BRAVO CELEBRATES TWO DECADES OF THE WORLD'S MOST ASTOUNDING ACROBATICS AS CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TURNS TWENTY

BRAVO CELEBRATES TWO DECADES OF THE WORLD'S MOST ASTOUNDING ACROBATICS AS CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TURNS TWENTY

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S NEWEST PERFORMANCE 'MIDNIGHT SUN' TO PREMIERE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19 AT 8:00 PM AS PART OF ANNUAL CIRQUE WEEK FESTIVAL

New York -- October 28, 2004 -- Starting Friday, November 19, Bravo throws Cirque du Soleil the birthday bash of the decade with airings of Cirque du Soleil specials both past and present. Kicking off with the television premiere of "Midnight Sun," Bravo, the official U.S. broadcast network of Cirque du Soleil, will also air special encore presentations of performances "Alegria," "Saltimbanco," "Varekai," "Quidam," "Dralion" and "Nouvelle Experience."

"Cirque du Soleil: Midnight Sun:" In honor of their 20th Anniversary, Cirque du Soleil is taking to the streets in their newest performance, "Midnight Sun." They celebrate as only Cirque can, by shutting down the center of Montreal to perform on the tops of buildings and in the middle of city streets. A crowd of more than 200,000 people look on as Cirque spins fantastical new acts. Premieres Friday, November 19, from 8:00 -10:00 p.m. ET.

"Cirque du Soleil: Alegria:" Alegria is a Spanish word that expresses elation, jubilation and exhilaration. This powerful performance depicts the transformation of society over the centuries, and it's all presented in a spectacular stage setting with spiral staircases and a drawbridge under an enormous dome, set off by dazzling lighting effects. Encore presentation Friday, November 19 from 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. ET.

"Cirque du Soleil: Saltimbanco:" Saltimbanco celebrates life and was created as an antidote to the violence and despair typical of the 20th century. The international cast consists of more than fifty performers, ranging from 8 to 45 years old, performing a variety of top-notch acts executed with masterly beauty - handbalancing, double trapeze, double tightrope, Chinese poles, the Russian swing and bungees. Encore presentation Friday, November 19 from 12:00 - 2:00 a.m. ET.

"Cirque du Soleil: Varekai:" The word "varekai" means "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies, the universal wanderers. This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, and to the spirit and art of the circus tradition. The show emerges from an explosive fusion of drama and acrobatics, and blends together thirteen different acts into what becomes one grand spectacle. Encore presentation Saturday, November 20 from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. ET.

"Cirque du Soleil: Quidam:" Under the direction of Franco Dragone, Cirque du Soleil's Quidam (pronounced key-dahm) features a spectacular scenic design including a 120-foot overhead conveyor system, and combines artistic performance with cutting-edge technology to present a show fit for the millennium. Encore presentation Saturday, November 20 from 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. ET.

"Cirque du Soleil: Dralion:" This Emmy-winner is a fusion of ancient Chinese circus tradition and the avant-garde of Cirque du Soleil, a contemporary collage of the original and the eclectic. With 56 artists from 8 different countries, a breathtaking futuristic set, and costumes created in the four colors representing the elements, Dralion is a dynamic performance that seems to transcend the boundaries of the imagination. Encore presentation Saturday, November 20 from 12:00 - 2:00 a.m. ET.

"Cirque du Soleil: Nouvelle Experience:" Cirque du Soleil invites you to voyage into a world of raw, pure emotion, under a fluid sky, across landscapes replete with contrasts. The show offers a series of different tableaux which show facets of the human condition: Life, death, opulence, solitude, disobedience, excess, and simplicity all take their turns under the big top. Encore presentation Saturday, November 20 from 2:00 - 3:00 a.m. ET.

Bravo is an arts and culture network featuring a variety of programs presented in an original and engaging way. Currently seen in more than 77 million homes, Bravo is the television destination for viewers who want creativity, experimentation and innovation. Offering programming with a unique point of view, the network features original series and specials, feature films (both independent and mainstream) as well as performance specials and compelling documentary series. Its critically-acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," and Cirque du Soleil specials and series, as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." The network's latest hits include "Blow Out," "Showbiz Moms & Dads," and the improvisational sitcom "Significant Others."

Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information log onto www.bravotv.com.