Story by Ayman Shairzay

In a relatively short amount of time, Cirque du Soleil has managed to leave an indelible mark on the face of performing arts, with its surreal productions, super human casts, and millions of fans worldwide. The collaboration with Walt Disney World, exposing the Montreal-based organization to Orlando's millions of visitors, should prove to be a brilliant catalyst for Cirque du Soleil's ever-increasing popularity.

La Nouba, derived from the French expression "faire la Nouba", to live it up, renders proper description an exercise in futility, as do all Cirque du Soleil productions. La Nouba is a journey through the contrasting realms of Cirques (circus people) and Urbains (urbanites), featuring high wire, flying trapeze, and several other acro-gymnastic performances, all highly stylized and aesthetically stimulating. A magical blend of vivid costumes, ethereal motions, unexpected humor, and otherworldly music creates a bizarre yet utterly satisfying experience.

At once La Nouba creates a colorful, fantastical world at odds with the banality and gloom of the pedestrian world. Instead of annihilating each other, the juxtaposition of the two groups hints at what a parallel universe would resemble, simultaneously familiar yet completely unknown and dynamically edgy.

La Nouba was Cirque du Soleil's first permanent show, opening its doors in Downtown Disney West Side in the Walt Disney World Resort in 1998. The magnificent 1,671-seat theater was jointly conceived and constructed by Cirque du Soleil and Walt Disney World. La Nouba was choreographed specifically for and can only be seen in Orlando. When next visiting Mickey and Donald's neighborhood, make sure to also see the wonder of Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba.

www.cirquedusoleil.com