Cirque du Soleil visits Albuquerque for the first time in three years

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – There was an educational preview for Cirque du Soleil’s new show opening Thursday night at the Rio Rancho Events Center – but Wednesday’s performance was just for kids.

"We took this opportunity to work in collaboration with the Explora museum and have a little bit of a learning, educational moment about insects, as our show is also based on insects. We have 52 species," said Janie Mallet, tour manager of Cirque du Soleil.

"It was great. They had a great time, it was really funny, it was really great to see the kids getting involved," said Kristen Kinney, Explora’s visitor experience specialist.

Even though acrobatic bugs are far from the ordinary, folks at Explora say Wednesday kinda felt like old times.

"We’re really excited to have people in the museum and really excited to start doing these events more because we know that people want to get out, and they want to see stuff, and they want to do stuff," said Kinney.

The Cirque du Soleil team is also happy to finally be back in the metro for the first time since 2019.

"We’ve come multiple times through the years to the Albuquerque area. Of course, the past couple of years, with the global pandemic, live shows around the world have stopped and have been on an extended pause. So to be back now, and to be back performing in front of audiences and to hear the– to share this experience with the public is just so special. We’re all very grateful to return with like a new appreciation," said Mallet.

Cirque du Soleil’s "Ovo," runs Thursday through Sunday.