French choreographer Philippe Decouflé is the writer-director behind the new Cirque du Soleil shoe ‘Iris’

This summer, the Montreal-based entertainment behemoth will be launching a planned 10-year residence at the Kodak Theater – home to the Oscar ceremony – where a posse of 75 acrobats, aerialists and clowns will perform Cirque's latest big-top extravaganza, the movie-themed “Iris.”

French choreographer Philippe Decouflé, head of the Paris-based contemporary dance company DCA (Découflé Company of Arts), has conceived and directs the $100 million show. Music is by Danny Elfman, Tim Burton's composer of choice.

Preview performances begin July 21, with the official opening set for September 25.

Photo: sneak preview

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.