I just saw Cavalia at The Meadowlands. My pre-conception, from the ad in the New York Times, was that it might be something like The Spanish Riding Academy - beautifully performed intricate steps by perfectly trained horses. No No No. This is a fantasy trip about horses, filled with Cirque dancing and gymnastics, and the horses are mostly riderless, solo or in bunches, amazingly controlled in intricate patterns by soft voice commands from a lovely woman or men who stand on them like heroes of old as they race around the track on the stage.
Cavalia has a cast of superb athletes who flip, twirl, use trampolines like elfin figures flying through the air, and there are rope dancers, trapeze acrobats -- all masterfully coordinated. And, in Act 2, there is Western trick riding. The fantastic projections and brilliantly subtle lighting are magical. The artistry in Cavalia, with its special view of horses, is a masterpiece on the level of Cirque du Soleil's O. It's a privilege to have experienced it.
