Beloved by fans around the world, Cirque du Soleil’s Alegría returns to the Big Top once more to share its timeless story of resilience and hope. We attended the dress rehearsal for the classic power struggle of old-meets-new in Gatineau Quebec.

The masterpiece has been reinterpreted through today’s lens. Carried by an intangible wind of change, an emerging movement strives to shake the established order, instilling hope and renewal to bring light and harmony to their world. With its joyful spirit, Alegría is a vital, energizing force driven by a thirst for a brighter world. With its signature songs, acrobatics and memorable characters that have helped define the Cirque du Soleil aesthetic, Alegría is the reincarnation of a classic, reinterpreted for the age, and rekindled to inspire fans—old and new alike.

One of Cirque du Soleil’s most iconic productions, Alegría not only helped define the company’s signature style, but also paved the way for its worldwide expansion. Under the Big Top or in its arena configuration, Alegría was presented in 255 cities and seen by more than 14 million spectators worldwide over the course of its 19-year run, until its farewell tour in 2013. The show’s theme song, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1995 and continues to be a fan favorite, is the most listened-to Cirque du Soleil song on YouTube. As the show continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Cirque du Soleil fans, Alegría is being brought back to life for audiences to discover or rediscover.

Cirque du Soleil has revisited its legendary show through today’s lens—including new costumes and set design, a renewed acrobatic vocabulary, and new musical arrangements —to ensure it is as inspiring now as it was at the time of its creation in 1994. Fans will recognize in the revival Alegría’s emblematic elements, which were the building blocks for the reincarnation. As classics often do, the show explores themes that remain relevant despite the passage of time—the quest for power, the thirst for change, and the triumph of light over darkness.

On a personal note, this is the seventh Cirque show I have had the pleasure of attending, including a few of their most beloved and long running blockbusters in Las Vegas. Alegria ranks in my top three mainly because of the interaction with the audience and I highly recommend checking it out.Alegria will be playing under the big top in Gatineau until the 1st of September and you can purchase tickets online here: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/canada/gatineau/alegria/buy-tickets

Here are just a few special moments from the dress rehearsal:

Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil9_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil8_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil7_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil6_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil5_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil4_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil3_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil2_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron CirqueDuSoleil1_ReneeDoiron_Alegria
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron
Alegria, performed by Cirque du Soleil in Gatineau QC. Photo: Renée Doiron