Cirque du Soleil KOOZA presented by UBS

About KOOZA

KOOZA is a captivating circus production that explores themes of human connection and the duality of existence, encompassing both light and dark elements. The show is characterized by a fun and humorous tone, encouraging an open and engaging atmosphere while still presenting meaningful ideas.

The name KOOZA is inspired by the Sanskrit word “koza,” which means “box,” “chest” or “treasure,” and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a “circus in a box.”

KOOZA features an international cast of 54 artists including 6 musicians and 2 singers.

Key Milestones

KOOZA had its world premiere in April 2007 in Montréal, Canada and has since played in over 70 cities in 23 countries, on five different continents.
KOOZA has mesmerized close to 8 million spectators since its creation.

Costumes

At Cirque du Soleil
All costumes are custom-made and the majority are produced at the Costume workshop in the International Headquarters in Montreal, Canada.
Each year, the Costume workshop artisans use more than 50 kilometres of fabric. 80% of all fabrics are treated and dyed in-house by the artisans of the textile design team.

At KOOZA
There are more than 175 costumes and 160 hats in the show - 1,080 items in all, including all the shoes, props, wigs and so on.

Music

With a stream of uplifting songs with timeless influences where forms and styles intertwine seamlessly, the music of KOOZA is inspired by the sounds of Western pop culture, from 1970s funk to full orchestral arrangements. It also draws heavily on traditional Indian music.

There are 6 KOOZA musicians who play live music during each performance: trumpet, trombone, bass, drums, percussion, saxophone, electric guitar, and keyboard. There are also 2 singers who sing live during each performance.

Set design

Design concept
KOOZA’s set evokes a public square that metamorphoses into a circus ring. The circular stage provides the audience with excellent sight lines through 260 degrees.
There has been no attempt to conceal or disguise the acrobatic equipment. The structure of the big top is always in full view.

Key Stage Elements
The stage is dominated by one major set element, a traveling tower called the Bataclan, which alters the configuration of the performance space as it moves.
The decoration of the Bataclan is inspired by Hindu culture, Pakistani buses and Indian jewellery.

KEY ACTS

NEW: Icarian Games, Act in rotation
This traditional circus discipline is seen for the first time in KOOZA. An artist is propelled in the air by another artist in a fast-paced, high-energy display of strength, balance, and agility.

NEW: Diabolos, Act in rotation
In this high energy act, the artist spins, throws, juggles not one, not two but three diabolos at once. He performs his act in a blink of an eye intensively with rhythm and rapidity.

NEW: Silks
With the ability to fly, spin and swing in all directions, the flowing dynamics of the aerialist’s motion is juxtaposed against the gripping high acrobatics performed in this silk act. The breathtaking versatility of the artist allows her to own the space and soar into incredible aerial feats while continuously building the excitement to an outstanding climax.

Contortion
Young performers work in harmony and unison to bring a new approach to the art of contortionism. What sets this number apart is the artists' innovations in movements and position, their speed, and the way they work as a team to create tableaux of sculptural beauty.

Balancing on Chairs
The equipment is as simple as it gets: eight chairs and a pedestal, but in this act, the artist uses them to create a 23–foot (7 metres), tower on which to perform a balancing act that displays the human body at the very peak of condition and muscular control.

Charivari
The Artist Troupe burst into action at the top of the show. The act highlights include human pyramids, bodies flying through the air and a “crash bash”—a daring dive into a circle of fabric inspired by the “Nalukauq,” the traditional Inuit game of “Blanket Toss” and the landing mats used by firefighters.

High Wire
The twin high wires criss-cross diagonally stage left to stage right at 15 and 25 feet above the stage, and the four tightrope walkers add their own tension to the 6,600 pound load on each rope.

Unicycle Duo
A twist on the classic unicycle number introduces a passenger to the action. Two performers create a pas de deux in constant motion around the stage with a combination of balance, acrobatic control, physical strength, choreographic grace and a spirit of partnership.

Wheel of Death
KOOZA’s 1,600-pound Wheel of Death rotates at heart-stopping speeds, powered only by the two artists who leap and counter-rotate in a death-defying display of fearless acrobatics and astonishing teamwork. Like the High Wire, the Wheel of Death is positioned diagonally, stage left to stage right, in order to break with the usual symmetry and bring the action as close as possible to the audience.

Teeterboard
The Teeterboard flings artists into the air, where they execute multiple twisting somersaults—and that’s just the prelude for acrobats doing the same thing over 30 feet (9 meters) above the stage with double and single metal stilts strapped to their legs.