Testing the Limits of Human Flexibility... Cirque du Soleil Returns After 7 Years

A Collaboration of Acrobatics, Comedy, and Art
Daring and Thrilling Feats Capture Attention

A female dancer, lying face down on the floor, raises her legs upright as if performing a handstand. Maintaining the prone position, she continues to bend her legs until she brings her back foot to the floor in front of her face. She then demonstrates an extreme movement by spinning her legs in a wide circle around her face, which is pressed against the floor.

This scene was part of the Cirque du Soleil 'KOOZA' preview held on October 15 in front of the Big Top at Jamsil Sports Complex in Seoul. The movement performed by the female dancer is known as 'Contortion,' an acrobatic art that has been passed down since ancient times in countries such as China and Mongolia. Contortion means 'twisting' or 'bending.' It showcases astonishing flexibility that tests the limits of the human body.

Sun Circus 'Kooza' Performance Scene [Photo by Mast International]

The world-renowned entertainment group Cirque du Soleil has returned to Korea after seven years. During the 2018 KOOZA performance, Cirque du Soleil attracted more than 200,000 spectators, generating significant buzz. This year's show features the newly added 'Aerial Hoop,' an elegant and spectacular aerial acrobatic performance. During the preview, a female dancer stunned the audience by hanging upside down from the hoop, swinging widely from side to side like a pendulum, with only one foot hooked onto the apparatus.

KOOZA is a circus performance that blends high-level acrobatics, slapstick comedy, and fantastic stage artistry. Since its premiere in 2007, it has been performed more than 5,000 times in over 70 cities across 23 countries, with a cumulative audience reaching 8 million people.

The title 'KOOZA' originates from the ancient Indian Sanskrit word 'Koza,' which means 'box' or 'treasure.'

Artistic Director Jamieson Lindenberg explained, "Inside the box are not only treasures, but also the hardships and adversities of life. The story begins when the box is delivered to the protagonist, and the main theme of the show is how the life contained within that box unfolds."

Sun Circus 'Kooza' Performance Scene [Photo by Mast International]

The stage is centered around a moving tower called the 'Bataclan,' which weighs about 6 tons. Director Lindenberg added, "Bataclan means 'all, the whole,' and it carries the message that 'we are complete because we are together.'"

The protagonist of the show is a boy named 'Innocent.' He embarks on a strange and mysterious journey after meeting the enigmatic 'Trickster,' a character with magical powers.

Kevin Beverley, who plays the Trickster, said, "The stage is like the Trickster's kingdom. Innocent embarks on a journey to find himself, and through the Trickster's performance, the audience sees the good and bad aspects of his life, the hot and cold moments, the many facets of life, death and life, good and evil."

Sun Circus 'Kooza' Performance Scene [Photo by Mast International]

In addition to contortion and aerial hoop acts, the KOOZA performance features a variety of acts, including high wire acrobatics using aerial ropes, balancing acts with stacked chairs, and the skeleton dance.

The show was first held in Busan from August 21 to September 28, and the Seoul run began on October 11. The performances are scheduled to continue for about three months, until December 28.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.