Cavalia

Unmatched in its uniqness, Cavalia is a yearly performance that showcases the unique bond between performer and horse. It’s an amazing circus-​style show that is a stunning dislay of the animals and a spectacular acrobatics event.
With a Cirque de Soliel connection, the performances, choreography, costuming, sets, music and acrobatics are nothing short of breathtaking.
This is an amazing show, however, with limited seating and a run time of about a month each year, it is pricy, so save your pennies. If you do want to splurg, I recommend the VIP ticket for the included food, drink and barn tour.
If you love horses, circus acrobatics, or both, see Cavalia.
T.

The traveling Cavalia OdysseO Show
If Cavalia OdysseO doesn’t mean anything to you then you have not seen this show. The after show comments from other audience members were as excited as young kids at Disneyland for the first time. However this show appeals to everyone old enough to talk.
What an amazing performance! I do not know where to start. All the horses performing are male so as to keep the stallions from being stallions. Horse lovers will be thrilled to see that many of the lively stallions and geldings perform without any restraints at all. Not even a halter.
The acrobats were Cirque du Soleil quality but without the corny french clowns.
The costumes were elegant but not gaudy.
And OMG the stage was magnificent. It flawlessly transformed into so many different scenes. A lovely green forest became arid plains and then a mountain side which the riders actually climbed. Then again it transformed into (I kid you not) a small lake. Dressage riders on dancing stallions reflecting in the water, simply breath taking.
The background lighting and appropriate background music supported each scene creating an assortment of moods. The many outstanding horsemanship moments are better left as surprises.
There are many shows worth seeing but few that are worth seeing again. This is one of the few.
We saw this show in Vancouver BC. but it travels all over.
We got good seats in the front center section and it was worth it but others liked the cheaper seats too.

To sum it up:
¹⁄₃ OMG this is amazing
¹⁄₃ hmmm pretty cool
¹⁄₃ so boring get me out of here. obviously fillers.
if you have several bills to blow on entertainment, then go ahead… and don’t expect too much. But if I were to do it again, I’ll save my money and watch Cirque du Solei instead.
Seems to me that most of the seats are pretty good since it isn’t that big of a set up. I wouldn’t spend more on those special seats. Lots of free parking around the area too so I’m sure if you get there earlier enough, you can save that $ 20 on their parking in which the attendant doesn’t even check your ticket.

This is such a beautiful show with horses and human interaction! I sat center near the back and no complaints as able to see everything no problem.
Every act was captivating and I watched in awe as I love horses, so smart, strong and exquisite animals. Catch it before it’s gone from Vancouver.

I watched Cavalia odessyeo last nite. My first time watching a horse circus show. Wow! It exceeded my expectation! The horses are so beautiful & magnificent, so well trained. So many of them on stage all at once! Once & a while, one of them seemed to run free of the group. & I was not sure if that is also part of the act but it was so much fun to watch them galloping around. Then There are the muscular & agile acrobats doing all kinds of gymnastics worthy of a medal. There is live singing & music as well. I feel my spirit lifted in a way no cirque du solei show has ever done for me, & I have seen 5 or 6 of them over the years.
I would highly recommend this family friendly show to anyone. Yay!

I have been to a lot of shows all around the world, and I can honestly say that in every single one of them, for at least a moment, I have thought «hmmm, I wonder how much longer this is going to be?»
Cavalia did not inspire this thought at any moment. In fact, I was very sad when it was over. I could have watched the performers (both 2 and 4 legged!) for hours more.
The thing that makes this show unique is the human and animal interaction — I have never seen anything like it… and I work with horses.
I totally recommend this show to *anyone* — I can’t imagine a single person not enjoying it.
(And if you have the money, spring for the Rendez-​vous package. Nothing better than needing a towel because you are so close to the horses galloping through water!)

Cavalia’s Odysseo is fun for everyone in the family. My wife once owned horses when she was younger and was amazed by how the stallions and geldings were being handled. She was also extremely excited by the dressage and horsemanship in the finale.
We managed to get some cheap seats off to the side but right up front and they were excellent.
If you like Cirque de Soleil you will love this show!!!

I was a bit hesitant about going as I am not a horse person, although i have nothing against horses, But i was glad that i did, You don’t get an opportunity to see horses in action that close, very often. The horses were incredible and the riders and much of the acrobatics were amazing too. There were a few slow parts, but they were made up for by some incredibly exciting parts. Overall I think the last cirque du soleil i saw was perhaps better, but this was very impressive. We got a deal on VIP tickets and the experience was good, although at full price it is quite expensive.

I saw Cavalia in March/​April 2011 when the original show came to Vancouver. My family and I were blown away and I was in awe. I’m a horse-​person already, and I felt immense appreciation for the work and talent of the two– and four-​legged performers.
Fast forward 2-​and-​a-​bit years to December 2013. Unilocal Elite gave us the opportunity to attend Odysseo with the VIP Rendezvous package. The VIP treatment was phenomenal – there was a buffet before the show, a special tent with seating and ambiance, an open bar, free popcorn, a complimentary Show Book from the gift shop, and then dessert buffet at intermission. The staff were all fantastic: friendly, helpful, and efficient. My only complaint about the VIP experience is that as someone with dietary restrictions, none of the dishes were labelled with names, much less ingredients.
The show itself was fantastic. I was in awe and the audience sometimes forgot to clap – stunned into silence! As a horse-​person, I appreciated the training and choreography that went into the performance. I kept whispering things in my mom’s ear (she was my date!) about training horses and types of dressage movements. For non-​horsey types, I think it’s easier to appreciate the aerial or acrobatic parts (since you know you couldn’t do it yourself) as well as the overall ambiance and music.
The reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is as follows:
— Some of the numbers made me feel awkward: there was a circus troop of 11 black men, and they performed a couple of «tribal» numbers with drums and chanting. Only later did I read in a newspaper article that these were actually a New Guinea circus troop and some of these vignettes were created specifically for them. Okay, that makes me feel less awkward about the cultural appropriation.
— On that note (lack of knowledge) the non-​horsey audience members would benefit from more information about *why* 4 horses running together unbridled is impressive. While a lot of the show is visually interesting and immense, unless you are very informed about the show and the experience, you may not fully appreciate it. I suppose that’s why they want you to get/​buy a Show Book.
— The bleacher-​style seating was roomy but only moderately comfortable. Fortunately, the show is well-​timed to include an intermission just as you start to get fidgety.
— We got to do a Stable Visit after the show (part of the VIP experience) but you couldn’t touch the horses, there were very few performers or grooms to speak with, and if you wanted to know about the horses a loudspeaker recording instructed you to read the informational sign posted on each stable door. If you wanted a photo with a horse and a performer, they had a professional set up charging $ 20. I was interested in the saddles and tack they used, but no one was near the tack room to answer my questions.

Caught the Dec 19^th show of Cavalia’s Odysso in Vancouver. Beautiful and vaaary impressive. I also really enjoyed the interactive multiple choice quiz at the beginning of the show.
The performers both human and equine made so much of it look easy that one did not readily see the craft behind the art. With minimal experience and knowledge of horses it was fun if a tad distracting at time to have the very informative running commentary behind as people ohhhd and ahhd at the control they had of the horses and the mad skills displayed by the acrobats.
While it did not detract from my enjoyment of the show I did notice the colour line between the African\Caribbean acrobat performers on the ground and the European performers on horse back.
All in all, I think it was time and money well spent. I was thrilled by the beauty and spectacle of the horses and I appreciated the artistry and skill of the human performers. What stops this being a 5 star review is the story line was so ethereal and esoteric I did not discern if from the performance but from the literature afterwards. If they come back next year I will more than likely go again :-)

‘Daddy, I want a pony. I WANT A PONY’. Specifically I want a trick-​performing pretty Cavalia pony.
Right. Now.
So I wasn’t entirely sure about this show and referred to it as a ‘horsey thing’ to friends who assumed I was either off to Cheltenham or some larger animal version of Crufts. But it was neither. I also worried it would be hugely uncomfortable and smelly, much like the circus but it’s not like any circus you’ve been to.
Unless that circus is AWESOME, with comfortable seats, bubbly and live musicians playing the score. The show has incredible performers both 4 legged and 2.
It made me want to do sit ups and go to the gym, a lot. But then they had ice-​cream and I promptly forgot all about abs.
Much like Tonye, I was quite uncomfortable at the awkward racial segregation between the performer groups. The ethereal horse-​riding white people lording it over the ‘African’ acrobatics performers was so so unnecessary. Every time they started playing a tribal-​type score I knew what was coming and they even had a hugely inappropriate Cowboys and Indians number. They need to have another look at how they choreograph this show.
The VIP experience is incredible and I loved getting to do the stable tour at the end of the show.
Go to Cavalia, it’s magic and you will be blown away.

I’m still a little up in the air about Cavalia’s Odysseo. I found all the acrobatic parts really awesome, those guys are incredible athletes. The horse parts were great the first time around, but I felt they got stagnant really fast. What really bummed me out was The «African» tumbler/​White Equestrian dynamic. The African group came across as minstrel-​ly, I couldn’t get behind it. Add to this the fact that I’m horrifically allergic to horses. My coughing sneezing and wheezing made it impossible to truly enjoy the show. Even the parts that I liked. :(
The VIP experience was incredible! Amazing buffet, beautiful tent filled with great people and lovely food.

The horses are amazing, especially the acts when they are free of saddles, bridles and reins. The acrobatics, although highly skilled, lacked in choreography. The exception is a performance of 4 horses, 4 riders and 4 female acrobats in long flowing white robes. This appeared to be a living carousel and was very impressive. The actual «merry-​go-​round» act was boring to watch. The music was too loud and at times too shrill. The «dressage» act with the water foreground was outstanding.
Generally, although the show has brilliant elements, it lacks cohesiveness, symmetry and flow.
Jane S.

Just an incredible nigh tout. From the journey’s to and from via transit, the ample choices of restuarant close to the show site, the lay out of the ‘Big Top’ area, the bathrooms, the technical challenges faced and overcome for both the show and the logitics involved, and the one-​of-​a-​kind seating arrangements, this is a true night out that you won’t forget for a long time. Go see this SHOW!

First off, I would like to point out that I am not a horse person, I have ridden horses a few times in my life, but do not have any specific knowledge about horses, but I do love animals.
I thought the show was O.K. I think I would prefer to stick to the normal Cirque Du Soleil shows in the future. To me, this show was a bit too granola with flowing medieval outfits for my particular taste. I found I enjoyed the parts where the performers were actually doing skillful acts (like back-​flips and aerial bits) more than I really enjoyed watching the trainers line the horses up and get them to run around the arena in circles. I’m sure it is no easy feat to train the horses to do that in perfect formation, but I just didn’t find it as exciting. I did enjoy watching the horses being silly (like rolling around on their backs and laying down on the ground, it was pretty cute.) But I kinda feel like the show was over-​hyped and was kind of slow at times.
We paid for the horse lover’s package which included meeting the horses after the show. I thought this meant we would be able to pet the horses and get photos with them, but it just meant that you got to see some of the younger horses being trained in the arena after the show and then see them in the stables eating hay, so you could see their shoulders (since their heads were buried in hay.)
If you love horses, you will probably love the show, like I said, maybe it’s because I haven’t worked with horses and I don’t understand why the show was so impressive. I’ll just stick to the regular Cirque shows from this point on, since I know how hard it is to do a cartwheel, so seeing people do multiple cartwheels and flips in the air is truly amazing.

The show was certainly beautiful & I can appreciate the intense training that has gone into creating a show with incredibly talented acrobats & horses, but I was not blown away and there were times that I felt we missed an entire act because the horses were not in the mood… Overall it was entertaining & a nice evening, but for someone who does not love horses (my dad for example) it was a little slow.

I went to the show with somebody who grew up with horses and she was able to explain to me just how impressive the performances were. Even without the benefit of this informed opinion, I believe I would have appreciated the acts and found the show entertaining overall.
I’ve been to many Cirque Du Soleil shows, and in my opinion Cavalia is loosely speaking in the same league as Cirque’s traveling shows. Cirque has far more impressive acrobatics but they are human, Cavalia’s stars are horses. Regular people would have a hard time even mounting a horse, let alone riding 6 horses at a time running full speed.
I purchased the Rendez-​Vous tickets and this is where I was disappointed. As I’m used to the Cirque Du Soleil Tapis-​Rouge (VIP) packages, this is my direct comparison. Cavalia’s VIP package ensures good seats, pre-​show open-​bar and finger foods, dessert during intermission, a souvenir, and access to the stables after the show to see the horses. I was surprised that although there was a preferred parking area closer to the tent, I still had to pay a separate $ 20 to park there. The pre-​show VIP tent was pedestrian compared to Cirque Du Soleil. Whereas Cirque offered finger foods worthy of a 5-​star hotel cocktail party, Cavalia served up stale California rolls and teriyaki chicken skewers.
Cavalia is still a great show, just don’t bother with their Rendez-​Vous tickets as it definitely isn’t worth the extra cost.

AMAZING!!! TRULY AMAZING :)
I saw Calvalia about 6 years ago when it was in Scottsdale Az, I have been waiting and waiting for it to come anywhere near Vancouver… and it’s finally here!!! I took my whole family this time (everyone loved it). I am going to see it at least one more time before they move on again.
This show was supposed to only be around for 2 years, but I believe they are on their 8^th year now and have been all over the world. (It is the largest traveling big top in North America). The size of the stage and all the set-​up is really quite impressive.
The Horses are amazing and truly well cared for and treated right (not like other animal acts, like Ringling Brothers circus … where the animals are seriously abused and mistreated). These Horses have amazing lives. Most of the animals I saw in Arizona have since retired and enjoy their older years off stage.
There are too many amazing acts to describe. Some of the best are…
1– a single woman controls 9 horses who have no bridles or halters or anything using only her voice and hand signals, the horses preform amazing and beautiful choreography.
2– the acts with Roman trick ridding are awesome and very exhilarating, the acrobats and performers have incredible skills and do some amazing tricks on horseback (too many to describe!)
3– The scene with two identical horses and women who act as if the are the mirror image of each other, perfect unison!
4-​the background scenes, pictures and lighting are really beautiful and ad to the great show and enhance the horses.
Due to the fact that they are working with live and thinking creatures, some mistakes did happen (nothing serious, more funny than anything) … It was cute to see a horse every now and then just decide to lie down and roll in the sand mid-​act :)
AMAZING!!! TRULY AMAZING :)
MUST SEE!!!

Excellently entertaining. We had «rendez-​vous» tix and went on a Saturday night. Open Bar? CHECK! Yummy snacks (no dessert wait for us, I don’t know what that other reviewer’s problem was).
Favorite part: Single lady telling 9 reinless halterless white horses to do amazingly choreographed routines. I don’t know that much about horses, but I recognize amazing when I see it.
I’d have given it 5 stars if there were more horse action and less tumbling: I’m used to seeing that at Cirque du Soleil.
Would love to see the show again.

Cavalia is not amazing as its hype tells it, although it is entertaining. I am not a horse freak, but I like horses and my wife likes them a lot. So what better way to show her a good time than take her to a Cavalia show? We bought Rendez-​vous tickets to a Sunday matinée. This is an expensive way to go and there are much cheaper tickets, but with some minor health issues we went for the easiest, pampered way. The bleacher-​type seating in the big tent would have given even the cheapest seats an OK view, as long as there weren’t any obstructions.
The Rendez-​vous tickets gave you good seating (we were in the middle, five rows back), hor d’oeuvres with an open bar and a separate entrance. The buffet hor d’oeuvres were plentiful and tasty. It made a good lunch. When I called beforehand to ask a couple of questions, I was told to be there 1 and ½ hours before the show, even though there was no information on their website about this. It was good that we were there near this schedule as it gave you time to eat and get settled, and you are called to your seats 15 minutes before the start time.
A couple of quibbles about the arrangements. The gift shop was ridiculously overpriced. The items on display didn’t even have prices on them — you had to ask the cashier, who was usually busy. A hardcover lined notebook was $ 45. I didn’t pay those prices for souvenirs in Versaiiles, France!
The other perk, being a dessert buffet at intermission time, was manic. The lines were long to get to anything and by the time I sat down, we were told to go to our seats. No time to get a drink. There may have been another line to get your free Cavalia gift that came with the tickets, but there was no time to find out and never did get the unknown gift.
Now for the show itself. There were 39 horses in the show along with several riders, trainers and acrobats which were all very talented. The horses were highly trained and followed what at times was an unseen hand. Sometimes I did find my mind wandering however, and had to remind myself that this was difficult tor a horse to do and I should appreciate it more. There was a little too much of the horses wandering and running around on the stage, with riders and without, which was very repetitious. Going to the stables later was interesting, you saw the size of the animals and found out a little more about them.
Verdict? My wife enjoyed it and thats what counts for me.