Bub & Me: Cavalia Singapore Horse Show @ Bayfront Avenue, Marina Bay

Cavalia, a theatrical production created by Normand Latourelle {one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil} is having its debut Asian tour now with its first stop is Singapore!! Since Lil Pumpkin loves live performances and such, this show was definitely on our must-watch list since we heard it on the news a few months back.

Cavalia is a lavish production involving 50 magnificent horses and featuring 43 riders, aerialists, acrobats, dancers and musicians from all over the world. Seemed pretty exciting and not like any other show we've seen so far.

We were there for its opening show on Tuesday under its signature White Theatre Tent. It's apparently the largest touring tent in the world {!!} and certainly gives ample space for the horses and artists to perform.

I went to collect our tickets first but got a bit lost trying to find the entrance to the tents haha... walked one whole round before I realised it's just along the broadwalk facing the Singapore River. Just about 5 mins walk away from Marina Bay Sands {entrance near Carnivore} so very convenient.. if you know the correct way :P

Our show started at 7.30pm so after I met the boy and Lil Pumpkin, we had a look at the wide range of official merchandise {which can be purchased on their website as well}...

And buy the official program {S$20} plus a gigantic bag of popcorn {S$5} for Lil Pumpkin to munch on. She almost finished the whole thing!! We always try to get the programs to any shows we watch as it gives a lot of behind-the-scenes information and makes for a nice souvenir :) I was really tempted to get the stick horse for Lil Pumpkin but she wasn't too interested :P

In Cavalia, horses cavort with the many artists in front of a constantly changing digital background projected onto a 60 metre-wide screen, drawing spectators into dream-like environments across different countries and seasons. Unlike traditional horse shows, Cavalia’s audience faces a single 50 metre-wide stage which allows the horses space to gallop at full speed, at times completely unfettered by bridles or halters. I was so amazed at how tame and well-trained they were! It was just mind-blowing to see horses running freely in the middle of our developed city ;p

I read that Cavalia’s horse training is based upon a philosophy of understanding horses, rather than making horses understand the humans around them. Not master and beast; but man and friend. There is mutual respect, kindness, patience, and trust between the horses and humans. It certainly was very touching to see them interact and communicate.

Throughout the show, there were beautiful demonstrations of horsemanship that kept us fascinated at all times. There were some hiccups too, but it was great to see the performers keeping their composure, and trying the difficult maneuvers again and again until they got it right. Bravo!

Lil Pumpkin has been to a few live performances before this {such as Lightseeker & Drawing Show Hero} so we weren't worried about her not being able to sit still throughout the 2.5 hours show and paying attention {especially with the big bag of popcorn in her hands heh}. She was thoroughly entertained by the horses and acrobatic moves anyway, so it wasn't a far stretch.

However if your young ones aren't used to long shows, it might not be wise to bring them along though as the shows are typically full and there's no space to walk around if they get bored. Don't bother to bring your strollers as well since there won't be any place to store them.

After the show, Lil Pumpkin asked if she can try horse-riding :P That's on my 30 before 30 list and I was supposed to go with Susu before she gave birth but we postponed it. Guess I'll have to bring Lil Pumpkin along too when the time comes! :)

This video is a sneak peek of the actual Cavalia performance. If you are captivated after watching it, imagine how it was for us seeing the show live! ;)

No photography or video-taking during the show is allowed but that's ok, as I could fully immerse myself in the atmosphere and enjoy it with my family without holding on to a camera trying to get that perfect shot. The performance photos featured here are from Cavalia Singapore's website.   

Tips:

• Arrive at least 30 minutes before show time to buy snacks and find your seats.
• The White Theatre Tent is air-conditioned so wear comfortable, smart casual clothing
• Not recommended to wear heels as you'll have to walk on wooden planks
• Smoking is not permitted in the Theatre Tent
• Mobile phones must be turned off during the show
• No animals are permitted in the Theatre Tent {other than the performing horses} unless they are for guide or mobility assistance
• Use the restrooms at MBS to avoid the crowd. I reckon they are cleaner too! :P
• Light snacks and beverages are available for purchase. Eat full meals before watching.

Cavalia
White Theatre Tent at Bayfront Avenue, next to Marina Bay Sands.
Event period: 12 Aug 2014 - 14 Sep 2014
Ticket Price {excl. booking fee}:  S$58, $88, $98, $148, $188, $208 - $308 {VIP Packages}
Show Times: 7.30pm {Tue - Fri}, 2pm & 7.30pm {Sat} and 12pm & 5.30pm {Sun}
Duration: 2.5 hrs {incl. 30 minutes interval}
*Kids under 3 years old may be admitted free of charge & must be seated on the lap of a parent or guardian. Kids aged 3 years and above require a ticket for admission. Wheelchair section available in the front row.

Check out the rest of our Bub & Me activities or list of kid-friendly places in Singapore too.

* Disclosure: The event coverage was due to an invitation from Cavalia Singapore, thanks to Base Entertainment & Marina Bay Singapore. All opinions are my own.

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