Step right up and be prepare to be enchanted!

The iconic blue-and-white Big Top of Cirque du Soleil has once again risen on the Denver skyline, marking the highly anticipated arrival of their latest breathtaking production, ECHO.

From the moment you step under the grand tent, a world of vibrant artistry, awe-inspiring acrobatics, and captivating storytelling awaits, ready to transport you into a realm where the impossible becomes beautifully real.

Cirque du Soleil arrived fourth of July weekend and began assembling the tent with 100 workers, employing about 60 from local labor.

“This is when Denver knows we are in town and brings a lot of excitement,” said Kevin Albert, senior public relations director of Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil.

Size of the Big Top

The seating capacity of the Big Top is more than 2,500, measuring 167 feet in diameter and supported by 82-foot steel masts and more than 100 poles displayed around the tent. The structure is secured to the ground by more than 1,200-foot stakes dug into the ground.

The cupola, one of the most visible parts of the tent, is located at 62 feet above the ground. The light-colored canvas helps counter the effects of the sun, reducing energy consumption and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.

On average, the site takes seven days to set up but three days to take down. About 72 trailers are needed to transport the equipment from city to city.

About the Show

Cirque du Soleil brings modern and surprising twists under the Big Top with ECHO, a story of connection, intention, and the bond between humans and the animal kingdom.

Then FUTURE (the protagonist) and her best friend EWAI stumble upon an enigmatic CUBE, they set in motion a journey of life, discovery, hope, and empathy, quickly learning how their actions have the power to shape this world.

Packed with vibrant characters, inspiring music, contemporary abstract costumes, astounding lighting and projections, and never-before-seen acrobatics, ECHO brings audiences on a journey through a universe of color, wonder, and infinite possibilities.

Global Community

Cirque du Soleil is renowned for its global talent pool. Albert indicated 88 countries are represented on stage and behind-the-scenes. In fact, artist Hua Chu Huang, represents Taiwan, while Artist Miho Inaba comes from Japan.

Beyond the stage, other notable Asian representations include Jourdan Rosell, who works as the assistant technical director from the Philippines. He joined Cirque du Soleil – ECHO during its creation in Montreal in 2023, initially serving as the event safety manager. 

His expertise and leadership quickly became evident, and he transitioned to the technical team as assistant technical director. In this role, he now co-leads a 30-person technical crew, drawing upon his strong background in theater management.

Lighting technician Chloe Chan hails from Singapore and United Arab Emirates. Chloe brings a rich background in live performance lighting to the show. She began her career as a lighting operator, working on touring concerts like Wang Leehom.

Performance Representing Asian Culture

Hair suspension has strong roots in the Asian circus culture. While its exact origins are debated, hair suspensions have been part of ancient Chinese acrobatic performances (known as “Fa Ji Shen Gong”) and some South American indigenous rituals.

Another acrobatic performance representing Asian culture includes contortion. It can be traced back to ancient Asian traditions, particularly in Mongolia and China, where it was incorporated into Buddhist dances and theatrical performances. In fact, Cirque du Soliel’s own contortionist Eddie Browne visited China to perfect his art earlier in his career.

Within the show, ECHO, the audience will experience a DUO in the hair suspension act where the two artists hang from each other’s hair. This act, specifically built for this show, is the only duo hair suspension performance at Cirque du Soleil.

“It’s a beautilful real-world example of ECHO’s central theme: that every action creates a ripple effect. Just as the show explores the impact our choices have on the world around us, our presence in Denver sparks waves of economic, cultural, and community engagement, making the experience meaningful not only for our audiences, but for the entire city,” Albert said.

ECHO is performing from July 12 to August 17. Tickets are available at cirquedusoleil.com/echo