Feeling a Little Horse

Like many little girls, I used to daydream about a life filled with horses. I would ride my wagon through the yard, imagining the long, flowing mane of my trusty steed blowing in the wind. My imaginary horse was gray and long-legged, sleek and fast, and we rode many adventures together.

Seeing Cavalia in Burbank brought those romantic images of my youth to life in living, galloping color – and with a beautiful soundtrack, too. As the audience files into the gleaming-white tent that houses the show, anticipation builds, and there's a certain horsey giddiness that fills the stands. Then, when the first mustangs sprint across the sand-covered stage, the audience gasps in unison, followed by a chorus of "Awwws."

If you're not around horses a lot – and even if you are – it's easy to forget how striking and elegant these creatures are. And when you bring them together with elegant riders in beautiful costumes, acrobats soaring overhead and a score filled with haunting music, the experience of Cavalia delivers a truly special form of entertainment (and in my case, a flashback to my youth).

As the show gallops along, the live cellist, vocalist and other musicians weave together a horse-infused acrobatic stream of consciousness with influences ranging from Native American to Argentinean, with a dash of Medieval princess thrown in for good measure. The flowing curtains and billowy backdrops breathe 3-D life to the show's many scenes, which feature everything from dance and trick riding to traditional dressage and trampoline acrobatics. At times, all eyes are on the amazing aerialists and acrobats, who bounce, flip and twirl from the big-top ceiling using the elegant equines as a backdrop to their feats of physical prowress. But then there are those amazing moments when all eyes are fixed on the animals, who reveal their power, grace and beauty in various ways.

There was plenty of action for horse lovers, but I preferred the quieter moments when the horses were just standing together, nuzzling each other, rolling in the dirt and just being. That way, I could recapture those days when it was just a horse – and a romantic imagination.

Cavalia appears under the White Big Top in Burbank through Feb. 12. Ticket prices start at $49, $69 for weekends (packages that include refreshments and a visit to the stables are available, too). The show is long – almost two hours with a 20-minute intermission. And plan ahead for potty breaks; the restroom tent can be a bit of a trek, depending on where you're seated.