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Cavalia is an equestrian circus troop which was conceived by the visionary Normand Latourelle, who had already been part of Cirque du Soleil as well. With his strong dream of creating a show where men and horses interact in harmony, Latourelle was able to bring Cavalia to the stage. Fully respecting the animal’s nobility and overcoming a number of financial obstacles along the way.
Created in 2003 by Normand Latourelle under the name Voltige, the very first show, A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse, was held in Shawinigan, Quebec.
People were sceptical, because until then they hadn’t quite seen anything like this. Also, the financial risks of producing this show endeavour were enormous.
But Latourelle did not waver. He said, “The logistics are complex, but show business is all about taking risks.”
The show was a sensation as soon as it opened. And the troop has been growing ever since.
In 2013, Latourelle said, ”I thought maybe we’d tour for two years. A decade later, the world really has become our stage.”
The large scale multimedia performance the company delivers is often compared to Cirque du Soleil, of which Latourelle was one of the four original co-founders, as well as Managing Director and Executive Vice-President from 1985 to 1990.
Apart from Latourelle’s history, however, Cavalia has no affiliation with Cirque du Soleil and remains a separate entity.
The company’s original production, Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse, has been touring since 2003.
Odysseo, Cavalia‘s second show, premiered in October 2011 in Laval, Quebec.
Cavalia’s Big Top alone is a sight to behold. Like the first production’s Big Top, Odysseo‘s tent was designed specifically for the needs of the show and the vision of its creators.
The Big Top, which is completely white, can accommodate 2’000 viewers and is set up like a kind of cathedral with its four majestic towers.
Covering an area of 50 metres, the stage requires more than 6’000 tonnes of rock, earth, and sand for its construction in order to provide the horses and their riders the most secure freedom of movement.
This Big Top is two and a quarter times bigger than the first one and is (as of September 2013) the largest touring tent in the world.
Illumi – A Dazzling World of Lights is Cavalia’s latest creation. It premiered in September 2022. A magical and captivating nocturnal journey created with thousands of monumental light sculptures.
In an interview with the Toronto Star, Latourelle said, “We are incredibly excited to call Mississauga the new home of Illumi. And spark the imagination, curiosity, and emotions of people of all ages across Ontario and beyond. We are deeply proud of the immersive worlds we have created – all with the intent to bring people together to experience joy and wonderment in a unique, magical, and mesmerizing setting.”
No matter how much Cavalia’s productions grow, continuing to take good care of the show’s heart and soul – the horses – remains key and goal of the company.
The Cavalia stables include 150 horses.
The riders and trainers are all imbued with Normand Latourelle’s original philosophy, namely respect for the animals, their way of life, and their well-being.
Each horse has its own personality. So, dialogue and tenderness are an inherent part of the training and performances.
Listening to each horse and being in tune with its nobility and personality is the very cornerstone of the show’s artistic creation.
The Cavalia website states, “Cavalia’s approach is based on training methods designed to ensure that the horses enjoy training with us and performing on stage. Trainers pay close attention to the horses to make sure that every request is understood. And the trainers remain respectful of what the horses are ready to offer. Our philosophy is rooted in patience, trust, and deep-seated respect. This genuine sense of caring and authenticity is inevitably what resonates with our audiences.”
Official Website Cavalia
Cavalia on Wikipedia
Toronto Star: Introducing Illumi – A Dazzling World of Lights, the latest Cavalia production
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Liam Klenk was born in Central Europe and has since lived on four continents. Liam has always been engaged in creative pursuits, ranging from photography and graphic design, to writing short stories and poetry, to working in theatre and shows. In 2016, Liam published his first book and memoir, 'Paralian'.
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