Cavalia: Experiencing the performance by feel and touch

On 27 Aug, some visually impaired children were invited to experience hands-on Cavalia, a production currently staging at the gigantic white tent next to the Marina Bay Sands.  Cavalia is a multi-disciplinary show which feature riders, aerialists, acrobats, musicians and of courses, the horses.  

It was a good initiative by the Presenter and the Cavalia team to create a special experience for these children.  To begin the journey, the children, teachers and parents were first brought to the farrier's station where they had the chance to touch and feel the tools of making a horse shoe.  Most children were able to overcome their initial shyness and participate in the activities.


At one corner, the children smelt and touched the hay, grains and fruits fed to the horses, thereby understanding the diet of these stallions.   A few students from the Lighthouse School were game enough to ride on the saddle.












And to the horses!

There were initial apprehension in approaching the horses but the children overcame their nerves....

Listening to the heartbeat and breathing with stethoscopes

Getting acquaintance with the horse

The finale.    All of us stood in the middle of the training ground and we were surrounded by the riders and horses.  The riders slowly brought the stallions to a full 45 km gallop.  Closing our eyes, we felt the trembling of the ground  and the effect was special.

It was commendable effort by the Cavalia team to organise this activity, enabling the less privileged to experience the beauty of the horses.   I could sense that the children had a good time with the staff and horses.  To me, it was an opportunity to better understand the visually impaired community in Singapore.