‘The Best Show Ever’: Cavalia’s Odysseo Lives Up to Expectations in Nashville

Dubbed “the best show ever,” Cavalia’s Odysseo truly lives up to the title. Landing in Nashville for a three-week run, the world’s largest touring production showcases the bond between man and beast, with 65 horses and 50 highly-skilled riders, acrobats, dancers, and musicians work together for one incredible show.

The production, created and directed by Normand Latourelle, has horses and equestrians showing off many skills, from jumping to dressage to stunts and everything in between. A highlight of the cirque-du-soleil-esque show is a single trainer with nearly a dozen horses who listen to her every voice command. The troupe of geldings change direction on a dime simply from the sound of her voice and are rewarded with a head scratch as they complete their skill.

While the show is fronted by the many geldings and stallions within Cavalia’s impressive herd, the stunts and performances from the show’s acrobats and dancers are breathtaking. The strength these performers possess is showcased during the carousel act, Carosello. As the set moves round and round, the performers hoist themselves up onto poles using nothing but their hands and feet, looking graceful and muscular at the same time.

Odysseo as a show is impressive to say the least, but the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into making it a success are also just as remarkable. Ahead of the show’s grand opening, a large team of workers worked to construct the 125-foot tall White Big Top. Erected near Opryland by Briley Parkway at exit 12, the structure is the size of an NFL football field at 58,397 square feet. Among the White Big Top, the Odysseo village houses a climate-controlled stable tent with a blacksmith department, a warm-up tent for rehearsal before and after the show, wardrobe and makeup for the human performers and a kitchen that prepares more than 300 meals daily.

Cavalia’s Odysseo will call Nashville home from now until September 17. For more information on show times and to reserve tickets, visit cavalia.com.