Author: Elle Clarke

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Beloved by fans around the world, Alegría (‘joy’ in Spanish) is returning to the Big Top once more to share its timeless story of resilience and hope. The classic power struggle of old-meets-new has been reinterpreted through today’s lens. Carried by an intangible wind of change, an emerging movement strives to shake the established order, instilling hope and renewal to bring light and harmony to their kingdom in decay. With its joyful spirit, Alegría is a vital, energizing force driven by a thirst for a brighter world.

Cirque du Soleil is excited to add three weeks of performances of Alegría’s Miami engagement. Cirque du Soleil’s most iconic production will be presented under its signature Big Top next to Hard Rock Stadium from December 13, 2019 – February 17, 2020.  An evening at Cirque du Soleil makes for the perfect outing with friends, family and loved ones this holiday season. Tickets, starting at $42, are available for purchase by visiting www.cirquedusoleil.com/alegria or calling 1-877-9CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783).

Guests are invited to enjoy a special Black Friday deal of 40% off tickets on weekdays and 30% on select weekend shows starting Tuesday, November 19, through Sunday, December 1. Offer available on select ticket levels and show dates only. While supplies last.

Black Friday deals link for Cirque du Soleil’s ALEGRIA in Miami: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/deals

 A production destined to change the history of the company, Cirque du Soleil first presented Alegría in April 1994, launching an emblematic show that was to win over more than 14 million spectators in 255 cities in 19 years of touring through the end of 2013. The show’s theme song, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1995 and continues to be a fan favorite, is the most listened-to Cirque du Soleil song on YouTube.

In light of its 25^th anniversary, Cirque du Soleil is revisiting its legendary Alegría through today’s lens—including new costumes and set design, a renewed acrobatic vocabulary, and new musical arrangements —to ensure it is as inspiring now as it was at the time of its creation in 1994.  With its signature songs, stunning acrobatics, memorable characters and enchanting artistry that have helped define the Cirque du Soleil aesthetic, Alegría is the reincarnation of a classic, reinterpreted for the age, and rekindled to inspire fans—old and new alike.

Earlier this year we had the opportunity to spend time with Keyshia Cole at the Mother’s Day Extravaganza held in Miami Beach, Florida. It was amazing to see this mom in action as she performed our favorite songs with the cutest baby bump you’ve never seen.

Finally, we got to see the bun that was in the oven for the past nine months– Tobias Khale.

I absolutely couldn’t wait to post these pictures. If u watched the show last night, you’ve had a chance to take the first looks. @tobiaskhale is the sweetest baby, OMG. He’s such a little blessing, and I’m completely in love with him! The smiles he gives EVERY SINGLE Time you smile at him, Brightens the worst of days. So happy @daniel_gibsonjr has a baby brother now. 

Keyshia Cole

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Congrats to Keyshia Cole and Niko Khale on the birth of their son!

Without questioning, when going through a serious illness, you learn to know what faith truly is, along with finding the true meaning of beauty and how you really feel about yourself. I know this all too well, because I’ve experienced many trials and tribulations in my life. Through it all, I gained strength that I never knew I had, and much more confidence in myself, which lead me to loving myself all over again. I had a new beginning, all on my own.

After going through so much in my life, things were going pretty well, until it happened. I had a head-on collision with not only breast cancer, but colon cancer as well, and it changed my entire outlook on life. I thought I had it rough years before, but going through cancer was the rest of the iceberg. There’s nothing like it. You wonder, what in life had you done so wrong to have this placed upon you. You began asking, why me. Yet through my tragedies and all that I had to endure, it all became an awakening for me, in which I received and gain all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer. Through it all, not only did I find the true meaning of life, I found the true meaning of beauty. Through all the chemo, radiation, the pain I endured, I still felt beautiful. I found myself looking in the mirror even more during this time, because I thought what I was dealing with would change me drastically, but as I viewed the imperfections I now have to live with, over time it got better, and instead of feeling sorry for myself, I embrace it all; I’m still among the living, who am I to complain.

Whether we’re dealing with an illness or any other negative feelings about ourselves, our lives and our bodies, we need to be our on cheering section. Through all my mishaps, I still feel beautiful and it’s real. I’ve come to realize that even going through such a dark time in my life, I still have a life to be lived, and I’m going to live it to the fullest. When I think about the individuals that are no longer among us due to such a horrific disease, I’m truly grateful, and I will no longer take my life for granted, it’s too precious. When I think of the “gift of life” that was given to me twice over, I knew I didn’t have a moment to waste. I would never say having or going through cancer is a gift, surviving it, receiving a second and third chance at life, is the gift. Yet, through it all, I didn’t allow the disease to take away who I am, or what I stand for. I’m a survivor, as well as an example to show that my small mishaps are just that, and I can go on and look and feel just as beautiful, inside and out, and it shines brighter.

Each new day that I’m allowed to open my eyes, the days are brighter, because I’m able to see and appreciate it that much more. I will say, the many times I have to view the scars, that are attached to the many areas of my body, it’s still a constant reminder I had cancer, and at times, it bothers me, I’m human, but within a moment or two, I would look past it, because those areas could be covered up. True beauty is within and when you feel beautiful on the inside, it shows so clearly on the outside. Just because I had cancer, doesn’t mean cancer had me. We as women should never allow anything, or any circumstance to steal our joy, nor our self-esteem. And I know with cancer, many times you will be too weak to even think about how you look, because you’re not always feeling your best, believe me, I know; but sometimes you have to try and fight past it, and keep living. Through any tragedy, we are and always will be beautiful and unique! Women, we all know that our bodies take lickings, yet keep on ticking.

When I look back now at it all, I must say, I thought right away that my cancer diagnose was truly a death sentence, because you’re not sure if you’re going to make it. I truly learned not to blink twice on life anymore, my eyes are wide open, to living life to the fullest. I also realized after surviving cancer twice, that I was about to face a new beginning, new hope, do and see more with a whole new prospective on life. I share my story with others hoping to make a positive impact on someone who’s ill or otherwise, where they can proceed life in a whole new way. I’m 63yrs of age now, and I’m cherishing each day, each moment, and through it all, I feel that I’m still at my best, confident, as well as grateful. I’m starting over, doing things I should have done before cancer.

One day, part of my many surgeries, during my breast cancer period, and I could remember it, as if it was yesterday, I experienced something so real, so peaceful, something of a miracle, that I had to write it down. I turned that experience into a poem and I called it “Peace”. I took that poem, along with many others I had written, and I placed them into book form, and I was blessed enough to have that book of poems published, writing had become therapy for me. I’m hoping that anyone who has the opportunity to read my poems, get out of them, what I placed in all of them. My poems are from the heart, as real as any could be. I later had another inspirational children book published, and my third book is finally published titled, “Cancer, Yet Cancer Again, but I will not Die, before I’m Dead”. I titled it that, because I truly feel that you shouldn’t stop living, because you have cancer, and that’s exactly what I almost did, when I heard the word cancer. I’m not saying I’m in the running for a best selling author, I’m far from that. I’m just a regular everyday woman, who have overcome many obstacles, which took me to writing. I would have never become a writer, producing inspirational stories, if I hadn’t gone through all that I did. I never anticipated becoming a writer, I just became one.

I’m a true example that you can survive cancer, not once, but twice, providing you get to it in time. I’m not saying all will be easy, I’m not saying all will survive it, what I am saying, is to have faith, fight with all you have, then hold on. I truly believe when and if you survive a horrific tragedy or a horrible disease such as cancer, it’s for a reason. You have a purpose, and through that purpose, faith, compassion, strength, and true beauty is born.

Written by: Karen Rice/x2 Cancer Thriver

This is my winning season! Periodt

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