Sirk TV Spotlight: CIRQUE MA’ CEO [Temecula, California]
When publicist Elizabeth McCall reached out to cover the Cirque Ma’Ceo, and after checking their website, www.CirqueMaCeo.com, I knew that myself and my sons were up for a magical and enchanting event. Cirque Ma’Ceo is a mesmerizing live production under an intimate 650-seat Big Top, with a captivating mix of dressage. It also used the process of “liberty” (a method where a horse and trainer communicate without physical restraints, like a halter or lead rope), This fosters a deep bond and trust through body language, cues, and positive reinforcement. There were also trick riders and bareback riders, together with aerialists (like Eliza Pulco and her captivating and exhilarating chandelier aerial). In addition, a 9th-generation equestrian artist: Olissio Zoppe created a breathtaking experience. He engaged the use of Liberty, Dressage, Cossack riding, Roman riding, and the perilous art of bareback riding in his performance.
And like every Cirque, there are moments of humor and fun, such as when Zoppe had a funny interaction with a miniature stallion comedian with a big personality. Everyone (including my sons and I) were laughing very loudly. This beautiful horse was so funny and shameless. In writing about these horses, it is necessary to mention the fantastic equine lineup featuring Andalusians, Friesians, two rare Akhal-Teke horses, as well as a Gypsy yearling colt.
Olissio Zoppe and multi-talented equestrian Delphine Berthier sat down to speak about the production.
Q: How did it start?
Zoppe: As an acrobat and a rider, you have a limited shelf life. I wanted to create something for me and my family to have an infinite career. The idea was to perform but also to produce and direct various shows. And have a traveling show until our later years.
Q: Why the name Cirque Ma’Ceo?
Zoppe: “Ma’Ceo” is an ancient Latin name. It translates to “Gift of God”. I thought this was very suitable because it reflects my feelings about horses.
Q: What is the biggest challenge of putting on a show like this one?
Zoppe: There are so many challenges. Logistics is, maybe, the biggest one. Moving a small village from week to week, from place to place. And when you are doing this, you always run out of time. Being able to have time for yourself is very rare. We always look forward to going home after a long tour like this one to finally relax (Note: they have been on the road since January, non-stop crossing America from Florida to, now, the West Coast) But in spite of everything, we love our work, and we are passionate about our performances.
Q: Delphine, tell us more about yourself.
Berthier: I’ve been an equestrian for the last 8 years. I’m from France and I now live in Marseilles, in the South of France. I’m on the road with Cirque Ma’Ceo for 10 months every year. It’s a fascinating journey all over the USA.
Q: What was your biggest challenge during this tour?
Berthier: To have a “Liberty” was a new thing for me. It was great working with these two young Akhal-Teke horses from Turkmenistan. These horses are so smart, and they teach me a lot. Because they are young, they don’t always do what they need to do, so it’s teaching about finding ways to fix it. It’s horse psychology in a way.
Zoppe: And for the horses, it was also interesting to work with a new equestrian. Delphine was learning new skills, and the horses were learning about her and a new act.
Q: Do you change the show every year and its themes?
Zoppe: We don’t re-invent everything, but we do try to change the acts a little bit. And we always bring new people in, like Delphine. We are in a transition right now where we bring in new young horses. We have lots of horses that are retiring because of their age. In terms of themes? Well, let’s say it’s a Gypsy equestrian show.
Q: What do you hope people get and appreciate from watching your show?
Troppe: I like showing people something they have never seen that they didn’t even know existed. When people see our show, they recognize it’s an ancient art form because it has a very organic feel. There are lots of connections between the artists, because we work closely together. And also, the connections we have with the horses. Because the tent is small, it’s a very intimate atmosphere. And those connections are very visible to the audience. So, they feel like they are being let in on a secret.
Berthier: I hope the audience will see and appreciate the relationship we have with our horses. I hope it moves them, within themselves. It’s all about the feeling.
This is the feeling one gets when watching Cirque. Wiith Ma’Ceo, it is a feeling of Freedom, a feeling of being able to ride life with no limits, no boundaries. You are the Gypsy King, the Gypsy Queen, taking your destiny into your hands.
To learn more and get tickets, visit www.cirquemaceo.com.
Performances continue in Temecula until October 26th
By Emmanuel Itier
