Dance and circus fans alike will gather tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Ford Center for a performance from Canadian group Cirque Éloize. The contemporary circus group is stopping in Oxford on tour with their newest show “Saloon.”
“Saloon,” an 85-minute show that includes eight acrobats and three musicians, is a Wild West adventure that features music from Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Lead Belly and other country tunes like “Cotton-Eyed Joe,” “Ol’ Square Dance” and “Ida Red.”
Éloi Painchaud, the music director, composer and arranger of the music for the show, said that arranging the music for “Saloon” was more than just choosing and writing tracks that best fit the performance.
“Each of the circus disciplines developed in Saloon demands a particular approach. I had to consider not only the story but also the frantic movements of bodies in space,” Éloi Painchaud said. “The acrobats’ high-level proficiency and sense of danger totally captivated me. The music acts like a soundtrack of a live movie and, in this context, the influence of a master like Ennio Morricone was unavoidable.”
Cirque Éloize has been performing worldwide for almost 25 years, and “Saloon” has been on tour since 2016. Emmanuel Guillaume, the director, said that the show is essentially one big collaborative effort between many talents — including the acrobats, musicians and directors.
“This is why I propose the raw story to them as a backbone around which they articulate and develop the creation according to their expertise,” Guillaume said. “From the beginning to end of the creative process, this back and forth of exchanges between the talent and I fleshed out the raw story until Saloon was fully created.”
Jeannot Painchaud, the president, artistic director and creative director, said that the artistic journey throughout Cirque Éloize’s career is mirrored in the show.
“The inspiration for this show comes from what has been our driving force for nearly 25 years,” Jeannot Painchaud said. “It comes from the world of the wild, Wild West, with which we share the frontier spirit of cutting new trails and pushing boldly onward, lightened by a touch of irreverence and a sense of sharing and community.”
Jeannot Painchaud also added that the audience will enjoy the upbeat and colorful themes in tomorrow’s performance.
“Saloon is a wonderful playground for a work of artistic exploration,” Jeannot Painchaud. “It’s the physical energy of acrobatics combined with the poetry of the theatrical approach, a touch of comedy and the musical roots of our childhood come to life. Saloon is a thrilling, fun and funny musical — an invitation to a party.”
