Cirque Italia brings new ‘Metropolis’ show to Cedar Rapids, Coralville

The familiar blue and white big top of Cirque Italia is returning to Eastern Iowa this summer. With it comes a brand new show that will delight audience members of all ages.

The water circus will perform “Metropolis” for audiences at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids July 18-21 and Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville Aug. 1-4.

“Metropolis” follows Rafael, a country boy (and clown) who is dropped into the big city via a tornado. Audiences will follow Rafael’s journey of self-discovery and unity as he meets unique characters in the city.

You won’t find animals under this big top, just talented circus artists from across the globe.

“We have jugglers. We have contortionists. We have clowns. We have aerialists. We have lots of different wild people combining in this city of Cirque Italia,” Erik Razzore, who performs in the rolla bolla act, told The Gazette.

Razzore, 21, is a third generation circus artist who has trained on rolla bolla — which requires the performer to balance on a board atop a cylinder — since he was 7 years old.

In the past, Razzore has performed as a juggler and clown, and he noted that in the circus, performers must maintain a variety of skills.

“This year I’m doing the rolla bolla, but probably the next year I’ll be doing something completely different,” Razzore said.

This means that while he’s touring with Cirque Italia, Razzore is training during the day and performing at night.

“If you want to be a circus artist, you have to be healthy,” he said, “You have to keep working on it. I always try to practice two hours per day at least.”

America’s first touring water circus

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Cirque Italia was founded by Manuel Rebecchi, nephew of Italian circus icon Moire Orfei, in 2012. Since then, the company has expanded to seven units that tour between the United States and Canada, featuring world class entertainers from Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and the United States.

Cirque Italia tours with a custom designed water stage from Italy that holds 35,000 gallons of water.

Dazzling waterworks add another layer to the show and compliment the aerialists, jugglers and other circus artists performing on stage.

Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com

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