Cirque du Soleil Will Create Show for EXPO MILANO 2015

Expo 2015 has selected the Cirque du Soleil Group, Events and Special Projects, to create an engaging and unique show concept to be presented during the Universal Expo taking place in Milan, Italy from May 1 to October 31, 2015.

The 2015 Exhibition theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life" embraces culture, tradition, technology, innovation and their relationship with food. The Cirque du Soleil event production will celebrate these elements through the creation of a fascinating tale, interwoven with music and dance with the main inspiration stemming from the deep union between Food and Life.

Allavita! is the evocative title of this new exclusive production that will be presented during the Expo and will include the participation of over 50 Italian and international artists. This performance for the Universal Exposition of Milan 2015 will be set in a spectacular open air theatre from May 6 to August 23, 2015.

The title Allavita! refers to the awareness of the winds that nourish us and the roots that bring our international family together. It is a call to feed our lives with pleasure, spice and passion.

"We are proud of our choice of Cirque du Soleil to represent the universality of the public that will attend Expo Milano 2015. As one of the most renowned international companies of artistic performance, Cirque du Soleil constantly wishes to evoke the unreal, to invoke the senses and provoke the emotions in people from all over the world, using universal languages enjoyed by all," said Giuseppe Sala, Commissioner of the Government of Italy for Expo Milano 2015 and CEO of Expo 2015 Company.

"We are extremely excited to bring Cirque du Soleil's creativity to this significant event for Italy and the world," said Yasmine Khalil, President, Events and Special Projects for The Cirque du Soleil Group. "Allavita! will be a never-before-seen production that will reflect the Expo Milano 2015 theme in an innovative, entertaining and thought-provoking style."

Cirque du Soleil will collaborate with experts in Italy to create Allavita!, which will include Italian performers who will attend invited audition sessions in Milan. Specialty technical and logistical experts from Italy will be a crucial part of the show's production team and local providers and suppliers will also assist in diverse areas. "The high-quality expertise available in Italy will be a great benefit to the Cirque du Soleil team," added Khalil.

The Cirque du Soleil Events and Special Projects team is dedicated to designing and producing unique and exquisite experiences that remain etched in the minds of the audience. They have presented exclusive creative content for prestigious international events such as The Super Bowl, FIFA & FiBA, Academy Awards, Eurovision, as well as unforgettable corporate and private celebrations and high-end brand launches.

Expo Milano 2015 introduces a new model for Universal Expositions in the 21st century through an innovative thematic approach that pervades every aspect of Expo and proposes to tackle the problem of nutrition for humankind, respecting the earth on which we live and from which we draw its exhaustible vital resources. The success of Expo 2015 will depend on the committed engagement of all the participants and their willingness to share their contributions to the theme across a platform that gives a voice to all the players involved. Six months of work, meetings and seminars will help bring out all the know-how needed to optimize the food chain with new perspectives on waste reduction, food security and a greater recovery of the nutritional value of the food.

The Cirque du Soleil Group is a Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company and its divisions is a creative content provider for a wide variety of unique projects. In addition to shows, the company, which has its International Headquarters in Montreal, extends its creative talent to other spheres of activity. While maintaining stringent standards of artistic quality and originality, Cirque du Soleil brings to innovative projects the same energy and spirit that characterize each of its shows.

Cirque du Soleil Since its beginnings in 1984, close to 150 million spectators in over 300 cities on six continents have been thrilled by Cirque du Soleil. For more information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.