The House of Dancing Water

The House of Dancing Water is a water-based stage production written and directed by Franco Dragone. The show, which was the second water show by Franco Dragone's company, premiered in September 2010. As of February 2013, it had been performed over 1,000 times and seen by over 2 million spectators.[1] The production is located at the City of Dreams resort on the Cotai Strip in Macau. The show runs for 90 minutes, and features acrobatic elements and original acts, with a stage that transforms into different sets. Over 80 gymnasts, circus artists, dancers, divers, actors, and motorcyclists are featured in the show. The performers work alongside 160 production staff, technicians and professional scuba divers from around the world.[2] Dragone also directed Celine Dion: A New Day and Le Rêve in Las Vegas with his own company, Dragone.

The House of Dancing Water
CompanyDragone
GenreTheatre
Show typeResident show
Date of premiereSeptember 16, 2010
LocationCity of Dreams, Cotai Strip, Macau, China
Creative team
CreatorFranco Dragone
ChoreographerGiuliano Peparini
Other information
Preceded byLe Rêve (2005)
Succeeded byWuhan Project (2014)
Official website

Creation

The show was developed at Dragone's headquarters in La Louvière, Belgium.[3] Performers began training in January 2009. The total duration of the show's creation was 19 months, due to delays in the construction of the 2,000-seat Dancing Water theatre, which was built over 5 years at a cost of US$250 million.[4]

At the center of the theatre is a 3.7 million-gallon pool. Eleven automated stage lifts that fit neatly together can be raised a meter above the water's surface or dropped seven meters below it, creating a pool deep enough for a diver to leap from a 24-meter-high platform.[4]

Cast

About 70% of the artists in this show are trained to perform almost all of the acts in the show. Each performer must pass an intense swim test, along with weeks of training to obtain their scuba certification for aquatic shows.

The House of Dancing Water's cast comprises several different categories of performer. They include:

  • House troupe (male and female - mostly gymnasts and sports acrobats)
  • Acrobatic dancers (male - mostly men who have a gymnastics and dance background)
  • Dancers (female)
  • Characters (actors, clowns)
  • Pyramid (group from Tanzania)

Music

The show's score was composed by Benoît Jutras. Franco Dragone and Benoît Jutras had previously worked together on several shows for Cirque du Soleil. The show's soundtrack album was released on June 10, 2011.[5]

  1. Dancing Water
    • Opening and theme throughout the show
  2. Chandelier
    • The Human Chandelier
  3. Pyramid
    • The Human Pyramid Act
  4. Swans
  5. Pagode
    • Bungees
  6. Flags
  7. Fountain Dance
  8. Prisoners
    • Straps
  9. Journey
    • Bamboo Dance
  10. Boat
  11. Xia
    • Transition into Russian Swing
  12. Motos
    • Motorcycle Act
  13. Wabo
    • Earthquake Scene
  14. War
  15. The Crowning
  16. In Joy
    • Finale and High Dive

The music used during the Russian Swing act, which changed during the first months of the show's run, is not on the soundtrack album.

References
  1. Macau: House of Dancing Water Celebrates 1,000th Show with New Star - Accidental Travel Writer
  2. "Asian superstar meets 'The House of Dancing Water'". Macau Daily Times. February 8, 2013. Retrieved on 2015-10-02.
  3. La Louviere - Dragone
  4. "House of Dancing Water: Secrets behind the world's biggest water show", by Kate Whitehead. CNN Travel. October 30, 2013. Retrieved on 2015-10-02.
  5. iTunes - Music - The House of Dancing Water (Original Soundtrack) by Benoit Jutras

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