MEN IN BLACK, TOO

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Production of
the Opening and Closing Sessions of the
Event Solutions Expo 2003

E. Through the Eyes of the Production Team and Entertainers

4. - Dragon Knights

Dragon Knights' goal is to produce culture mix street performances,combining circus and theatre, performance and poetry, dream and technology and bring the magic as close as they can.

Trained and performed in the arts of circus, masked theatre, make-up and puppetry, in Europe, Asia and the U.S.A., they have the desire to offer visual and interactive events based on multicultural roots, to be among the audience and play with them.

They performed in many Californian festivals, street fairs and at the San Diego Zoo. Dragon Knights adds a whole dimension to your event and venue with these unique stiltwalkers and puppeteers who wander through times and bring to life fairies, dragons and elves, buffoons and beasts,... but if you want to see them, better raise your eyes.

The art of stiltwalking has roots in Africa, China and France. Pole stilts, which were invented centuries ago by farmers and shepherds to travel in marshy and flooded areas, need more balance than the "big foot" stilts more widely used, but give more freedom and elegance to the stiltwalkers.

The actor gives an amazing performance when he played the dual role of a dragon and knight by convincing the audience with stiltwalking and puppeteering that they are a reality through his extraordinary technical and dramatic abilities.

This, combined with the fact that the audience had never seen such a performance in their life, has led them to become mesmerized by the show.

Gryphon is a wooden puppet who can express all kind of feelings. This funny mythical bird seems to be escaped from a dream and a cartoon as well. Dynamic and always curious, Gryphon is so playful that he seduces everyone.

The Dragon called Baraka is ridden by a mighty sorcerer. He is a fierce creature - not easy to approach, but he gives the feeling that anyone can be a hero, only if... one tries to tame him, especially the children, who are so proud of themselves when they finally pet the Dragon and overcome their fear.

The Dragonfly, the Fairy Queen in a bug body,enlightens your day by reflecting the (Sun)light from her wings. She brings you a rainbow of colorful little Fairies.

Each puppet-character can be combined and acts with another one. For example, the Dragon can play with the Dragonfly ; they have a musical show " Fly Dragon Fly " in which the Elf ( the ground character ) invites the audience to join them for a soar and catch the magic Lightfairies` from the wings of the dragonfly to feed the Dragon.

Lili Nodine
DRAGON KNIGHTS
San Diego, CA
760-754-5273
www.stilttheater.com