Date Night: Cirque du Soleil, Amaluna (and GIVEAWAY: UPDATED!)
I know I’m not alone when I say I have a fear of clowns.
Growing up, the Ringling Bros. would descend upon our middle school gymnasium for a night or two in our sleepy little town on the Erie Canal. Masses of children and adults alike would emerge from their homes and like ants, file into a space transformed for magic. As a child, I remember marveling at the acrobatics, cringing at the idea of caged animals, and wondering how in the world people could live a traveling life.
And then I saw Disney’s Something Wicked this Way Comes and carnivals and circus life terrified me for good.
A circus girl, I am not. But the magic of the big top and the theatrics live in my memory happily, and the recollection of contortionists and gymnasts on a high rope I still hold dear. As long as I have known what Cirque du Soleil is, it’s been firmly situated at the top of my bucket list. This past Sunday, a dream of mine was realized as Scott and I were invited to attend the newest of the Cirque shows, Amaluna, at National Harbor in Maryland.
Cirque du Soleil, in my eyes, is the thrill of the big top married to the magic of live theater. There are no whips and lions, but a few dozen performers whose commitment to their body and their act is beyond my comprehension. Lights, live music, enchanting costumes all bring the show to life, and for two hours I was transported to the Island they created in the middle of that big top.
Amaluna was designed around the female capacity, and the show is 70% women. Though a story is woven throughout the acts, it was the range of performances that left me breathless. Scott and I spent more time grabbing each others’ knee in excitement, and locking eyes in amazement when the human body pushed past limits we have always set for our own. A week later and I am still reliving the Balance Goddess, the Amazons, and the feature Waterbowl act. Every moment of the show was incredible, and I would see it over and over again if I could.
The lucky winner of the Amaluna tickets is….Lindsay! Thank you to all who entered! We have several more giveaways planned in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
-Al