Cirque du Soleil is not your typical circus — instead of elephants and clowns, it is a sophisticated, lyrical experience with a wide range of artists going far beyond the boundaries of a traditional circus act.

London audiences will have the opportunity to experience Cirque du Soleil as Alegria comes to the John Labatt Centre from Nov. 12-15.

Alegria investigates the struggle for power and the revitalizing energy of youth. “We put Alegria theatrically on stage with opposites, with the young and the old. We have the old birds, for example. They are powerful on everything but they don’t do anything anymore because they are too old,” Carmen Ruest, one of Cirque du Soleil’s creative directors, explains. “We see the angels and the young ones who are light, white and bright. The story goes like that — the old figures, the young and the struggle in between the two.”

Alegria is a Spanish word meaning happiness, joy and jubilation, but the tone of the show is dark and depicts a struggle.

“In its Italian roots they say Alegria, Alegria, Alegria — which means joy, joy, joy,” Ruest says. “They really say this word in a sentence when they are in pain and they are reaching for liberation. It’s a cry, like a scream of life.

LOOK WHAT I CAN DO. From flexible contortion to synchronized trapeze the acrobats of Alegria promise to put on unforgettable performances at the John Labatt Centre. (Courtesy of Dominique Lemieux)

“Alegria brings the sadness in a very poetic and lyrical way,” she continues. “The brilliances has something like a painting — the beauty, the lyrical and the poetry is more than the other shows we have on stage.”

The performance consists of traditional and non-traditional circus acts, including synchronized trapeze, power track, hand balancing, juggling, fire-knife dancing, flying men, Russian bars, contortion, aerial high bars and manipulation — which combines rhythmic gymnastics, flexible contortion, deft juggling and ballet. The essence of Alegria is the combination of acrobatics, art and music. The musical score, composed by René Dupéré, is a fusion of Spanish, French, African and Mediterranean music into dramatic new-age pieces.

“The music from René Dupéré is powerful. It has always put the energy in the cry for life,” Ruest says.

Alegria’s timeless theme and creative acts have allowed the show to continue touring since its creation in 1994.

“It is really surprising,” Ruest says. “The theatricality of how we brought that on stage — this idea of struggle, powerful over powerless, is still relevant and important.”

While Alegria has been around for 15 years, the roots of Cirque du Soleil lie in the early 1980s with Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint Paul — a group of colourful acrobats and artists who wandered the streets of Baie-Saint Paul, Quebec walking on stilts, dancing, breathing fire, juggling and playing music. Guy Laliberté was a member of Les Échassiers who went on to develop Cirque du Soleil.

In 1984 Laliberté took the concept of Les Échassiers and developed the Cirque du Soleil show. It was performed in Quebec City to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Canada’s discovery and has since developed into a world-renowned entertainment company that has caught the attention of more than 15 million people worldwide.

Alegria runs at the John Labatt Centre from Nov. 12–15. Student tickets are available from the JLC box office for $25 for Thursday and Friday afternoon performances.