But not the colorful trio. Sometimes excitingly in sync, sometimes surprisingly freestyling, they offer a subversive spirit among the percussive beats.
B-boys have come to “La Nouba,” Cirque du Soleil’s high-energy showcase of circus arts that has run at Walt Disney World since 1998. The athletic dance is one of two new acts in the show — and it’s the opening number.
“It’s not a soft and sexy dance — it’s strong, it came from the streets,” says b-boy Dmytro Li. “I see a similarity to martial arts.”
The b-boys spin on their heads and unfold their bodies to flip up off their backs with seeming ease. These are moves born in inner-city neighborhoods — and that’s exactly the vibe show director Daniel Ross wants.
“‘La Nouba’ is a fairy tale but it starts with the idea of the big city,” he says. “We wanted something powerful and urban, but when you watch them you think, ‘How is this possible?’ That’s what b-boys share with the circus.”
The other new act, a romantic aerial performance that’s both spellbinding and heart-stopping, is worlds apart from the aggressive energy of the b-boys. Spouses Alexander and Ekaterina Abramov say their love of performing is an extension of their love for each other.
“We say it’s a love story that we project to the audience,” Ekaterina explains through an interpreter. “We are describing the story with the tricks we do in the air.”
Called aerial bamboo, the traditional Chinese circus art is rarely performed today — “you can count the number of top professionals on one hand,” Ekaterina says.
“Bamboo” remains only in the act’s name: The couple’s pole-like apparatus, suspended from the theater ceiling, is now made of stainless steel. In one remarkable sequence, Ekaterina dizzyingly spins with unnerving speed, supported by the strength of her partner.
Joining “La Nouba” brought the Abramovs, who hail from Moscow, to the United States for the first time. “There are very good people here,” Ekaterina says. “Everyone is helping us.”
Other firsts: This is the first b-boy act to appear in a Cirque show, and the first time this particular trio has performed together.
“We feel each other very well,” Li says. “Maybe that was luck.”
Born in the former Soviet Union, Li performs as the “Flying Buddha.” All the men sport nicknames, a defining aspect of b-boy culture: Bronx-born Josh Ortiz is known as “Incredible Josh.” Jean Carlos Lloret, a Puerto Rico native who grew up near Boston, is called “Bebo.”
The guys were born in the 1980s, when break dancing exploded into pop culture. But they are quick to point out that true b-boying is different than what Hollywood portrayed in glossy movies such as “Flashdance.”
“There’s a whole language to b-boy,” says Ortiz. “It’s from the original culture of hip-hop.”
Like many before them, the guys discovered the b-boy world as a way to escape their everyday lives. “We grew up very poor. We didn’t have anything. School was terrible,” says Ortiz, who comes from a family of b-boys. “I channeled all my anger at everything into dancing.”
Li, who credits Bruce Lee as an inspiration, had a martial-arts background — and preconceived ideas. “My mentality was that dancing is only for girls,” he says. As a teen, he had a change of heart when he observed other kids busting moves at summer camp. His reaction: “What is this? I want to do this!”
The boys’ personal stories helped them stand out among the dozens hoping for a chance to join “La Nouba.”
“What tipped the balance is what they had to say,” Ross says. “These guys were unique, and they were touching. They had something to give.”
Their achievements helped, too: Lloret came in third on television’s “America’s Best Dance Crew” show in 2010 and appeared on “So You Think You Can Dance” and the film “Step Up Revolution.” Ortiz also appeared in “Step Up” movies and performed with Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. Li has made TV and film appearances and has a string of victories in international competitions.
The Abramovs have years of experience working in circuses in their homeland. They learned the intricate combination of balance and flexibility required for aerial bamboo about a decade ago from retiring Russian artists.
“They were looking for a young couple to take over,” Ekaterina says. Her husband adds, “It’s a really rare act so they didn’t want it to disappear.”
The two, who married in 2010 after 10 years of dating, have performed in Egypt, Spain, Italy, Thailand and Israel. They had been in discussions with Cirque du Soleil about working together for years — waiting until the right show came along. The grace and “poetic moments” of their act make them the perfect counterpoint to the b-boys, Ross says.
To integrate the new segments, which replace the jump-rope and high-wire acts, Cirque brought back the original choreographer, composer and lighting designer of “La Nouba.” Newcomers to the show won’t realize it has changed, Ross says, but updates “can be an occasion to push a show forward.”
‘La Nouba’
• What: Stylish circus acts presented with music and dance
• Where: Disney Springs, 1478 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
• When: 6 and 9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; note there are no performances Jan. 10-18
• Cost: $57-$124
• Call: 407-939-7328
• Online: lanouba.com
The three young men spin and twist and jump and flip. Dressed in vivid purple and blue, they create splashes of color among the drably dressed automatons that surround them onstage. In grays, khaki and tans, those drudges march as one, arms swinging mechanically, knees raised together.
But not the colorful trio. Sometimes excitingly in sync, sometimes surprisingly freestyling, they offer a subversive spirit among the percussive beats.
B-boys have come to “La Nouba,” Cirque du Soleil’s high-energy showcase of circus arts that has run at Walt Disney World since 1998. The athletic dance is one of two new acts in the show — and it’s the opening number.
“It’s not a soft and sexy dance — it’s strong, it came from the streets,” says b-boy Dmytro Li. “I see a similarity to martial arts.”
The b-boys spin on their heads and unfold their bodies to flip up off their backs with seeming ease. These are moves born in inner-city neighborhoods — and that’s exactly the vibe show director Daniel Ross wants.
Cirque du Soleil’s ‘La Nouba’
A new b-boy act joins “La Nouba” featuring performers Jean Carlos Lloret (from left), Josh Ortiz and Dmytro Li. (Kent E. Phillips)
“‘La Nouba’ is a fairy tale but it starts with the idea of the big city,” he says. “We wanted something powerful and urban, but when you watch them you think, ‘How is this possible?’ That’s what b-boys share with the circus.”
The other new act, a romantic aerial performance that’s both spellbinding and heart-stopping, is worlds apart from the aggressive energy of the b-boys. Spouses Alexander and Ekaterina Abramov say their love of performing is an extension of their love for each other.
“We say it’s a love story that we project to the audience,” Ekaterina explains through an interpreter. “We are describing the story with the tricks we do in the air.”
Called aerial bamboo, the traditional Chinese circus art is rarely performed today — “you can count the number of top professionals on one hand,” Ekaterina says.
“Bamboo” remains only in the act’s name: The couple’s pole-like apparatus, suspended from the theater ceiling, is now made of stainless steel. In one remarkable sequence, Ekaterina dizzyingly spins with unnerving speed, supported by the strength of her partner.
Joining “La Nouba” brought the Abramovs, who hail from Moscow, to the United States for the first time. “There are very good people here,” Ekaterina says. “Everyone is helping us.”
Other firsts: This is the first b-boy act to appear in a Cirque show, and the first time this particular trio has performed together.
“We feel each other very well,” Li says. “Maybe that was luck.”
Born in the former Soviet Union, Li performs as the “Flying Buddha.” All the men sport nicknames, a defining aspect of b-boy culture: Bronx-born Josh Ortiz is known as “Incredible Josh.” Jean Carlos Lloret, a Puerto Rico native who grew up near Boston, is called “Bebo.”
The guys were born in the 1980s, when break dancing exploded into pop culture. But they are quick to point out that true b-boying is different than what Hollywood portrayed in glossy movies such as “Flashdance.”
“There’s a whole language to b-boy,” says Ortiz. “It’s from the original culture of hip-hop.”
Like many before them, the guys discovered the b-boy world as a way to escape their everyday lives. “We grew up very poor. We didn’t have anything. School was terrible,” says Ortiz, who comes from a family of b-boys. “I channeled all my anger at everything into dancing.”
Li, who credits Bruce Lee as an inspiration, had a martial-arts background — and preconceived ideas. “My mentality was that dancing is only for girls,” he says. As a teen, he had a change of heart when he observed other kids busting moves at summer camp. His reaction: “What is this? I want to do this!”
The boys’ personal stories helped them stand out among the dozens hoping for a chance to join “La Nouba.”
“What tipped the balance is what they had to say,” Ross says. “These guys were unique, and they were touching. They had something to give.”
Their achievements helped, too: Lloret came in third on television’s “America’s Best Dance Crew” show in 2010 and appeared on “So You Think You Can Dance” and the film “Step Up Revolution.” Ortiz also appeared in “Step Up” movies and performed with Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. Li has made TV and film appearances and has a string of victories in international competitions.
The Abramovs have years of experience working in circuses in their homeland. They learned the intricate combination of balance and flexibility required for aerial bamboo about a decade ago from retiring Russian artists.
“They were looking for a young couple to take over,” Ekaterina says. Her husband adds, “It’s a really rare act so they didn’t want it to disappear.”
The two, who married in 2010 after 10 years of dating, have performed in Egypt, Spain, Italy, Thailand and Israel. They had been in discussions with Cirque du Soleil about working together for years — waiting until the right show came along. The grace and “poetic moments” of their act make them the perfect counterpoint to the b-boys, Ross says.
To integrate the new segments, which replace the jump-rope and high-wire acts, Cirque brought back the original choreographer, composer and lighting designer of “La Nouba.” Newcomers to the show won’t realize it has changed, Ross says, but updates “can be an occasion to push a show forward.”
‘La Nouba’
• What: Stylish circus acts presented with music and dance
• Where: Disney Springs, 1478 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
• When: 6 and 9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; note there are no performances Jan. 10-18
• Cost: $57-$124
• Call: 407-939-7328
• Online: lanouba.com
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