My son and I were thoroughly entertained throughout the two-hour show. The Thousand Hands act was a beautiful reference to the Chinese religion of Buddhism. We held our breath as we watched a contortionist balance over 60 wine glasses filled with water while bending in ways that seems physically impossible. We squealed with delight as the Golden Dragon Acrobats jumped, flipped, and tumbled through several hoops simultaneously. We were awestruck at Hui Yuan Zhu as he demonstrated incredible strength and balance in the Tower of Chairs act. And we loved the Chinese Lion dance towards the end of the show.
The music that accompanied each act was a beautiful combination of traditional Chinese and modern dance. The costumes were a visual treat - gleaming with sparkles and bright colors. Cirque Ziva leaves you with a new appreciation for Chinese culture and the human body. It is a crowd-pleaser for adults and kids ages 5 and up.
Check out the trailer of Cirque Ziva HERE.
Cirque Ziva will be performing at the New Victory Theater (42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue in New York City) until January 4, 2015. Tickets start at $13 for members and $19 for non-members.
MACARONI TIPS
Plan on arriving an hour to 30 minutes before show time. The theater's lower lobby offers free pre-show activities and a fan-making craft as well as chairs to sit and relax.
The New Victory Theater is kid-friendly. You can bring snacks to eat in the lower lobby (not in the theater) or buy reasonably priced chips and drinks at the concession stand. They also have cushioned boosters for the younger kids.
Street parking is easier to find on Sundays, and you are more likely to find parking around 8th and 9th Avenue between West 44th and 48th, which is about a 10-15 minute walk to the theater.
If you are running late, do NOT walk through Times Square! On the other hand, if you have time to spare, DO take the time to walk through Times Square and enjoy the spectacle. Rockefeller Center (W. 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue) is also a great detour, featuring the world-famous ice skating rink and Christmas tree.
Dining options are boundless in Midtown. Our go-to when seeing a Broadway show is the historic John's Pizzeria on W. 44th Street (near 8th Avenue). A converted church, John's Pizzeria offers delicious thin-crust pizza and other Italian style dishes. While the wait could be long, service once seated is quick. If waiting is not an option, there is a Shake Shack on 8th Avenue and W. 44th Street. For excellent Thai food, we love Pongsri on W. 48th between 8th Avenue and Broadway.
Going to the show? Share pictures with us by tagging Macaroni Kid - Northern/Pascack Valley and the New Victory Theater on Facebook or using #MacKidNPascack on Instagram.
Disclosure: Macaroni Kid - Northern/Pascack Valley was provided complimentary tickets to Cirque Ziva for the purpose of this review. All opinions are solely that of the author.
