The new circus edition of Les Folies Gruss waits for you in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne!
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The legendary Alexis Gruss circus company presents, for a new season, from October 1st, 2022 until March 5th, 2023, its unique concept of Les Folies Gruss, in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne. This inspired equestrian themed show is a recent creation that required 9 months of preparation, accompanied by a food moment of sharing with the artists!
This year, the Alexis Gruss Company relaunches its own Folies, a concept already in vogue during the Belle Époque period, while combining moments of entertainment and fancy food. Thus, in this category, you are more than invited to arrive a long time before the show, in order to benefit of all the food and animation offered by the troop, both dedicated to kids and adults.
On the program, an authentic circus time, starring skilled acrobats and clowns, along a rich equestrian show, full of surprises. A project initiated by the Gruss family, includes a whole universe to get immersed into before and after the spectacle. Therefore, you could spend some traditional meal or enjoy typical fair sweets, such as crepes, waffles from Liege, candy pop and, above all, the possibility to discuss with the artists at the end of the show. In this case, listen to the interview of the group leader Stephan Gruss, in the second part of the article and in our video below. He tells us more about the upcoming performances of this year and some secrets behind them! By AP
Following a complicated but successful 2021 season, the Alexis Gruss company wished to repeat Les Folies Gruss adventure, with a new version. For your information, this brand new experience started from October 1st, 2022 and would extend until March 5th, 2023, settled in a majestic marquee, rented in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne (photo credits: AP)
Among them, you could of course count on incredible equestrian tricks, which is in a way the specialty of Les Folies Gruss. Without forgetting the numerous aerial stunts, either from the ground or in the air. It’s not a mystery that those athletic and spectacular prowesses require years of hard work and rehearsal, even the random juggling and humorous sequences that this show includes.
With this brand new creation, the famous Compagnie Alexis Gruss goes off the beaten track and reinvents an unexpected surprise to share day and night, with family or friends. With the Folies Gruss, the company presents an astonishing concept show (photo credits: Folies Gruss).
Thus, Les Folies Gruss becomes the place for all pleasures, where any spectator can live a full experience, before, during and after this magic session, settled in a rather unusual and very magical place, located in the middle of the Bois de Boulogne, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Thus, take the chance to discover a creative scenography, imagined by a new creative team, expressing a warm atmosphere, inspired by is the Folies, a concept already in vogue during the Belle Époque period.
On top of that, enjoy a gourmet lunch in the midst of acrobats, horses and other amazing surprises (including a candyfloss and waffles bar), to share a good moment with your friends or even an artist, in a festive atmosphere. A real opportunity to live a unique convivial experience, where you can interact with your neighbors in the collective tables, even by watching a few circus acts, before and after the spectacle.
Indeed, you may share a fairy lunch or dinner, under a part of the marquee. A good occasion to exchange with the other spectators and even with the various artists, before or after the show. Therefore, during your lunch, the Gruss artists are your hosts, they would offer you a sort of appetizer with a real orchestra lead by the singer Candice Parise.
On the menu, prepared by a professional caterer, recipes from the sea (smoked fish, oysters, ceviche…), along typical French gastronomy (cold cuts, among other delights…), to accompany with a cup of champagne or Parisian craft beer. For your information, those extra-show sessions would welcome you on weekends, where you could take the chance to come for lunch before attending the spectacle, so to say from 12:30pm. Adding to this, don’t miss the kids zone, able to entertain your youngest children, along a series of artistic and musical performances that still take place throughout your lunch.
We invite you to learn more about this singular show, told by Charles Gruss and Kaylie!
– Can you introduce us to the new edition of Les Folies Gruss?
The Gruss family and their 50 horses welcome you for a magical moment with your family and friends all in one place. More than just a spectacular show with 3000 places, Les Folies Gruss is an experience that begins with a high quality restaurant in which you are surrounded by on going live music and artistic performances. Either accessible from Parisian metro, by foot and easily accessible by car from the ring road of Paris’ periphérique, situated in the Parisian woodlands of the Bois de Boulogne, facing a lake, you will be welcomed by horses right from the moment you arrive.
After the pre-show experiences, you take your seats to watch a poetic aerial and horse show performed by a family of artists accompanied by a live orchestra and a high profile singer. After the show, the experience doesn’t end just yet, the bar and desert booth remain open and you can meet the artists, talk, take photos, and get your programs signed. A complete afternoon or evening out in a lovely area to walk around and not too far from the Eiffel Tower either, fitting in wonderfully to your parisien trip.
– What is the philosophy of this new edition? What are the new things to discover?
Here you will be welcomed to spend a moment with the Gruss family, « the artists are your hosts »
After the show you can meet all the artists for a chat and visit the horses, we want you to feel close to us and we really care about the relationship between the audience and the family. In this new edition, you will watch a brand new show full of surprises, the acrobatic tricks in the air or on horse’s back are more exiting and the « mise en scene » is innovative. If you don’t speak French, don’t worry we have even thrown in an English comedy interlude.
– For visitors from the South, could you tell us about your academy near Avignon? When can we visit it?
And for the southern visitors, you can enjoy Les Folies Gruss in a beautiful outdoor version beneath the sunset of Béziers, in Occitania during all summertime. In July and August, « Les Folies Gruss estivales » will welcome you every evening for memorable summer nights.
– How long it took to develop this updated version? Did you meet some obstacles or get some support of anyhow?
We have spent many a long month working on this show and have had many challenges caused by the complexity of some of the tableaux. Notably in the aerial numbers, we have a new motor system in place meaning each individual flight is programmed into and piloted by a computer, this was a very complex process.
In order to bring together humans, computers and horses was a great challenge. You will also see in this show some young horses that have been in training for several years and debuting their first appearances in the arena. For example, 4 young pure-bred arab horses, who present a musical chairs style number where they jump in and out of giant baskets.
– In the morning, doors open at 12:30 p.m., show at 3 p.m.
– In the evening, opening at 7:00 p.m., show at 9:00 p.m.
Here, more about these fabulous artists introduced here to you, here by the father Stephan Gruss himself!
– Could you describe us in some facts and some figures, your concept of Folies Gruss show? Is it supposed to travel somewhere, beyond Paris?