Cirque du Soleil Transports Audiences from the Stage to the Ice with CRYSTAL

by Kaye Phelps on September 5, 2023 in Entertainment,
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Cirque du Soleil is bringing CRYSTAL, the company’s dizzying combination of ice skating and acrobatics to Austin from Wednesday, Feb. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 25 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. CRYSTAL is a magical blend of visual artistry, acrobatics and ice skating that explores a powerful message of self-love and self-discovery that resonates with all ages.  

 

CRYSTAL by Cirque du Soleil brings traditional circus acts to the ice. Photo Olivier Brajon.

In CRYSTAL, jaw-dropping traditional circus acts including swinging trapeze, aerial straps, hand-balancing, banquine and pendular poles, have been adapted to be performed on a brand-new creative territory – the ice. Over 40 artists, both acrobats and skaters, perform in the air and on the ice, seamlessly weaving together both disciplines into a one-of-a-kind spectacle.  

Costumes had to be adapted with added padding and Kevlar to protect Porters, who catch the acrobats, from the razor sharp skate blades. Photo Olivier Brajon.

In order to make the transition from the stage to the ice possible, Cirque’s wardrobe team adapted the 5,000 pieces of costume the tour travels with to withstand the rigors of the ice and the strenuousness of each performance. Porters – the performers designated to catch the acrobats who are tossed into the air – wear special padding on their shoulders, as well as gloves made of Kevlar to absorb shock and protect them from the razor-sharp skate blades. Further, all costumes are designed with water resistant and non-absorbent materials which allows artists to gracefully slide and glide on the ice without getting wet. Lastly, to enable the acrobats to perform high-level flips and tumbling on the ice, specially made shoes have been constructed with small metal spikes in the soles, helping to stabilize their balance and perform floor tricks on the ice. 

THE VIVID AND POWERFUL STORY OF CRYSTAL 

CRYSTAL tells the story of a young woman’s journey to self-discovery. Photo Olivier Brajon.

At the heart of CRYSTAL lies a captivating tale that transports audiences into a vivid world of playful imagination. Centered around the journey of a young woman named Crystal, this Cirque du Soleil show created by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila follows Crystal as she embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery full of whimsy and wonder. The further the narrative pulls the audience into this world, the more their adrenaline soars as Crystal becomes who she was always destined to be – herself. 

THE UNIQUE WORLD OF CRYSTAL IS UNLIKE ANY CIRQUE SHOW BEFORE IT 

This is the first Cirque du Soleil production to use real snow. Photo Olivier Brajon.

This production boasts the distinction of being the first Cirque du Soleil creation to incorporate real snow (the team produces approximately 300 snowballs each week), large-scale interactive projections and an integrated spotlight tracking system – setting a new standard for immersive entertainment. CRYSTAL further defies convention by being the only Cirque du Soleil production currently touring to incorporate well-known pop songs into its soundtrack.  

 Performance Schedule 

Wednesday, February 21 at 7 pm.  

Thursday, February 22 at 7 pm.  

Friday, February 23 at 7 pm.  

Saturday, February 24 at 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm.  

Sunday, February 25 at 1 pm and 5 pm. 

TICKET INFORMATION  

Tickets for CRYSTAL in Austin are available online. 

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Cover photo Olivier Brajon