The Cirque du Soleil will be back this year in Santiago de Compostela, from December 7th to 11th, presenting at the Multiusos Fontes do Sar its new show “Alegría”, with the sponsorship of the Foundation for the City of Culture of Galicia. Santiago is one of the five cities in Spain where the Montreal-based company will perform, together with Malaga, Saragossa, Granada and Bilbao. This return of this show to  Galicia is a part of the endeavor of the Department for Culture & Tourism of the Xunta de Galicia to bring continuity to some of the most recognized events of the Holy Year-Xacobeo, such as the festivals Sonar and Vigo Transforma.

The show “Alegría” is a classic of the company's repertoire. In all, the cast will consist of 55 artists and musicians from 17 different countries, performing in Compostela. Trapeze artists swinging over 12 meters high, choreographers with hidden trampolines playing with the viewers' fantasies, Russian and horizontal bars from which the artists leap into the air in impossible twists. These are some of the sketches to be seen in “Alegría”, a show applauded already by over ten million spectators all over the World.

Last year, more than 30,000 people enjoyed the performances of the Cirque du Soleil in Santiago, on that occasion with their show “Saltimbanco”, a mixture of light, music and acrobatics performed by the company with great success in 75 cities around the World.

This event was a part of the cultural program for the Holy Year-Xacobeo. Given the success achieved, the Xunta de Galicia worked hard to bring them back this year of 2011.