Once upon a time, a door opened and two worlds collided. Dreams clashed with reality. The mundane mixed with the marvelous. It was no longer possible to tell where one world began and the other ended.

This new place was called La Nouba.

This Cirque du Soleil creation is an unforgettable journey through this universe -- at once threatening and exhilarating, frightening and familiar. La Nouba is the story of all stories, the site of all mysteries, where dreams and nightmares sleep side by side. La Nouba is memory, individual and universal. It beckons to us, challenges us to uncover passions we thought we had lost long ago. Here, anything is possible.

La Nouba contains two types of families or groups and throughout the ride the magic and fantasy of the colorful Cirques (circus people) clash with the monochromatic world of the Urbains (urbanites). But as in fables, it is not so much this contrast as the interplay between these two groups, which sparks our curiosity and feeds our imagination.

From this encounter is born fear and ecstasy. From this encounter is born La Nouba.

La Nouba originates from the French phrase "faire la Nouba," which means to party, to live it up. Franco Dragone, writer & director of many Cirque du Soleil shows, brings this captivating dream-like spectacle to reality. Dragone is joined by Cirque du Soleil's acclaimed creative team including director of creation Gilles Ste-Croix, costume designer Dominique Lemieux, set designer Michel Crête, lighting designer Luc Lafortune, choreographer Debra Brown, composer and musical director Benoit Jutras, and sound co-designers François Bergeron and Jonathan Deans.

La Nouba transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, engaging the imagination from beginning to end with opulent sets, brilliant choreography, theatrical lighting and provocative music. Featuring mesmerizing high wire and flying trapeze, stunning acro-gymnastic performances and other dynamic displays of coordination and strength, La Nouba promises to surprise, excite and mystify.

With an international cast of more than 70 artists, the Cirque du Soleil theater, located in the heart of Downtown Disney West Side at Walt Disney World Resort, welcomes more than 1,650 spectators twice daily, five days a week.

The 1,671-seat showroom is the first free-standing permanent theater ever built for Cirque du Soleil. Set designer Michel Crête of Cirque du Soleil, Michel Aubé, Design Architect of Scéno Plus, Walt Disney Imagineering and the architects of the Rockwellgroup collaborated on the overall design of the theater. The dynamic white structure was designed to convey elegance and sensuality with the addition of fabric and tension reminiscent of a Big Top.

The contrasting black showroom interior transports the audience to another world as soon as they enter the theater. The set on the Elizabethan-style stage is reminiscent of a well-traveled path or trail. Look up and see the seven cloud-like Fabulous Figures that decorate the ceiling of the showroom. The musicians perform on two platforms housed in the 75-foot towers rising on both sides of the stage. The five elevator lifts rise to a maximum height of 16 feet, the center stage lift is capable of descending 16 feet below the stage as well. Two telepheriques (or tracks) installed along the back wall of the stage are capable of moving props, scenery and acrobatic equipment. The retractable power track floors, specially designed by Cirque du Soleil, allow the performers to jump higher and faster than ever.

Founded in 1984 in Quebec, Canada, Cirque du Soleil has become world-renowned for its completely unique brand of theatrical arts presentations. Cirque du Soleil has produced many different shows on five continents. La Nouba represents the first collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Walt Disney World, offering visitors to Walt Disney World Resort a chance to join the party of more than 20 million spectators worldwide.

Tickets:
Tickets for La Nouba are $52.00, $65.00, $81.00, $99.00 or $114.00 plus tax for adults, and $42.00, $52.00, $65.00, $79.00 or $91.00 plus tax for children (ages 3-9). Reservations can be made up to six months in advance by calling 407-939-7600, at the theater's box office located at the plaza level of the theater, or by logging on to www.cirquedusoleil.com or www.disneyworld.com. Two performances are held daily at 6:00pm and 9:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday. The theater is dark Sunday and Monday.

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Date(s):
2008 Jan: 29-31
2008 Feb: 1-2, 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-29
2008 Mar: 1,4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 26-29
2008 Apr: 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-30
2008 May: 1-3, 6-10, 13-17
2008 Jun: 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28
2008 Jul: 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 30-31
2008 Aug: 1-2, 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-30
2008 Sep: 2-6, 9-13, 16-20, 30
2008 Oct: 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-31
2008 Nov: 1,4-8, 11-15, 19-22, 25-29
2008 Dec: 2-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27, 30-31

Location: Lake Buena Vista

Venue: Downtown Disney

Contact Phone: 407-939-7600

Time Info: Performances at 6:00pm & 9:00pm

Price Info: Adults: $52.00, $65.00, $81.00, $99.00 & $114.00; Ages 3-9: $42.00, $52.00, $65.00, $79.00 & $91.00