The Baroque family begin the second half of Saltimbanco with a flourish. They are eccentric, eclectic, electric. They light up the world with their infectious energy and they celebrate life with their every movement. The stage is their giant playground. From the Russian swing, they are catapulted up to 30 feet in the air where they complete complicated aerial acrobatics before landing on their feet, on the shoulders of others or high atop human pyramids.

Following the Bolas, The Baron slows down the pace as he steps onto another mic'ed stage to perform a tap dance with percussion providing a tribal beat. As he dances and swings his white and black-striped cape he groans and screams an evil version of "Rideau" sounding as if he were alone in a vast cavern. When he completes his dance, a straight drum beat signals the beginning of one of Cirque du Soleil's most rocking songs, appropriately titled "Barock" for the Russian Swing act.

The "Russian Swing" is an interesting apparatus, which made its first appearance within a Cirque du Soleil show with Saltimbanco. A Russian Swing can be made of wood or metal, and has the ability to catapult a performer 30-plus feet in the air. Swinging in a pendulum-like motion, the Russian Swing is powered by one or two people riding "in the back." It appears to be a simple playground-like swing -- hence its name.

Artists of all types and costumes gather on the apparatus to catapult themselves into the air. These artists are the Baroques and they begin this half of our show. They light up the entire world with their infectious energy and celebrate life with every fiber in their being. The world's a stage and these artists show their acrobatics here - before landing on their feet!

"Barock" accompanies the energetic Russian Swing act and is another instrumental that features a myriad of instrumental ad-libbing. A descending guitar riff travels through most of the upbeat song as various instruments provide tasty solos. In the middle, however, the band quiets down to enhance the intensity of setting up for a flyer to land atop a chaired pole. With the safe landing, the tune then returns to its vigorous theme. During "Barock" the band appears to be having a lot of fun as they are seen dancing around like rock stars.