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Odysseo by Cavalia Live Equestrian Show Takes Horsing Around to Epic Levels

Odysseo by Cavalia Live Equestrian Show Takes Horsing Around to Epic Levels

5:16·By Gemma G
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YH does some horsing around, but in the best and most elegant way possible as we go behind the scenes of Odysseo by Cavalia, the equestrian spectacular that puts all other live shows to shame! Mastermind Normand Latourelle gives us the inside scoop of this huge undertaking, which includes 65 horse and 45 (human) performers, plus Claire Beer takes us into the stables to get to know some of the four-legged stars a little better!

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Young Hollywood

Hey guys, Audrey Cleo here for Young Hollywood and don't mind the smell.

Young Hollywood

I am actually behind the scenes of Odysseo by Cavalia.

Young Hollywood

A show unlike any you have ever seen before.

Young Hollywood

There are almost 50 acrobats, aerial artists, dancers, riders and of course, all the pretty horsey.

Young Hollywood

I'm with Norman Latourelle.

Young Hollywood

Thank you so much for having us.

Young Hollywood

This is an amazing show.

Young Hollywood

This is your baby.

Young Hollywood

This is your brainchild.

Young Hollywood

Logistically, what's the hardest thing for you about this show?

Norman Latourelle

Well, this is the biggest touring show in the world and we tour with 65 horses and 45 artists that are on stage.

Norman Latourelle

But in top of that, the site is very important.

Norman Latourelle

So we need 200,000 square feet because this is the biggest touring tent in the world.

Norman Latourelle

So it became the biggest touring show in the world.

Norman Latourelle

We traveled with 120 semi-trailer, we chartered Boeing 747 for all the horse between cities.

Norman Latourelle

And all that is very challenging.

Norman Latourelle

That have been said, we have a great success because people are here to see something that they cannot see anywhere else in the world.

Guest

Today, we're at the stables of Cavalia's Odysseo.

Guest

It's like a five-star hotel for horses.

Guest

This is Drago, one of my favorite horses that I have here.

Guest

He's super talented.

Guest

His specialties are dressage, which is kind of more of a dance with the horses, and he also does Roman riding, which is two horses and the, the girl stands with one foot on each horse and we do routines with that.

Guest

Um, he also does liberty, which we're going to demonstrate to you in a little bit and that's uh one of my favorites cuz that really shows you the connection that you have to have with the horse, because there's no tack, no equipment on him and it's your, your energy connecting with their energy and that's what liberty is.

Guest

He loves it.

Guest

So when I want him to back off a little bit, I kind of tell him just to back away.

Guest

When I want him to come forward, I use my energy.

Guest

Very nice.

Norman Latourelle

I'm one of the founder of Cirque du Soleil and I wanted to bring performing arts or entertainment a step much further.

Norman Latourelle

By including horses, but also get by giving myself a fabulous theater.

Norman Latourelle

And I call Odysseo a 6D show.

Young Hollywood

Why is that?

Norman Latourelle

Because you have many, many, many, many layers.

Norman Latourelle

So the first layer is the show start with the forest and then you happen to discover a real mountain that we got 30 something feet high.

Norman Latourelle

And then behind you have a screen which 3D images give you the feeling that you're into a journey.

Norman Latourelle

And that's where the name's coming from.

Norman Latourelle

It's an Odyssey.

Norman Latourelle

And at the end of the show, we call it Odysseo because the O, I'm French speaking and the O mean water.

Norman Latourelle

And the bottom of the stage get filled with 40,000 gallons of water and the horse and the acrobat just have fun in the water.

Young Hollywood

What's most impressive too, is that when you started, you actually didn't know anything about horses.

Young Hollywood

Is that true?

Norman Latourelle

Yeah, totally true.

Norman Latourelle

When I left Cirque, I started Cavalia.

Norman Latourelle

I could barely see the difference between a cow and a horse.

Young Hollywood

Well, what's the thing that makes you the most nervous on like an opening night?

Norman Latourelle

It's not the horse because the horse, you can rely on them.

Norman Latourelle

It's all the technique.

Norman Latourelle

This is the most sophisticated technical show, touring show in the world.

Norman Latourelle

I wanted to offer the audience the same quality or even better than any permanent show that we do in Vegas.

Young Hollywood

Which one's your favorite out of these four guys right here?

Norman Latourelle

They're very jealous.

Norman Latourelle

So I have no favorite horse because they're going to start to fight, you know, or But they're all very friendly.

Norman Latourelle

They're all very nice.

Guest

Every horse has its own personality.

Guest

So different personalities of people work with different personalities of horses.

Guest

And that's the really neat thing is you find those horses that you automatically connect with.

Guest

There we go.

Guest

Oh, There we go.

Guest

Come on.

Norman Latourelle

We have 11 different breed and we choose them because of their temper, but also because of the color.

Norman Latourelle

And here in this number, we call it Grand Liberté.

Norman Latourelle

But at one point there's 42 horses just running free on stage with no, they're not attached, they're just running free and having fun and we create a choreography with all those horses.

Norman Latourelle

You know, when we, you treat a horse very well and he's not afraid of you because you don't beat him, because you just go slowly with him, then he'll become your friend and they're just want to be friendly.

Young Hollywood

Well, it looks like a lot of fun, Normand.

Young Hollywood

I'm going to let you, you have a lot of work to do, so I'm going to let you go back and do it.

Young Hollywood

Thank you so much for letting us drop by.

Young Hollywood

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I think that's enough horse around for one day.

Young Hollywood

Don't you think?

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Audrey Cleo

    Host for Young Hollywood

  • Normand Latourelle

    Mastermind and founder of Cavalia and Odysseo

  • Claire Beer

    Takes viewers into the stables to meet horses

FAQ

What is Odysseo by Cavalia?+
Odysseo by Cavalia is an equestrian spectacular that combines 65 horses and 45 human performers, featuring acrobats, aerial artists, dancers, and riders.
Who founded Odysseo by Cavalia?+
Odysseo by Cavalia was founded by Normand Latourelle, who was also one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil.
How many horses and performers are in Odysseo?+
The show features 65 horses and 45 human performers, including acrobats, aerial artists, dancers, and riders.
What is the '6D' aspect of Odysseo?+
The show is called '6D' due to its many layers, including a forest, a 30-something-foot mountain, a screen with 3D images, and a finale where the stage fills with 40,000 gallons of water.
What is 'liberty' training with horses?+
Liberty training involves connecting with a horse using energy, without tack or equipment, allowing the horse to run free and follow cues.
How large is the tent for Odysseo by Cavalia?+
The show tours with the biggest touring tent in the world, requiring 200,000 square feet.

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