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How Cirque du Soleil Is Crafting the ‘Dreamlike’ Music Behind New Aquatic Spectacle In Nuevo Vallarta
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As we watched acrobats twirl and twist across the air, committing to gravity-defying feats amidst the backdrop of elaborate sets — a full-sized pirate ship, two story-tall books opening their pages — all I can think back to is the pre-show of this performance of Cirque du Soleil’s JOYá: three seasoned musicians, humbly spotlit on the stage, simply performing the son cubano classic, “Chan-Chan”.
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One of the most underrated aspects of Cirque du Soleil performances are the soundtracks, unless of course, you’re attending one of their more popular jukebox musical-style residencies (Love, Viva Elvis, and Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, specifically). It’s easy to understand why — I was captivated at first sight by the lush Mayan jungle environment of VidantaWorld Riviera Maya’s theater, where JOYá enjoys its residency. Ambient bird calls play over the speakers, blue jellyfish-shaped lights hung from the ceiling, while vines twist and encroach on an old professor’s expansive study on stage. But as the official show started after dinner, it would be hard not to note the musicians who become almost part of the story’s set themselves, stepping in the background, yet visible at all times.
Shows like JOYá are a shot of pure, concentrated energy, and worthy traveling miles to witness — the live music is a part of that. From original compositions, to “world” beats (a nebulous genre, yet given CdS’s international presence and influence, feels like an apt descriptor), the conception of the score is almost as important as crafting the narrative of the show itself, according to Executive Vice Chairman and former Cirque du Soleil CEO, Daniel Lamarre. “It’s very important, and I would say that it’s one of the elements that make our shows unique. We think of the music almost like a movie, but even more so, because the performers are part of the cast of characters, playing live.”
This brings new creative challenges when producing a fresh concept — continuing a decade-long partnership with Grupo Vidanta, their latest show LUD? is set to premiere next year solely at VidantaWorld’s BON in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (which will also house the world’s first luxury theme park, opening in 2026). LUD? (from the Latin word for “I play”) is more than just a show — it’s an ambitious fusion of live music, acrobatics, and gourmet dinner theater. Set in a cutting-edge, 696-seat custom theater, we’re told that “water flows through every aspect of the story”, similar to their long-running show O in Las Vegas. However this aquatic-themed theater will feature a wrap-around aquarium, with advanced acoustics that were made to compliment the “dreamlike” score and fill the unique space.
“The score was written with the idea in mind to envelop the performers, as if you, yourself, were underwater,” explains Lamarre. “The only element that we had to be careful about when it came to the music was how it complimented the human performing acts. It was very important that we built some good, basic energy, because there are some comedic acts. The pacing is something that is very important, and we accentuate pacing here because the music is there to sustain the narrative.”
The process of choreographing the show was also different due to the nature of the circular, aquarium-esque element of the show. “It took some guts [Laughs]. Just as an example, we’ve seen a lot of aquariums, right? And they’re all flat, right? So here, we will have a glass wall that is surrounding the theater, so just the technology to make sure that would work and that the water won’t leak was a challenge.”
However, he says their experience with producing the water elements in O did make a difference. “If you go below the stage basin [at O in Las Vegas], you can see what’s happening in the pool. It’s a show in and of itself. But we always said to each other, maybe one day we should do something that the public can appreciate. And it’s different skills you have to look for in performers, but it’s worth it.”
While that doesn’t mean we expect to see, say, a violin quartet playing underwater (or will we? Specific show details are being kept heavily under wraps), Lamarre does make it clear that similar to other former Cirque du Soleil productions, live music will be another integral part of LUD?. “We are probably one of the largest companies in term of hiring musicians, because all of our musical performances are live. You know, a lot of circus shows play with a [soundtrack] tape, and we’ve never done that. We didn’t want to anyways, because we like the idea that the musicians are part of the show. You can feel their energy, and they become part of the room. In our new show, we integrate our musicians in a unique way because, again, that’s something unique to Cirque.”
Opening in Nov. 2025, LUD? will officially kick off with over 300 planned shows per year, and the only way you’ll be able to see it is at VidantaWorld’s Nuevo Vallarta resort. Whether you’re a Cirque enthusiast, or just see it as an added entertainment bonus to staying at one of the best luxury travel destinations in Mexico, it’s definitely set to become a must-see attraction. VidantaWorld is even offering exclusive vacation packages early next year for LUD? so guests can get a closer look into the artistry and technical innovations behind the scenes (package info will become available in early 2025, with priority access for VidantaWorld newsletter subscribers starting in February). Pre-sale sign-ups for dinner show tickets are now live on cirquedusoleil.com/ludo and you can find out more information on BON in Nuevo Vallarta here — so be sure to snag those seats before your next trip.
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