[Park Hopper]

DW and I had a wonderful time Saturday afternoon when we attended a question and answer session with three of the performers with the Cirque du Soleil La Nouba troupe. Disney invited passholders who recently purchased La Nouba tickets to attend one of the sessions, which have been held each Saturday over the last month or so.

The performers at our session were Natalya Bashkatova, who plays the ballerina character; Krystian Sawicki, who is the Titan -- the somewhat fearsome-looking character who is seen throughout the show; and Rob Dawson, the "catcher" in the trapeze act. Also on hand to help answer questions was the woman who is the publicist for La Nouba.

There were probably 30 people at our session, at least half of them children, so it was a pretty casual, intimate atmosphere. The sessions are being held in the Cirque du Soleil theater, with the performers sitting on the stage steps and the rest of us seated just a few feet away in the first few rows.

Just being in the empty theater was kind of cool, and it really was fun being able to ask questions and have the performers make eye contact with you when they answered. The performers were in street clothes, without any makeup.

The session lasted a little more than an hour, and you were allowed to ask the performers anything you wanted. A Disney employee circulated among the audience with a microphone so everyone could hear the questions.

Natalya, from Russia, formerly danced with the renowned Bolshoi and is married to La Nouba performer Youri Maiorov, the man who flies above the audience in the Aerial Ballet in Silk. All you ladies who've seen the show know precisely who I mean.

Krystian, who spends most of the show doing his slow-motion stalk around the stage until the spectacular trampoline finale, is from Poland and has been performing as a gymnast since he was 7 years old.

Rob, a recent addition to the La Nouba troupe, had been performing in Cirque du Soleil's Mystere in Las Vegas. He attended Florida State University and was a member of FSU's Flying High Circus.

As you would expect, all the performers were kind and gracious and were particularly good with the children. They really seemed to enjoy answering everyone's questions.

DW and I didn't really know what to expect when we got the invitation, but it turned out to be a great experience that put us closer in touch with our favorite show in Orlando.

[Metalfan]

That's really great to hear!!! I have yet to see the show, but definitely plan on it once we move up there and get settled and can make some trips.

[Dana]

How Cool for your and DW. The kids there probally got a kick out of it too. I have got to get myself over to see one of these shows. I have been talking about it for ahile and me and DD never seem to get to it once there. Maybe this year.