UniverSoul Circus will celebrate 30 years as its show-stopping cultural extravaganza returns to Houston.
Opening June 13, the interactive “Family Reunion Tour” will bring together big names from five continents all backed by the infectious beat of world music including sounds and dance styles spanning the African diaspora. The show will run through Sunday, July 7, at Butler Stadium.
“Our special presentation of 'Cousins Around the World' celebrates a global community that connects us all in a more inclusive society," said UniverSoul founder and CEO Cedric Walker. "United in the spirit of family, we strongly believe that soul is not a color; it's an experience.”
Reimagined with over a dozen culturally diverse performances under a sparkling new big top (Walker says the top comes from Italy with state-of-the-art lighting and “a sound system that moves and grooves as if it were the show itself”), UniverSoul features never-before-seen acts from Ethiopia, the Dominican Republic, and Mongolia, plus an 18-person flying trapeze act from China.
New world-class artists this year include the enchanting Power of Love duo ballerina act from Mongolia who performs ballet on the shoulders and back of her male partner; the soul-stirring African Dream hoop divers from Addis Abba, Ethiopia; and the beautiful Ethiopian female duo Morning Dove, with their stunning aerial contortion acrobatic act.
Other new additions include a one-of-a-kind flying trapeze act with 18 people flying in the air between three positions on multiple cues; an exciting, styled teeterboard act from Ethiopia; a tantalizing strong-man hand-balance duo called Double Vision from the Dominican Republic; and a dynamic twirling Cuban-Caribbean dance party and roller skating-themed spectacular.
In addition, the fan favorites – Caribbean Street Carnival – will bring flair with 20-foot dancing puppets, fire-blowing stilt dancers, authentic folklore characters and dancers from almost every Caribbean Island. The kid-friendly, hip-hop dancing Fresh the Clowns will turn up the crowd with the hottest dance moves, while the extremely dangerous wheel of death stuntmasters will have crowds on the edge of their seats as they flip, dive and jump on a fast-moving pendulum 60 feet in the air.
Enjoyed by more than 25 million people from around the world and rated as one of the top live family acts in America along with Cirque du Soleil, UniverSoul Circus’ highly interactive combination of circus arts, theater and music spans genres including pop, classic R&B, Latin, hip hop, jazz and gospel. The audience is part of the show, and everyone gets to participate. Whether playing “Simon Says,” showing off their Swag Surf dance moves or singing in the “Soul Karaoke” spotlight, the patrons take the spotlight. Fresh the Clowns choose kids from the seats for the Big Top Kids Dance contest, and the entire tent gets to play as the beach balls bounce overhead.
Tickets are $25 and up at ticketmaster.com. For more info on ticket prices, show times and schedules, go to the UniverSoul Circus website.
UniverSoul Circus opens June 13.
Photo by Tim Pethel
UniverSoul Circus opens June 13.
