ready to premiere subsequent 12 months only at VidantaWorld’s BON in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (which will even area the arena’s first luxurious theme park, opening in 2026). LUDÕ (from the Latin phrase for “I play”) is greater than only a demonstrate — it’s an formidable fusion of are living song, acrobatics, and connoisseur dinner theater. Set in a state-of-the-art, 696-seat customized theater, we’re instructed that “water flows thru each facet of the tale”, very similar to their long-running demonstrate O in Las Vegas. Alternatively this aquatic-themed theater will characteristic a wrap-around aquarium, with complex acoustics that had been made to go with the “dreamlike” rating and fill the original area.

“The rating was once written with the speculation in thoughts to envelop the performers, as if you happen to, your self, had been underwater,” explains Lamarre. “The one part that we needed to be cautious about when it got here to the song was once the way it complimented the human appearing acts. It was once crucial that we constructed some excellent, elementary power, as a result of there are some comedic acts. The pacing is one thing that is essential, and we intensify pacing right here for the reason that song is there to maintain the narrative.”

The method of choreographing the demonstrate was once additionally other because of the character of the round, aquarium-esque part of the demonstrate. “It took some guts [Laughs]. Simply for example, we’ve observed a large number of aquariums, proper? They usually’re all flat, proper? So right here, we can have a pitcher wall this is surrounding the theater, so simply the generation to make certain that would paintings and that the water received’t leak was once a problem.”

Alternatively, he says their revel in with generating the water parts in O did make a distinction. “When you pass under the level basin [at O in Las Vegas], you’ll see what’s going down within the pool. It’s a demonstrate in and of itself. However we at all times stated to one another, perhaps someday we will have to do one thing that the general public can admire. And it’s other abilities you must search for in performers, nevertheless it’s price it.”

Whilst that doesn’t imply we predict to look, say, a violin quartet taking part in underwater (or do we? Particular demonstrate main points are being saved closely below wraps), Lamarre does make it transparent that very similar to different former Cirque du Soleil productions, are living song might be any other integral a part of LUDÕ. “We’re most likely one of the vital biggest firms in time period of hiring musicians, as a result of all of our musical performances are are living. You understand, a large number of circus displays play with a [soundtrack] tape, and we’ve by no means finished that. We didn’t wish to anyhow, as a result of we adore the concept the musicians are a part of the demonstrate. You’ll be able to really feel their power, and so they transform a part of the room. In our new demonstrate, we combine our musicians in a novel method as a result of, once more, that’s one thing distinctive to Cirque.”

Opening in Nov. 2025, LUDÕ will formally kick off with over 300 deliberate displays consistent with 12 months, and the one method you’ll be capable of see it’s at VidantaWorld’s Nuevo Vallarta hotel. Whether or not you’re a Cirque fanatic, or simply see it as an added leisure bonus to staying at one of the vital absolute best luxurious go back and forth locations in Mexico, it’s no doubt set to transform a must-see appeal. VidantaWorld is even providing unique holiday applications early subsequent 12 months for LUDÕ so visitors can get a better glance into the artistry and technical inventions at the back of the scenes (bundle data will transform to be had in early 2025, with precedence get entry to for VidantaWorld e-newsletter subscribers beginning in February). Pre-sale sign-ups for dinner demonstrate tickets are actually live to tell the tale cirquedusoleil.com/ludo, so remember to snag the ones seats sooner than your subsequent commute.