Transposed in the theatrical and acrobatic language of Cirque du
Soleil, Michael Jackson's music and his messages have taken on a life
of their own.
Childhood
In front of the gilded gates of Neverland, the Mime awakens the bronze
statues that inhabit this magical place. To the tune of
Jackson's song "Childhood," where he laments never having had one,
dancers sway above the entry sign to the now infamous Neverland
Ranch while a child looked longingly through a window.
Wanna be Starting Something
In a wild, high-powered number, dancers and acrobats in tribal
costumes climb up and down the tree and hurl themselves onto the
stage.
Shake Your Body Down to the Ground
In a playful atmosphere, five "fanatics" take pictures of members of
the audience jump on stage to groove to Michael's music booming from a
jukebox and dance. When they arrive in front of the gates to
Neverland, their only hope is to slip inside, but the doors remain
closed.
Dancing Machine
In a scene that evokes an ironworks factory, a group of welders fly
and swing on motorized cables. They perform various "dancing
machines," paying tribute to different dance styles.
Ben
A tableau that celebrates Michael's love of animals.
This Place Hotel
Suspended in the air, artists perform a sensual aerial tango as if
they were in an anti-gravity nightclub.
Smooth Criminal
Fleets of foot dancers perform a choreography that showcases Michael
Jackson's iconic moves, including his famous leaning motion.
Dangerous
Surrounded by gangsters, a female acrobat performs a "dangerous" pole-
dancing act.
Fanatics Medley
In front of Neverland, the Fanatics take part in a friendly
competition as they lip-sync and perform to the sounds of a Jackson 5
medley, which finally lets them in to Neverland.
Mime
Suddenly inhabited by Michael Jackson's spirit, the Mime is completely
transformed and infused with Michael's talents as he performs a funky
beat box number.
Human Nature
While a 3D version of the Neverland log (Michael as a boy sitting on
the crescent of a moon) is suspended above the stage, artists
representing the constellations wearing multicolored LED costumes
swoop, soar and float in the air on hoops.
Scary Story - Is it Scary
Like a mind-bending storyteller, a contortionist comes out of a giant
Book of Tales. As beautiful as she is strange, she turns the pages in
the most unusual positions.
Bats - Threatened
Suspended upside down at first, artists wearing striking winged bat
costumes perform a dramatic choreography.
Thriller
This scene re-imagines Michael Jackson's original choreography for
Thriller and showcases his iconic moves. But instead of a mere imitation of
the video we all know so well, King and company turn it into a mind-blowing voodoo
funeral, all in white, with the spectre of Baron Samedi hovering over the familiar
dance steps. Tree branches are on the
ground as acrobats dressed as mummies perform a free-running parkour
act through the branches, roots, coffins and tombstones in a cavalcade
of jumps, leaps and bounds.
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Appearing as a black and a white swan, two artists emerge from a lake
to perform a graceful straps duo.
Beat It
Embodied and manipulated by the Fanatics, Michael Jackson's signature
accessories - his famous hat, glove and penny loafers - jump to life.
(Here we literally see how certain images came to overwhelm the reality
of Jackson by having his trademark hat, shoes, and glove all appear 20
times larger than life as the song "Beat It" is ironically sung.)
In the final moments of the scene, an electric guitar and an electric
cello engage in a rock-infused duel on centre-stage.
Jam
Inspired by the video Michael Jackson made with basketball superstar
Michael Jordan; artists play with basketballs and perform a hip-hop-
inspired choreography.
Earth Song
In a menacing atmosphere, the Mime gets tangled in the tree, which is
now turned upside down.
Scream
Acrobats execute a perfectly synchronized tumbling act, flinging
themselves in the air and belly flopping onto the stage as Ninja-style
aerial dancers suspended above interact with the Japanimation-inspired
sequences projected on the screens. The scene evokes the destruction
of the world: the tree is ablaze and the planet is in peril.
Gone Too Soon
With images of a merry-go-round filling the screens in the background
to the sounds of this moving ballad, four animal heads, each carrying
an artist, are gently cradled by the Mime.
They Don't Care About Us
In a reenactment of the number that was designed for THIS IS IT
concert tour, artists dressed like soldiers wearing robot suits with
LED breastplates line up to perform a powerful choreography in unison.
Heal the World - Will You Be There
The soldiers' brestplates begin to glow, then beat faster and faster,
before fading out one by one. Then from the darkness, the entire
company with hearts glowing anew, filling the aisles of the theater
in a scene that evokes rebirth and conjures up Michael's spirit on
stage. On the Giving Tree, a video of the very young Michael singing “I’ll
Be There” with that unique voice which could hurt and heal at the same
time.
Mega Mix - Can You Feel It/Don't Stop Till You Get Enough/Billie
Jean/Black or White
This sequence is a fusion of music, dance and acrobatics. During Can
You Feel It, acrobats execute a Swiss rings act moving from stage to
sky. This scene segues into a riveting dance number on Don't Stop Till
You Get Enough. Michael's famed choreographic style is showcased once
more during the Billie Jean sequence; his silhouette is revealed by
the dancers' LED costumes. For Black or White, performers manipulate
flags in a tribute to the nations and dance styles of the world,
including African, Spanish, Thai and Georgian dances.
Man in the Mirror
The show's finale culminates with the song Man in the Mirror - a song
Michael often chose to end his concerts - in a celebration of the
legacy of an immortal.
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