Recently our family had the opportunity to see Cirque du Soleil's latest collection of extravagant amusement, Kooza, at the Santa Clara fairgrounds making for the perfect family night out. The blue Big Top made it easy to find the show and will be pitched in San Jose until May 26th.
The author of this review received tickets to Kooza Cirque du Soleil to facilitate the review. All thoughts and opinions are their own.
If you have never experienced one of Cirque du Soleil's shows before you're in for a real treat with KOOZA. While the show highlights the pillars of traditional carnival performance, the level of skill and artistry greatly supersedes that of circus peanuts, ringmasters, and the air thick with sawdust. It is a sweet story of a boy's growing confidence in himself and his abilities, as he is challenged to face his fears and become a little bolder with the help of a few along the way.
Upon entering the tent you are transported into another world of theatrics accompanied by the most visually stunning costumes, sets, and musical arrangements. Cirque du Soleil never fails to provide beautiful costuming, and KOOZA is no exception, transforming the audience into the world that the artists have created. Each act builds upon the other with excitement from the unicyclist who effortlessly tosses his dance partner in the air, to the tightrope walkers balancing overhead and not to be forgotten, the men that run, performing gravity-defying acrobatics in the air on the flying wheel!
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It is truly a delightful show for young and old, a production in which everyone can find something that they enjoy. The crew of three clowns, a “Three Stooges” trio of sorts are interwoven throughout the show much to the audience’s delight, assuring that you find a laugh here and there. But watch out— if you're in the front row, you may just be pulled in as part of the act! I hear the king has lost his crown so I would look out for that.
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Another amazing layer to this show is the live music performed by two lead singers as their haunting voices pull you in and make you feel as if you too are part of the show. While I may like to think I just have the effortless refined, sophisticated taste of a 17-year-old, my sisters' reviews reach the same consensus….
Cori (13): “It was amazing. I was so intrigued and astonished by how people could master such insane skills like that. These people had complete faith in their muscle memory, hardly ever faltering in the crazy stunts. The stuff that they were doing seemed impossible. One woman performed acrobatics while being held above the head on a unicyclist, another jumped rope across a tightrope while someone rode a bike across the line straight toward him! And I remember thinking, 'Wow, these must be some of the most talented people in the world!'"
Char (11): “It was great, and I loved the performances. The performers had amazing talents and used those talents to execute such mind-blowing feats. The music was great and the costumes were playful and colorful.”
Overall we had a phenomenal experience packed with the magic that live performance has to offer, the only tips I have are regarding the logistical setup of the venue. Parking can be difficult so it is best to plan ahead. There will likely be traffic in the area entering the fairgrounds so I highly recommend arriving at the venue at least 45 minutes before the designated show time to be able to get your concessions and find your seats with ease. I urge you to go see it for yourself because KOOZA is truly a great one and perfect for the whole family!
Cirque du Soleil KOOZA combines acrobatic performance and the art of clowning, while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power and will be under the Big Top at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds through May 26, 2024. Purchase your tickets here today.
