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about the show

CHEVAL, produced by CHEVAL THÉÂTRE inc. literally means “horse” in French. The show is the creation of Gilles Ste-Croix, who developed Saltimbanco,” “Alegria,” “Quidam,” “Mystere,” “O,” “La Nouba,” and “Dralion,” hile Director of creation of Cirque du Soleil. For Ste-Croix, CHEVAL is the fulfillment of a life long dream - of a show that celebrates and showcases the extraordinary capabilities of horses.

Ste-Croix said, “I want to combine the strength and grace of the horse with the theatricality of humans and imagine a space where horses and humans respect each other, interact, and create magical moments.”

The experience begins even before the show starts, as the audience walks through the stable tent - the home for the horses while on tour - before entering the 1 500 seat main arena. The exterior of this round, multi-peaked tent is unlike anything most Americans have seen - and is hand-painted to look like a castle from the Loire Valley in France.

The horses include the spirited Spanish horses, a haughty breed that artists and sculptors have chosen as models for centuries. Belgians, Percherons, Paint Horse, Hungarian draft horses, Haflingers, and Canadians carry fearless, agile athletes on their powerful hindquarters, defying the laws of gravity. Miniature horse make up in spirit what they lack in size.

Mounts of thoroughbred Arabians, Barbs, Andalusians, and Friesians perform artistic figures from the High School dressage, inspiring emotions that will touch all, from those who are familiar with the fine points of equestrian to those new to horses. And for the first time in North America, spectators will see Russian horses with legendary speed and endurance, from breeds as exquisite and sought-after as the Russian Trotter and the Don.