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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL RETURNS TO DALLAS

to present its latest live touring production CORTEO™
Opens Friday, February 9 under the Blue-and-Yellow

Grand Chapiteau at Fair Park

Edited by Madelyn Miller, the travellady

I am a Cirque Du Soleil addict. I can’t miss a show. There is only one show I have not seen and I am trying to work out my complicated travel schedule to get to that one.

Of course, the easiest way to see Cirque du Soleil is to live in one of the towns that are lucky enough to get a touring production.

Dallas in one of the chosen few. I call that really lucky.

Dallas/Fort Worth is set to be dazzled as Cirque du Soleil will perform for the first time with is latest live touring production Corteo. Opening on February 9, Corteo will perform for a limited engagement at Fair Park under its trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau.  After a two-year absence, Corteo is the 5th live touring show production to perform in Dallas. More than 500,000 people from Dallas/Fort Worth were thrilled by Quidam™ (1998), Dralion™ (2001), Alegría™ (2003) and Varekai™ (2004).

Tickets for the general public will go on sale Sunday, September 24 at 9 a.m. and may be purchased by calling Admission Network at 1 800 678-5440 or online at www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Corteo, which means “cortege” in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music, by turns lyrical and playful, carries Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.

The cast and the act

The cast of Corteo brings together over 55 artists from 16 different countries: Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Italy, Israel, Kenya, Romania, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and Ukraine.

Corteo explores the circus arts in a way that is brand new to Cirque du Soleil. Once again, the very limits of acrobatics are challenged as Daniele Finzi Pasca lends his unique touch to Cirque du Soleil spectacular performances.  Corteo redefines the springboard, the Korean frame and the tightwire, and presents acts that are as original as they are innovative. The desire to surprise and move the audience is a big part of the inspiration behind Corteo.

The creators

Daniele Finzi Pasca is the director of this new production, which calls on the talents of 14 different creators, nearly half of whom are working with Cirque du Soleil for the first time. Members of the creative team are: Guy Laliberté: Guide, Daniele Finzi Pasca: Creator and Director, Line Tremblay: Director of Creation, Jean Rabasse: Set Designer and Decorator, Dominique Lemieux: Costume Designer, Philippe Leduc: Composer and Musical Director, Maria Bonzanigo: Composer and Musical Director, Martin Labrecque: Lighting Designer, Jonathan Deans: Sound Designer, Hugo Gargiulo  Teatro Sunil: Acting Designer, Antonio Vergamini, Teatro Sunil: Acting Designer, Dolores Heredia  Teatro Sunil: Dramaturgical Analyst Danny Zen: Acrobatic Rigging Designer, Nathalie Gagné: Make-up Designer.

The North American Tour

Since its debut in April 2005 in Montreal, Corteo has visited so far 10 cities throughout Canada and the United States. Before arriving in Dallas, Corteo will play limited engagements in Boston, Washington, DC (opening October 26) and Atlanta (opening December 15).

Sponsors and media partners

Cirque du Soleil gratefully acknowledges CGI, AMERICAN EXPRESS and CELEBRITY CRUISES as the Official Sponsors of the 2006 US Tours. Our media partners in Dallas are Mix 102.9 and The Dallas Observer.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who contributes to www.travellady.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.chcoolatateatlas.com, www.carladynews.com and has several other websites planned

CORTEO™ OPENS FEBRUARY 9 IN DALLAS
For a limited engagement

Tickets available at www.cirquedusoleil.com or
By phone at 1 800-678-5440

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesdays to Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. 
There is no performance of Mondays
Only one performance will be held on Saturday, February 10 at 8 p.m.

TICKET PRICES (taxes included)
Prices range from $40 to $75 for adults,
and from $28 to $52.50 for children (2 to 12 years, inclusive).
For students 13 and over and seniors (65 and over), prices range from
$36 to $67.50, on weekdays only (Tuesdays to Thursdays, and Fridays at 4 p.m.)

GROUP RESERVATIONS
For group reservations for 20 adults or more,
call the Admission Network at 1 800 450-1480 or reserve online at www.cirquedusoleil.com.  For corporate hospitality events, call 1-866-6CIRQUE or online at group.sales@cirquedusoleil.com

TAPIS ROUGE™ VIP EXPERIENCE
The TAPIS ROUGE VIP experience includes one of the best seats in the house, refreshments, unique multimedia entertainment and access to the exclusive Tapis Rouge suite one hour prior to show time. The TAPIS ROUGE VIP experience is available for $195 for adults and $136.50 for children ages 2-12 (taxes included). Connect to www.cirquedusoleil.com or call the Admission Network at 1 800 678-5440

AMERICAN EXPRESS OFFER
Preferred seating and other special advantages for American Express® Cardmembers, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/amex.

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