La Nouba is from the French phrase faire la nouba, meaning to party or live it up. It’s something that the Disney/Cirque du Soleil show does well. Some may remember La Nouba from the advertisements around Walt Disney World. Many will remember it from the “Disney Must Do’s” that air in the hotel rooms at Disney resorts.
It was the non-Disney attraction at Downtown Disney later Disney Springs. The theater was designed for Cirque shows. The first structure built solely for Cirque du Soleil. The theater was designed by Michel Crête, Michel Aubé of Scéno, Walt Disney Imagineering, and the architects of the Rockwell Group. The structure is reminiscent of a classic circus tent.
The music and the dazzling excitement sells the show. I’ve only gotten to see the show twice but I’m glad I did. What really sells the show is it’s idea of imagination. Plus that if feels like a weird and wacky circus. They embrace it full throttle. The show doesn’t sell you by using Disney characters or classic Disney tunes. It sells because it is La Nouba. It is an experience like no other. The performance features many skilled performers and has had an incredible 19 year run.
La Nouba is ending on December 31. It’s going to be replaced by a new Cirque show that will showcase the history of Walt Disney Animation. I’m sure the new show will be creative and will give the same feeling La Nouba did, but with classic Disney characters to help. The original concept for the Cirque du Soleil at Walt Disney World was fairy tale characters. So this may be the original concept coming back to life.
The music was a integral part of the show for me. The daring acts were incredible to witness. La Nouba ending is another distinctly different attraction fading away. The next show will be great I’m sure but La Nouba has been around forever, and it was still selling. Most things run their course. Maybe Disney/Cirque wanted to pull La Nouba before it was too late? So the future of Disney Springs West Side will feature an NBA Experience (replacing DisneyQuest) and The Walt Disney Animation Cirque show. Animation and Disney both translate the same in French. So the title will have to get creative. That brings up an interesting point. Will this be the first Cirque show without the Cirque feeling?
La Nouba is closing its curtains on December 31. The show had a phenomenal run. Maybe Disney puts the show on DVD so fans can remember the great show that use to preside in Disney Springs. The Boardwalk Times will keep you updated when details become available on the next Cirque du Soleil show at Walt Disney World.
I’m going to miss La Nouba but at least it will get a chance to be a team in Extinct Magic Madness.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief at the Boardwalk Times.
