Think along the lines of Cirque du Soleil. Then add horses.
Audiences entering the black-and-white Italian-designed circus tent on the green next to San Pablo Catholic Church next weekend are set to be dazzled by an equestrian spectacle as they take in Cirque Ma’Ceo, running from Friday to Sunday, Feb. 17 to 19.
Described as “where hoof-beats and heartbeats become one,” the show is designed to transport viewers back in time to the roots of festive gypsy life as acrobatic feats, aerial dancing and exotic horses blend together in a sensory spectacle.
Owner and director Olissio Zoppe is a ninth-generation equestrian performer who traces his roots to two Italian equestrian circus families.
“It’s about a 200-year history of performing with horses,” he told Keys Weekly. “The word ‘Ma’Ceo’ is a Latin name that translates to ‘gift of God,’ and we use that in reference to the horses because they’re such a magnificent animal, such a gift.”
A performer since the age of 4, Zoppe lists appearances in the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cheval Theatre, Circus Flora and Big Apple Circus on his resume, but eventually elected to create his own show by adding other disciplines to his family’s own bareback riding act. These include Russian Cossack riding – stunt work on a galloping horse that traces its origins to military riding – along with classical dressage and “liberty” performances, in which horses roam free within the ring while taking direction from their trainers.
And while it’s easy to see the tent and call the event a “circus,” Zoppe explained that his show is “more of a refined art form.”
“It’s a very intimate atmosphere … where you really get a chance to appreciate the training and the effort that goes into it,” he said. “You really understand, because you’re so close, what’s going on between the horse, the rider and the artist in the air, and the difficulty that it takes to do those feats.”
As a former animal trainer interviewing Zoppe, his description of Cirque Ma’Ceo’s training philosophy with such powerful, intelligent animals is refreshing to hear in an industry often criticized, fairly or not, for its methods.
“All animals are their own individuals,” he told the Weekly. “Some horses are more brave, some are a bit more skittish. But typically it’s built on trust, love, and the horse liking what he’s doing and enjoying the interaction.
“It definitely has to be based on a lot of positive reinforcement and, over all, time. Our horses live with us, they travel with us, and when we come home from tour we live on the same property and I take care of them. We’re just this constant presence in their life.”
The 90-minute performances run at 7 p.m. on Friday, 5 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, with a possible matinee on Friday depending on demand. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for children in mezzanine seating, while ringside VIP seats for $60 include a meet-and-greet and photo opportunities with the artists and horses. Tickets are available at cirquemaceo.com
