Things To Do | Cirque du Soleil’s ‘ECHO’ arrives at Gulfstream Park; ticket info here

A huge cube, standing two stories high, is at the center of the new Cirque du Soleil show “ECHO.”

Featuring athletic and acrobatic derring-do, the human circus will be staged Feb. 22 to April 7 in a big-top tent set up in front of the towering “Pegasus and Dragon” sculpture at Gulfstream Park, the thoroughbred horse racing track, casino, entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach.

“The cube itself is one of the biggest symbols in the show,” says Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar, the production’s director. “There are performances on the inside of the cube and performances outside the cube. We’re able to project videos on it, and the cube doesn’t just stay still, it moves. We wanted to create a bold statement … to create an object that has many different uses in the show.”

The Cube at the center of "ECHO," the new Cirque du Soleil big top human circus coming to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach Feb. 22 to April 7. (Jean-François Savaria/Courtesy) — Jean-François Savaria
The Cube at the center of “ECHO,” the new Cirque du Soleil big top human circus coming to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach Feb. 22 to April 7. (Jean-François Savaria/Courtesy)

This will be Cirque du Soleil’s first time placing one of its big-top tent shows in Broward County and marks the Canadian entertainment company’s first return to South Florida since 2019. “ECHO” is also Cirque’s first original production since the pandemic.

“We feel that coming out of the pandemic, we wanted to create a positive experience,” Mukhtar says. “Forget about everything that’s in your everyday life and just be a kid for the next 2 1/2 hours and enjoy what comes to you.”

THE STORY

Of course, there is a narrative tying all the different high-wire, balancing, gymnastic acts together. The story follows a young woman named Future as she wanders into a fantasy world that explores our bond with animals and nature. There, Future — and her best friend, The Dog — come across a mysterious cube.

The teeterboard circus act in Cirque du Soleil's "ECHO."(Jean-François Savaria/Courtesy) — Jean-François Savaria
The teeterboard circus act in Cirque du Soleil’s “ECHO.”(Jean-François Savaria/Courtesy)

They learn that their actions have the power to shape this world, explains Mukhtar, adding: “Another thing is the cube deconstructs and constructs a wall. It’s like it has a big message in terms of the concept of the show. The more we feed it, the fuller it becomes. It is a (symbol) of society that …. we have to make, to create a better future for that next generation after us. We have to try to find a balance for (humans) and animals.

“With this specific show, the message is very important,” Mukhtar continues. “If only two or three people get inspired to take the message and implement it in their everyday life, to me that’s a win.”

THE PERFORMERS

“ECHO” is also trying something new with the cast.

“What’s exciting is the different types of performers, different kinds than the audience will expect,” Mukhtar says.

“ECHO” is the first show with a band made up of members who are vocalists also, he says. “We want it to feel big, different voices represent all the different voices of the world. We wanted to have the people feel that. And finding musicians who can sing is not easy.”

Along with aerialists, contortionists, tumblers and stilt walkers, the show has other standout acts, according to Mukhtar, such as when two women acrobats are lifted into the air by ropes attached to their hair extensions.

“That usually shocks a lot of audience members when they see that,” he says. “It’s such a beautiful poetic way about it that you can really appreciate the beauty.”

Another highlight is a double slack wire number inside the cube: “It’s these two thin lines and it’s like a thin line between life and death and a great metaphor for what is going on. I don’t want to give away too much.”