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gwinnettdailypost.com
SECTION C • SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015
spotlight on
SPRING & SUMMER ARTS
Cirque du Soleil’s latest arena touring production of “Varekai” will be at The Arena at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth from July 29 to Aug. 2, featuring a variety of thrilling acrobatic acts including the Russian Swings. (Special Photo: Rick Diamond)
ENCHANTED WORLD
Cirque du Soliel’s ‘Varekai’ to come to life at the Gwinnett arena
Cirque du Soleil’s latest arena touring production of “Varekai” features a variety of whimsical characters like La Promise, or The Betrothed. (Special Photo: Eric Piché)
Cirque du Soleil’s latest arena touring production of “Varekai” also features a variety of thrilling acrobatic acts including The Flight of Icarus. (Special Photo: Marco Cisaria)
By Katie Morris katie.morris@gwinnettdailypost.com
This summer, local audiences can escape to an extraordinary place hidden deep within a forest at the summit of a volcano — the world of “Varekai.” Here they’ll watch fantastical creatures come to life and witness the impossible become reality. IF YOU GO Cirque du Soleil will transform The Arena at GwinWhat: Cirque du nett Center into the enchanted world of “Varekai,” Soleil’s “Verakai” from July 29 through Aug. 2 when its latest arena Where: The Arena at touring production comes for eight performances. the Gwinnett Center, The word “Varekai” means “wherever” in the Ro6400 Sugarloaf Parkmany language of the gypsies, the universal wanderway in Duluth. ers. Written and directed by Dominic Champagne, When: July 29 - Aug, 2 Tickets: $40 to $145 the production is described as paying tribute to the More Info: www.gwinnomadic soul, the spirit and art of the circus tradition nettcenter.com or as well as to those who quest with infinite passion www.cirquedusoleil.com along the path leading to “Varekai.” The production combines drama and acrobatics to tell the story of Icarus, a young man who flies too close to the sun with wax wings and ends up falling out of the sky and into the world of “Varekai.” After landing in the enchanted forest, he embarks on an adventure both extraordinary and unbelievable, meeting a variety whimsical creatures along the way. Helping to bring the exotic creatures of “Varekai” to life are the original costumes designed by Japanese visual artist Eiko Ishioka, who has received many accolades for her designs including an Oscar Award for her costume designs seen in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” Head of Wardrobe, Tanya Jacobs, feels Ishioka’s unique designs help to create a visual experience that’s unlike any other show. “She was a very impressive costume designer and an amazing visual artist … and I think that influenced her designs a lot, and she took it to a whole new category, which makes it really exciting to work on this show because it’s not like any of the other shows that I’ve worked on,” she said. Ishioka incorporated vibrant colors as well as unusual shapes and forms in order to accentuate the performers movements and help visually enhance their acts. “She went quite deeply into having the costume support the movement,” Jacobs said. “She used a lot of silk … she wanted to get a very soft and fluid line finish, and she also used mytex, which was new at the time the show was being created. You apply it upon the fabric and you put a shine on it, so it’s a sheen. It almost looks scaly or wet but it gives it an all around shine that’s not glitter.” It’s difficult for Jacobs to pick a favorite act from the show but she really enjoys watching the thrilling finale, the Russian Swings. The act See VAREKAI, Page 2C
Cirque du Soleil’s “Varekai” will feature a variety of thrilling acrobatic acts including the Solo on Crutches. (Special Photo: Marco Cisaria) The Arena tour will also feature a variety of thrilling acrobatic acts including the Georgian Dance that takes its inspiration from a long tradition of resistance in the Republic of Georgia. (Special Photo: Rick Diamond)