Kooza premiered in 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the circus conglomerate Cirque du Soleil, the world's largest theater producer, was founded in 1983 as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations of Jacques Cariter's trip to Canada. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Defining "nouveau cirque" by combining circus styles from around the world, animal-free thrills, continuous live music, death-defying acrobatics and its theatrical acrobatics, With a character-based approach, Cirque du Soleil it expanded rapidly in the 1990s and 2000s, growing from one show to 19 shows in over 271 cities on nearly every continent except Antarctica. Accessible, serious, yet undeniably skilled: these were Cirque's defining qualities. It has become a brand. A brand with myriad incarnations. As brands become larger, financially successful and multifaceted, extending their offerings while maintaining vitality and relevance without compromising their artistic integrity can be a challenge. Your humble narrator has had the pleasure of seeing Cirque du Soleil productions in different locations. Recent ones especially have been hit and miss, especially when the shows were derived from the realm of traditional circus traditions: they have become bigger, flashier and, at times, excessive and acrobatically disappointing. “When in doubt, go back to basics” might be a well-worn and clichéd phrase, but it's certainly true for Cirque du Soleil's Kooza, which sees a return to the signature blue and yellow big top. Kooza reflects Cirque du Soleil's return to the more traditional circus arts with clowning and acrobatics: inspired by the Sanskrit word "koza" - meaning box, chest or treasure, the name KOOZA was chosen because one of the concepts behind the production is the 'circus in a box' idea - it's fitting that Kooza kicks off with the Trickster being unleashed like a jack-in-the-box to kick off the proceedings. The return to the Grand Chapiteau creates an intimacy that is vital to the foundation of the Cirque du Soleil experience: the Kooza stage is designed to evoke a public square that transforms into a circus ring. The sight lines offer up to 280 degree views that serve as a platform for an international cast of 50 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors who present breathtaking feats and clowning with a live soundtrack that seamlessly blends jazz, funk of the years '70s and Bollywood beats emanating from a dominant traveling tower nicknamed "bataclan". The structure of the Grand Chapiteau is always clearly visible and all aspects of the show are transparent: the fact that no effort is made to disguise or hide the performances helps to focus attention on the artists and thus creates an environment in which the danger of acts is palpable. The comic-book aesthetic of the more than 175 intricate, custom-made costumes complements the scenic design with its attention to archetypes and universal characters, drawing from a wide variety of sources of inspiration: Gustav Klimt paintings, Indian and Indian touches Eastern Europe, Mad Max and time travel films intertwined with nods to the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. Kooza delivers on every level with its ten acrobatic acts, which are complemented by smaller burlesque acts that develop the plot: whether it's the house troupe creating Nutcracker-style human towers inspired by the Inuit game of "Blanket Toss", jaw-dropping feats of contortion creating pictures of sculptural beauty, an aerial hoop number, a pas de deux waltz on a unicycle, fencing and.