You take your seats, excitedly whisper about what’s to come and take in your surroundings as the lights go down and the announcer’s voice booms throughout the tent. You’re here, at Cirque du Soleil, for your birthday party, company event, friend reunion or family night. A spectacular display of colors, choreography, costumes and emotion unfolds before your eyes for the duration of the show. There are plenty of “ohhh’s” and “ahhh’s” that go around along with friendly nudges by your seatmates of disbelief. Once the show wraps, your group exits, buzzing about what you just experienced. Sentiments of wonder and awe are shared by everyone. This is what Cirque du Soleil is all about: connecting with those around you, sharing new experiences, tapping into the power of awe.
More Than a Performance
It’s not just about having a fun night on the town with your friends, family or coworkers, Cirque du Soleil recently discovered there’s so much more to attending a show that lies below the surface. There’s no doubt that your group feels that rush of euphoria at the end of each show, but why? The Cirque du Soleil team was curious about this phenomenon so they conducted a scientific study on shared experiences at their shows. Their findings? "A shared experience that makes audience members feel more emotionally connected to the people around them, turning the performance into a form of spectacular group hug, rather than an isolated, individually experienced entertainment moment.” Basically, they scientifically proved that attending a Cirque du Soleil show is the best way to connect with each other.
The Awe Study
Driven by curiosity, Cirque du Soleil worked with a creative neuroscience group, Lab of Misfits, to dive deeper into the sensation of “awe” – that aforementioned phenomenon that unites a group. Several hundred audience members were tested over many shows: they wore state-of-the-art EEG “brain caps” and participated in psychological exams about their perceptions before and after a Cirque du Soleil show.
The findings were conclusive, "suggesting that those who are ‘in awe’ may become more open and inviting to the outside world and feel more empathetic overall." Another striking discovery? “Awe’s apparent ability to recalibrate our feelings about the future and reshape our perceptions about the past.” 
Awe-some Connections
There’s no doubt that attending a show is celebratory and just plain fun, but when it’s backed by science? Consider us sold. It’s a no brainer to book Cirque du Soleil for your next group outing but to really seal the deal? Choose one of their group packages designed to maximize your time at one of the shows. Here’s what you’re going to do: gather up at least 10 of your favorite people (but honestly, the more the merrier here) to receive special pricing then, choose between adding a VIP Experience or go gangbusters with the EPIC Experience – you can’t go wrong when both start with an open bar and Premium seats. Once you’ve made your selections, get ready to be awe-inspired.
If this sounds like the perfect company outing for your hard-working team or best clients, you can buy out an entire Cirque du Soleil show – and receive the VIP treatment, of course – for a once-in-a-lifetime bonding experience. Inside tip: forward this article to your boss! 
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