Cirque du Soleil
Regardless of the temperatures outside this upcoming February, Dickies Arena forecasts a 100 percent chance of snow — inside.
How, you might ask?
Cirque du Soleil
This artificial internal weather event is part of Cirque du Soleil's 42nd original stage production titled "CRYSTAL," rolling through the DFW area from February 7 to February 18. This new spectacle will showcase what Cirque is known for: incredible acrobatics. However, this new show will also incorporate the newly added skill of ice skating into its performances. This unique magical blend of visual artistry, acrobatics, and ice skating will be the backdrop to a powerful message of self-love and self-discovery anticipated to resonate with Cirque fans of all ages.
Centered around the journey of a young woman named Crystal, this show, created by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila, follows the young protagonist 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's meant to be – herself.
Some of the spectacles Cirque fans will witness as Crystal embarks on this journey, include the swinging trapeze, aerial straps, hand-balancing, banquine, and pendular poles performed over a bed of ice. Over 40 artists, both acrobats and skaters, will perform in the air and on the ice, seamlessly weaving together both disciplines into a one-of-a-kind spectacle.
Cirque du Soleil
To adapt to this new cold offering, the Cirque costume department retrofitted over 5,000 pieces of costume for this tour to withstand the rigors of the ice and the strenuousness of each performance. Also, Porters – the performers designated to catch the acrobats tossed into the air – have been equipped with special padding on their shoulders and gloves made of Kevlar to absorb shock and protect them from the razor-sharp skate blades. Further, all the costumes were designed with water-resistant and non-absorbent materials, allowing artists to gracefully slide and glide on the ice without getting wet. The acrobat's shoes were also retrofitted with several small metal spikes in the soles, helping to stabilize their balance and perform floor tricks on the ice.
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, according to a release. "CRYSTAL" is also the only Cirque du Soleil production currently touring to incorporate well-known pop songs into its soundtrack.
"' CRYSTAL' pushes the boundaries of what is possible within the discipline that is the circus arts. The show highlights Cirque du Soleil's creativity in a new way and encourages audiences to find the magic of the everyday," says Artistic Director Robert Tannion. "Every time you watch the show, you'll see something new; it is a magical, dreamlike production bursting at the seams with high-quality visuals, familiar songs, and, of course, that adrenaline-inducing Cirque-style action that audiences all over the world have come to know and love. We can't wait to bring 'CRYSTAL' back to Texas."
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for CRYSTAL in Frisco and Fort Worth are available to the general public today, Monday, August 28, at 10 a.m. at www.cirquedusoleil.com/crystal.
Performance Schedule – Cirque du Soleil's 'CRYSTAL' in Frisco at the Comerica Center (2601 Avenue of the Stars)
Wednesday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday, February 11, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Performance Schedule – Cirque du Soleil's 'CRYSTAL' in Fort Worth at the Dickies Arena (1911 Montgomery St.)
Thursday, February 15 at 7 p.m.
Friday, February 16 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 17, at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 18, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
