Cavalia is not your typical horse show.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when my daughter, Kayla, and I attended Tuesday’s opening night performance. A circus with horses, perhaps.

No, this Montreal-based performance under the big, castle-like tents near Bank of America stadium was so much more. Some have even compared it to Cirque du Soleil, except with horses. That’s not surprising given that both were founded by Normand Latourelle, who serves as artistic director for Cavalia.

While shows that feature animals are nothing new, throw in acrobats, dancers, riders and musicians, and you've got a spectacular performance that's on a whole new level.

Kayla and I got seats so close to the stage that we could see the horse's nose hair and teeth. The first thing we noticed was that the horses didn't smell; we were stunned.

The opening scene was unexpected, and while I won't spoil it for you, its builds anticipation for what will come next.

Here's what I loved:

The show features 62 horses of 12 different breeds. The special multimedia imagery projected onto the stage was phenomenal. The audience magically watches days turned into nights. Seasons, and even the weather, change from rain to snow.

It was impressive to see the horses on stage a various points with no trainers. As they played with one another, it was as if they were in their natural habitat.

Live music set the tone as drums, guitars and keyboards seemed to play in sync with the movement of horses and acrobats.

The acrobats were impressive as they jumped ropes and even performed flips while riding horseback.

The trainers displayed complete control of the equines, and I was pleased to see that there was little use for whips.

Believe it or not, the horses reminded me of well-trained dogs. They could sit, stand, and do tricks on command. Who knew? I now have a better appreciation for these powerful yet graceful animals.

At times, portions of the show did seem to drag on too long. How many times do we need to see horses march forward, backward and then sideways? After you see it once, the "Ohh" and “Ahh's” tend to get stale.

Also, the stage does get crowded at times, making it difficult to keep up with all the action.

Overall, I'd liken Cavalia to a well-performed horse ballet. It isn't just for horse lovers; it's the perfect show to get your imagination moving.

The show will be in the Qcity through May 16. Ticket prices vary depending on seat location and day of the week, from a top price of $189.50 for adult to $34.50 for children 2 to 12.

For ticket information, visit www.cavalia.net
 

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