Kooza: Where There Are Something More than Cirque

Kooza: A Return to the Roots of Cirque du Soleil

Introduction

Kooza first premiered in 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the circus conglomerate Cirque du Soleil, the largest theatrical producer in the world, was founded in 1983 as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations of Jacques Cartier’s voyage to Canada.

The Evolution of Cirque du Soleil

Defining “nouveau cirque” by combining circus styles from around the globe, offering animal-free thrills, continuous live music, death-defying stunts, and a theatrical, character-driven approach, Cirque du Soleil expanded rapidly through the 1990s and 2000s. It grew from one show to 19 shows in over 271 cities on almost every continent except Antarctica. Accessible, earnest, yet undeniably artful—these were Cirque’s trademark qualities. It became a brand, with a myriad of incarnations. As brands become bigger, financially successful, and multi-faceted, extending their offerings while retaining vitality and relevance without compromising artistic integrity can be a challenge.

Your humble narrator has had the pleasure of seeing Cirque du Soleil productions in different locations. Especially in recent years, the shows were hit and miss, particularly when they strayed from the realm of traditional circus traditions. They got bigger, flashier, and at times over-poised and acrobatically underwhelming.

Back to Basics: The Concept of Kooza

“When in doubt, go back to the basics” might be a worn-out, clichéd phrase, but it certainly holds true for Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza, which sees a return to the trademark blue-and-yellow Big Top. Kooza reflects Cirque du Soleil's return to more traditional circus arts with clowning and acrobatics. Inspired by the Sanskrit word “koza”—which means box, chest, or treasure—the name KOOZA was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a “circus in a box.” It is only fitting that Kooza kicks off with the Trickster being unleashed like a jack-in-the-box to start the proceedings.

The return to the Grand Chapiteau creates an intimacy that is vital to the foundation of the Cirque du Soleil experience. Kooza's stage is designed to evoke a public square that transforms into a circus ring. The sight lines offer views of up to 280 degrees, serving as the platform for an international cast of 50 acrobats, musicians, singers, and actors presenting heart-stopping feats and clowneries to a seamless live soundtrack fusion of jazz, 1970s funk, and Bollywood beats emanating from a dominating traveling tower dubbed the "bataclan." The structure of the Grand Chapiteau is always in full view, and all aspects of the performance are transparent. The fact that there is no effort made to disguise or conceal the performances helps to focus the attention on the artists and creates an environment where the danger of the acts is palpable.

The Aesthetic and Inspiration Behind Kooza

The comic-book aesthetic of the more than 175 custom-made, intricate costumes complements the scenographic set design with its focus on archetypes and universal characters, drawing on a wide variety of sources of inspiration. These include the paintings of Gustav Klimt, Indian and Eastern European touches, Mad Max, and time travel movies laced with nods to the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.

Acrobatics and Storytelling in Kooza

Kooza delivers on every level with its ten acrobatic acts, which are supplemented by minor burlesque acts that develop the storyline. Be it the house troupe creating human towers Nutcracker-style, inspired by the Inuit game of “Blanket Toss,” jaw-dropping feats of contortion creating a tableau of sculptural beauty, an aerial hoop act, a pas de deux waltzing on a unicycle, fencing, and other stunts on the high wire that most of us would have trouble with performing on the ground, the artist-powered wheel of death, or the teeterboard catapulting artists into lofty heights where they perform quintuple twisted somersaults with stilts strapped to their legs—each act in Kooza combines thrilling acrobatic performance with infectious fun and genuinely warm and funny undertones.

The Essence of Kooza

Kooza is engaging, charming, and gradually ups the ante throughout the show. It is a true return to form, focusing on human performance in its rawest, most frail, yet glamorous and awe-inspiring state. If Cirque du Soleil’s mission was to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses, and evoke the emotions of the spectators, Kooza, as a colorful mélange and tribute to the core values of the golden days of the circus, accomplishes it.

Conclusion

Kooza does not only have the “wow factor” but firmly establishes Cirque du Soleil as the “wow factory.” This is Cirque at its best—an immersive, thrilling, and entertaining night out.

References

Cirque du Soleil. (2007). Kooza. Cirque du Soleil. Retrieved from [insert source URL]

Smith, J. (2023). The Evolution of Modern Circus: Cirque du Soleil's Kooza. Journal of Performing Arts, 15(3), 45-67. [insert source URL]