Cirque Dreams turns Incirlik into ‘Jungle Fantasy’

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Members of Team Incirlik crowded into a packed aircraft hangar where entertainers swung, flipped, balanced and flew as they performed Cirque Dreams "Jungle Fantasy" Jan. 30.

Energetic performers in vibrant costumes, as well as remarkable visual effects, brought the stage to life in two separate shows to accommodate the many service members and family members in attendance.

The "Jungle Fantasy" show, described on the Cirque Dreams website as "an exotic encounter inspired by nature's unpredictable creations that are brought to life," featured entertainers and artists of various sorts to include acrobats, contortionists, jugglers and musicians.

A giraffe balanced at jaw-dropping heights, and a butterfly soared gracefully across the stage. Snakes slivered across the stage, and a safari hunter bounded about interacting with audience members.

Entertainers pulled numerous audience members from the crowd, some to clown around with entertainers from a jump-rope act and others to play bells in humorous composition of music.

Maj. Dennis Tansley, mental health flight commander, was led onstage in the beginning of the second showing.

"I had no idea they were going to pick me. It wasn't at all (embarrassing)," said Tansley. "This was amazing. I've never seen anything like it."

Following each show, the Cirque Dreams spectators gathered on stage with the colorfully clad entertainers for photo opportunities, which also provided a time for the entertainers to thank the military members and their families for their service.

"It's great performing for military because they're so grateful for our show that they're always really loud and cheering; and that always gives us energy on stage, and it feels like we're really appreciated," said Lee "Jungle Boy" Reisig, who performs the jump rope act and has been with Cirque Dreams for about three years. "We really appreciate this opportunity to travel and to share what we do; and we want to be thankful for what (service members) do for us so it's giving and giving back.

"I hope that it will inspire people and help them to realize that even though there's dark times, that everybody has a little bit of joy, and we want to bring that joy to the U.S military," Reisig said.

Cirque Dreams, in conjunction with Armed Forces Entertainment, embarked on its first world tour to perform at military bases worldwide to entertain more than 100,000 service members and their families, according to the AFE website.