Last night my wife and I journeyed up I-5 to Portland's Memorial Coliseum, where we were hugely entertained and inspired by Verekai, a typically indescribable Cirque du Soleil production.
Indescribable, because Cirque du Soleil productions touch me like no other show.
Partly because they are live. Partly because they are creative beyond belief. Partly because the men and women on stage perform physical feats I wouldn't believe were possible, if I wasn't seeing them with my own two eyes.
Which, with Verekai, were attached to a body that was sitting in a front row seat on the floor of the auditorium, just a few feet away from the Cirque du Soleil stage. I'd splurged on the seats, wanting to get as up close and personal with the performers as possible.
My bottom line review: watching Verekai made me want to join the circus.
Not a real circus. The circus of Living Life Fully and Creatively. We all can do this.
Run away from our longstanding habits, anxieties, worries, inhibitions, and every other psychological hang-up that makes us afraid to express ourselves authentically, freely letting out what bubbles up from our creative springs within, and join the Circus of Life that offers up continuous performances, 24/7, at no charge, if we simply say Yes, Yes, Yes.
There was so much Yes on stage last night, I hesitate to speak about it. Too many words might dilute the feelings that still powerfully resonate with me after seeing Verekai.
But, hey, I'll take the risk. After I share some videos that will do some wordless talking.
This is the official trailer. Doesn't do justice to the live production, of course.
This, surprisingly, is a whole freaking 54 minute video of Verekai that someone took at a Fresno, California show. Better watch it before the copyright police notice it. Or maybe the Cirque du Soleil folks are going to allow it to be left up as a very-extended advertisement of sorts.
Maybe because I've played around with several kinds of swords and staffs in my martial arts/Tai Chi training, one of the performers I was most impressed with was a young baton woman, who I believe is world champion Arisa Tanaka.
Amazing! The small video in the bottom right shows her performing while the drummer in the live Verekai band does his thing. See below for a focus on Tanaka.
This is Tanaka performing at the 2012 World Twirling Championships. Hard to believe she got second place. I watched some of the video of the first place performer. I think Tanaka got cheated.
Of course, with Cirque du Soleil the performers have gone beyond winning and losing -- though many, if not most, must be champion gymnasts, dancers, and other competitive athletes/artists.
It is about creativity, risk-taking, giving your all, expressing yourself to the utmost, embracing the moment, daring to show the world what only you can reveal.
We all can do that. Doesn't matter who we are or what we like to do. We can run away and join the Circus of Life, dazzling ourselves and others with the intensity of our performances.
Even if this be knitting, cooking, woodworking, golfing, playing cards, socializing, or whatever.
It isn't the what but the free-flowing style that allows us to break free of self-imposed bonds and be a star performer in our own personal production.
Brian said:
"It is about creativity, risk-taking, giving your all, expressing yourself to the utmost, embracing the moment, daring to show the world what only you can reveal."
You just described what being a good conservative republican is all about!
I agree with you whole heartedly!
The awesome Koch Brothers have set a great example of that for all of us to follow.
"Even if this be knitting, cooking, woodworking, golfing, playing cards, socializing, or whatever."
And what if the chosen activity results in earning money? What if it results in earning LOADS and LOADS of money? Is it still O.K.?
If not, when does it become evil?
You don't think that Cirque du Soleil is performing just for exercise; do you?
How much money can they earn before THEY become evil?
Why is earning money evil in the cockamamie liberal's eye?
Posted by: Harry Vanderpool | May 07, 2015 at 07:56 PM
Harry, money is good. Money is great! I love money. Money isn't evil. I entirely agree with you. (Don't have a heart attack.)
Posted by: Brian Hines | May 07, 2015 at 08:11 PM
That Video took my breath away. Thank you for showing that bit of wonder today
Carole
Posted by: Carole smith | May 08, 2015 at 06:37 PM