Horses, acrobats and musicians trot out to stage spectacular Qasr Al Hosn show

ABU DHABI // A spectacular Arabian-themed stage show featuring acrobats, musicians and horses is to be held in the capital in February.
Cavalia at Qasr Al Hosn is being put together by Normand Latourelle, one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil, and celebrates the relationships between horses and humans.
This will be the first show of its kind to reach the Middle East and has been specially adapted to reflect Emirati culture and the Qasr Al Hosn festival.
A village will be set up using 2,500 tonnes of sand and clay - the equivalent of 100 lorry loads - with three large tents to be erected and used for practice, stables and artistic performance.
The performance tent will have a 60-metre-wide screen projecting a changing digital background.
Eleven equestrian breeds will perform in a 2,440-square-metre area.
Forty-one horses will be coming from Spain, France, Portugal, Canada, the United States, Australia and the Netherlands.
Research into the UAE led to the music for the show being changed to match the country's heritage.
"We are thrilled to be bringing Cavalia to Abu Dhabi," said Latourelle, the founder and director of the show.
"The show is a vivid celebration of the equestrian arts and, combined with performing arts and special effects, it is unlike anything anyone has ever seen.
"It's also particularly nice to be taking Cavalia to a part of the world where horses have played a fundamental role in the country's culture and history."
The show will be at the Qasr Al Hosn Festival to celebrate the birthplace of the capital and Emirati culture.
Qasr Al Hosn is an annual event held to strengthen Emirati heritage and identity. It includes exhibitions, workshops and historic activities.
Cavalia was first produced in 2003 and has millions of fans across the world.
It is to be held under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) as a way of promoting the country's heritage.
Mubarak Al Muhairi, the director of the authority, said Cavalia would bring joy to people and also promote the rich heritage of the UAE.
"We are delighted that Cavalia at Qasr Al Hosn will be performing in Abu Dhabi as part of the wider Qasr Al Hosn Festival activities, especially as equestrian art is intrinsic to Emirati culture and tradition," he said.
TCA Abu Dhabi aims to conserve and promote the Emirati culture by developing events and destinations that relate to the preservation of the country's heritage and culture.
The authority's developing projects include Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Tickets costing Dh250 will be available from selected Virgin Megastores and on www.ticketmaster.ae.
For more information visit www.cavalia.net and www.qasralhosnfestival.ae
aalkhoori@thenational.ae