Cavalia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2003 (as Voltige) |
| Founder | Normand Latourelle |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Normand Latourelle |
Number of employees | 500 |
| Website | www.cavalia.com |
Cavalia is a company that specializes in the creation, production and touring of live equestrian shows. It was founded by Normand Latourelle and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
Established in 2003 by Normand Latourelle under the name of "Voltige",[1] the first performance was held in Shawinigan, Quebec. The company's original production, Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse, has been touring since 2003.[2] Odysseo, Cavalia's show, premiered in October 2011 in Laval, Quebec.
In May 2009, the Government of Canada provided Cavalia with a $4-million loan to Cavalia Inc. to develop new productions and construct a horse-training facility in Sutton, Quebec.[3]
First Production: Cavalia, A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse
The first show is a tribute to the relationship between humans and horses throughout history. It is described as an equestrian ballet, it expresses a "dream of freedom, cooperation, and harmony". Riders, acrobats, dancers, and musicians share the stage with horses. A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse features about 50 horses, 5 musicians, and 45 artists including riders, aerialists, and acrobats.[2]
Performers
Many of the horses are Lusitanos, and the remainder are Andalusian horses, Canadian Horses, American Quarter Horses, Paint horses, Belgians, Percherons, Arabians, and Appaloosas. The show's horses were originally from Canada, France, Spain, and the United States.[4][citation needed]
The show also features a team of human international performers from Guinea, Canada, France, Kyrgyzstan, United States, Australia, Mexico, and Morocco, including acrobats, horsemen and horsewomen.
The Big Top
150 people work for the tent raising and site preparation. The installation lasts 12 days, while the removal is completed in three days. The tent is 30 meters (98 ft) high, the equivalent height of a 10-story building. 6,635 square meters (7,935 sqyd) of fabric is used to create the marquee that extends over an area of 2,440 square meters (26,264 sqft) . A screen of 70 meters (230 ft) serves as a backdrop for projections and multimedia effects. The stage is 50 meters (164 ft) in width, the length of an Olympic pool. 2,500 tons of sand, earth, and gravel, the equivalent of 100 trucks, are used to create the scene. The Big Top can accommodate up to 2,000 spectators. Cavalia's village includes nine tents: the White Big Top, a Rendezvous VIP Tent, Entrance tents, two Artistic tents, two warming tents, the Stable, and the Staff Cafeteria.[5] Inside the Stable, the horses consume 40 bales of hay, 900 kg (1,980 lb) of grain and 20 kg (44 lb) of carrots during one run of the show.
