Cavalia's Odysseo Comes to the City of Toronto

I had the pleasure of being invited to the Sneak Preview of Cavalia’s Odysseo which premieres to Toronto’s public on Tuesday  15^th May 2012 and must I say this was a truly spectacular show.

I arrived at the Odysseo Big Top on Cherry St. in downtown Toronto, where the show is being held and was surprised by the size of the huge architecture which could be seen from a distance. This is the world’s largest touring big top standing 125 feet high with a seating capacity for 2,300 people. 

The White Big Top

The show began larger than life with fearless male acrobats coming out doing back flips high into the air, jumping and dancing creating a buzz in the audience. 

The show was like an opera theatre production with the inclusion of horses as a beautiful voice sang live as a harp and other musical instruments played somewhere in the background, mesmerizing the audience with a story being told without words. We were in a multi-dimensional world and you could not help but be captivated by the innovations of the stage production with every detail clearly designed to create a life-like forest, field, desert and even a lake with water filtering through the surface of the arena…it was magical.

The Dancers

The horses galloping through the staged lake

The Beautiful Waterfall

There were so many beautifully stage visuals, many reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, but it was when the western horses came galloping out with their riders clinging on with one hand while being turned upside down that I had to bite my lip in anticipation of one of the riders flying off but the expert Odysseo horsemen and women were so skilled that they made it look effortless and every gallop past was completed without incident.

Now that is skill !

There were 70 horses included in the show, all beautiful and impeccably trained; when running free, the herd moved fluidly around the arena as the acrobats and handlers worked with silent commands and movements. I felt myself drifting into a dreamland when a carousel came down from up above and acrobats danced up, down and around it bringing back memories of my childhood with a musical doll-sized merry-go-round.  It was all so enchanting and exceeded my expectations of what I thought was just a horse show.

Acrobats dancing on the carousel

Cavalia Founder and Artistic Director Normand Latourelle and the rest of the show’s creative team are to be commended for presenting such a magical, mystical show, and I would like to say a huge thank-you to them and The Rider magazine (www.therider.com) for allowing me to attend so I could share this with you.

Cavalia Founder and Artistic Director Normand Latourelle

I don’t want to give too much away as Cavalia’s new production Odysseo is an absolute must-see for all ages. The show premiers on Tuesday 15^th May and will remain in Toronto for 6 weeks so I encourage you to get your tickets NOW via their website (www.cavalia.net/odysseo) and go and see the show. Giddy-up!

NiccyGee x



ANTM Live Comes to Toronto

Toronto was excited as the first weekend in May was fast approaching, I hear you asking why?? America’s Next Top Model Live was coming to Toronto for the biggest spectacular shopping, fashion and beauty event and not only that it was bringing along the shows All-star winner Lisa D’Amato and co-stars Laura Kirkpatrick, Shannon Stewart, Isis King, Camille McDonald, Bianca Golden and Alexandria Everett not to forget head line act Danny Fernandes and international pop stars Karl Wolf and Farahri.

The show started on Friday May 4^th and followed through to Sunday May 6^that the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, however on Wednesday May 2^nd the big publicity stunt at the CN Tower took place where Model Lisa D’Amato along with the Sutherland Models and Farahri took to the EdgeWalk for the highest catwalk in the world. I saw the girls before and after the EdgeWalk and may I say they were the bravest ‘girl soldiers’ and as cool as a cucumber as they strutted their stuff and posed whilst been held by a bungee like cord 336 meters in the air above the city. Lisa D’Amato commented after that “… I was ready for them to put on some wings, cut the rope and let me fly…” she was so down to earth, fun loving and is one crazy lady.

Lisa D'Amato, Farahri and Sutherland Models pre-EdgeWalk

Ladies letting loose 336 meters above the city of Toronto

Lisa D'Amato giving me bunny ears

Canada’s hottest bloggers such as the great Julio Reyes @Fashionights, @MoVernie the host of Pizza Pizza TV, Carcia & Telly @Her_Castle the duo siblings behind Its Music Fashion Life and @AlleyaSairah who was the official host along with @Buildingblocx for the ANTM Live Show all flocked to the scene to be part of this record breaking stunt and be the first to get the scoop on all the action.

As the ANTM Live Show commenced thousands of eagerly awaiting fashionistas alike filled the venue. There was lots to see on the Pandora open catwalk where Joey Bevan British Designer and Britain’s Next Top Model Designer for two seasons (my fellow Brit as I like to call him) was showcasing his Advant Fashion Spectacular and his lingerie design ‘Land Of  The Lost Toys, brings you a story of a young girl who falls into a world of living toys’ his models had a real edgy dark look and their make-up curtsey of Kryolan Professional looked amazing. Joey Bevan is the most qwerky, funny and playful guy you will meet always joking and smiling with his brilliant Essex accent, he came by the Fordham PR booth and gave the lovely Glenda Fordham a cheeky squeeze but at that moment she knew she was in good hands, love it LOL!

Me and Joey Bevan

All-star Top Models & Joey Bevan

Joey Bevan's Model Strutting his design on the Pandora Open Catwalk

Me Joey Bevan and my Colleague Nads

Glenda Fordham from Fordham PR in good hands.

The Pandora open catwalk also revealed this year’s summer must haves from the likes of American Apparel and French Connection UK and also gave attendees the chance to get noticed by top brands with an open catwalk on the Casting Couch, I even gave it a go myself and switched my hips down the runway like a true model (or something like that).

American Apparel Models vouged as each model walked the runway

The All-star super star ladies were running the show on the Schwarzkopf Professional main stage and almost melted the audience looking nothing but fabulous rocking the hottest designs over the three day event and the ladies were very nice to their fans as the girls screamed with excitement and handed out their books for signing after each show. The Main stage had performances from Danny Fernandes and Karl Wolf who both had the girls going wild and on the final day the Sutherland Supermodel Search winner was revealed well done to Anna you took your victory like a true pro you’re a darling.

Lisa D'Amato ANTM All-star winner

Bianca Golden

Laura Kirkpatrick

Camille McDonold

All in all the ANTM Live Toronto was great fun, got to chat with the special guests and meet some great people, all whilst seeing the latest trends in fashion and beauty.

Hope to see it all again next year.

NiccyGee x