In Singapore: Cavalia the equestrian extravaganza in Singapore

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A7R, Austria 2014, Cavalia, Fuji Xerox, full-frame, horses, MBS, performances, photography, photos, potd, Singapore, Sony, Vienna

Today, we take a break from Austria and look back at sunny Singapore. For fellow travellers who are visiting Singapore or are planning to visit Singapore around this time, you can check out Cavalia while you are here.

Cavalia is an equestrian theatrical performance that leverages innovative multimedia displays and multi-disciplinary performances. It is now running in Singapore from 12 August to 14 September 2014.

This pretty lady kept looking in my direction, so I took a portrait for her.

The production was created by Normand Latourelle, one of the co-founders of the famed Cirque du Soleil.

“Cavalia” is a fabricated word, inspired by the Spanish and French words for horse (caballo and cheval) and the English word cavalry.

Hailing from Montreal in Canada, the lavish production involves 50 horses and 46 riders, aerialists, acrobats, dancers and musicians from all over the world.

Since the show’s debut in 2003, some 4 million people from North America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East have watched the show.

Cast and dancers of Cavalia at the end of the show. I love how the lady’s face lit up when she turned around and smiled at her fellow dancer.

There has been more than 2,400 performances over the course of ten years. The 50 horses in Cavalia comprises 11 different breeds.

The period costumes and digital backdrops added a sense of surrealism to the production.

I had a chat with Alain Gauthier, the Choreographer for Cavalia last week.

Alain Gaulthier, Choreographer for Cavalia.

He shared that he tends to vary the movements slightly from one show to the next to keep the horses and performers from getting bored.

Occasionally, he would introduce a larger revamp to the show choreography, especially when the show is debutting in a new country, such as it’s doing now in Singapore.

The last revamp was about six months ago.

I had the pleasure of watching the renowned Spanish Riding School perform in Vienna in June.

That was a different show entirely, focussing more on control and restraint, where the riders and handlers showed off how well they can control the Lipizzaner horses to perform precise, controlled movements with slow dignified poise.

Thirsty horses after galloping through the water.

Cavalia, on the other hand, shows off the unbridled nature of its horses and you get to watch them as if they’re wild and free, galloping on the 50-metre wide stage.

Horseman herding “wild” horses as they gallop on the 50-metre wide stage. The Sony A7R didn’t have any problems following and freezing the action despite the low light and fast movement.

Personally, I enjoyed Cavalia tremendously. It is lively and entertaining and is two-and-a-half solid hours of visual treat for the audience – be it young or old and whether you’re a horse lover or not.

I believe Cavalia appeals to old and young, horse-lovers and non-horse-lovers alike. Fabulous show!

* All the photos in this article (except the portrait of Alain Gaulthier) were taken with a Sony A7R full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, with a 55-210mm E-mount zoom lens. Photo credit: John Tan.