Yeah, Kooza

Can I tell you...about the new Cirque du Soleil show entitled Kooza. Ever since David took me to my first Cirque show back in 1993, I've been a fan. We've seen most of their shows here in New York and in Las Vegas. What I love about their shows is that it's not only for kids but also for adults. Their themes, choreography, costumes, music, special effects and the variety of acts make their shows unforgettable and like nothing I've ever seen.
Kooza was inspired from the Sanskrit word "koza", meaning box, chest or treasure. This is Cirque's 20th production and with this show they went back to their classic circus roots.
The focus is and always has been about the performers and their talents, whether they are clowning around, walking on a tight rope, contorting their bodies or flying on a trapeze.There was a hint of the exotic East with the music and reminded me of the soundtrack of "Slumdog Millionaire", which I love. There are 175 costumes, 160 hats, 125 artists and employees, representing 17 different nationalities. Imagine that?! They're like the UN of circuses!The show was spectacular and undeniably had the Cirque sensibility. The clowns were funny and up to their usual antics picking people from the audience. I think this formula works every time no matter what show you see. Its fun seeing somebody else being embarrassed as long as it's not me. Some standouts for me were the Spineless Sisters ( that's what I'm calling them). They bent, twisted, intertwined and spiraled their bodies into the most impossible combinations and poses that it was almost uncomfortable to watch. The woman beside was cringing in her seat. They made it all look so easy, smiling as they performed.They also had Jenga Joe (again my made up nickname). One by one, he piled one chair on top of the other creating a 23 foot tower, with each addtion balancing with one hand as he lifted his entire body up in the air with such percision and grace it was mesmerizing. I'd like to add that he had zero body fat and a six pack to die for!At one point in the show, they had a group of guys on a tight rope, hopping, skipping, biking (yes, biking!) and somersaulting only to land back on the rope but one guy slipped. He lost his headress but managed to grab the rope and get back up. Everybody gasped and held their breath as he gathered his wits and continued to perform. Can I tell you...that made the show even more incredible and real. That slip made me realize how precarious these acts are and that someone can get hurt. Often times you see these shows and everything is done to perfection that you forget these performers are people and that accidents can happen.I highly recommend the show and I don't want to spoil the fun by telling you too much. Taking the water taxi from 35th Street to Randall's Island Park is also part of the fun. It's like going off to an adventure to a strange land to see these fantastic creatures visting from out of this world. Be prepared to be blown away because its yeah...Kooza!