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September 3, 2008 - The very first Cirque du Soleil performance in Asia, called ZAIA, marvelously unfolded last Thursday at the Venetian Macau Casino Resort - hopefully marking the first of many Cirque shows in the gambling capital of the Eastern World. I personally didn't get to see ZAIA. Sorry, Macau isn't on my list of travel destinations. I've got to visit Japan first and check out their water gardens and bonsai (What can I say, gambling isn't everything).

But, I have had the amazing experience of getting to watch Cirque shows in the casino gambling capital of the Western World.  Uh yes, Las Vegas. Ra was the most recent show I've seen, which incidentally, had an Asian theme to it (lots of sword fighting and martial arts). And I do have to say - if I may say so from the top of my little hen roost (sorry, I always wanted to say that) - Ra was the best Cirque show I've seen to date. Truly fantastic!

Although Cirque has toured to Asia before, stopping in Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo to name a few, ZAIA will be the first Cirque show to get a permanent dwelling in Asia. One of the reasons why Cirque has been holding out in Asia is that the region really hasn't been developed for entertainment, as opposed to places like the Mickey Mouse playground of Orlando, FL, where the Cirque show at Downtown Disney (probably the second best Cirque show I've seen), draws in crowds of tourists every night. Las Vegas is a no-brainer - it's the entertainment capital of the world.

Truly, it was only a matter of time before Cirque would hit up Macau. I mean, it's essentially turning into a Las Vegas of its own, albeit with elements characteristic to the Asian culture, and betting culture at that. For example, the leading revenue producing game in Macau is Baccarat, whereas in Las Vegas (do I even need to mention) it's the slots.

So anyways, what's this show called ZAIA all about. You would think it might cater to the Asian culture as well, right? Well, yes! And just like the Chinese businessmen I saw shouting for joy at a production of Cirque's "O", it looks like the locals are responding positively to ZAIA. The name itself is Greek and means "life". The story follows a young girl who travels through the expanse of space to discover a myriad of fascinating creatures and self discovery that she brings back to Mother Earth culminating in a triumphant climax for all of humanity (Whoa, that was pretty eloquent...maybe I should start writing for Cirque, eh?)

Originally published: September, 2008 | Categories: Gambling