A Cirque du Soleil Fanzine
THECHAPITEAU FASCINATION!
1
Premiere ISSUE October 2014
MARIE-MICHELLE FABER THE CIRQUE VETERAN TALKS TO US ABOUT HER BEGINNINGS AND HER CAREER WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
WILL CELEBRATE IT’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A UNIQUE CONCERT
KURIOS
SOUNDTRACK RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED
ALLAVITA!
AN EXCLUSIVE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL EVENT AT EXPO MILANO 2015
CONTENTS
01 02
04
CIRQUE BUZZ NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ITINÉRAIRE TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
03
FASCINATION! FEATURES "FIDDLING AROUND THE EDGES” BY: KEITH JOHNSON
05
OUTREACH UPDATES FROM CIRQUE'S SOCIAL WIDGETS
COPYRIGHT & DISCLAIMER
INTERVIEW: "MARIEMICHELLE FABER"
That’s right, fellow Cirque du Soleil fans; TheChapiteau and Fascination! Newsletter bring you a Cirque du Soleil fan magazine (fanzine)! If you are familiar with Fascination! Newsletter, then you know what to expect. And for those who are not, you can expect all sorts of Cirque du Soleil news, information and interviews! In this first issue we hear from Keith Johnson who analyzes what Cirque is doing to save money on tour (cutting back on hours!), and also, we have an interview with the Moon Goddess of Amaluna – Marie-Michelle Faber – where she talks to us about her beginnings, her life at Cirque du Soleil and her side projects.
!2
fall season is now upon us, which of course means Pumpkin Spice(TM) everything. While we take part in this "new" fall-time tradition, do you know what's missing about this particular Autumn? A ramp-up to Cirque Week 2014 in Las Vegas! Although there doesn't appear to be a Cirque Week this year, there’s still a number of exciting Cirque-y events going on this season: First, as part of its 30th anniversary, and for the first time in its history, Cirque du Soleil will present a truly unique, exclusive music event celebrating 30 years of music. Presented by Xerox, this concert will run for two weeks only, from December 13 to 28, at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Montréal. The 75-minute concert will pay tribute to the music of Cirque du Soleil and will feature a choir of 70 voices and 6 soloists accompanied by 28 musicians. The audience will hear signers Audrey BrissonJutras, Dominic Dagenais, Mathieu Lavoie, Anna Liani, Francine Poitras and Roxanne Potvin interpreting some of the songs that have defined the music of Cirque du Soleil shows of the past 30 years. The main Montréal celebration of Cirque du Soleil’s 30th anniversary was the opening night of Kurios in April. It was followed by a big party for employees in June. One other
In the meantime we can perhaps fulfil our need for new Cirque content with “SPARKED: An Interaction Between Humans and Quadcopters”. Cirque du Soleil, ETH Zurich, and Verity Studios have partnered to develop a short film featuring 10 quadcopters in a flying dance performance. The collaboration resulted in a unique, interactive choreography where humans and drones move in sync. Inside you’ll find a link to the video, as well as a behind-thescenes look at how they made it all come together. It’s quite interesting! Cirque recently announced that a new CD will be joining its catalog: the KURIOS soundtrack! Fans in the United States and Canada will be able to get it in stores, online, and digitally (via iTunes, no doubt) beginning December 9th. In addition to the CD, there’ve been rumors of a DVD offering in the works as well, so we’ll have to see. In either case, I guess Cirque better hurry up and get their online Boutique running again, because that’s not all that’s coming!
LET’S GET STARTED!
In most of North America now the
Montreal event will be held next month; however: the launching of a 30th-anniversary book. Gilles SteCroix described it as “really picture-driven.” The book will consist mainly of backstage photos taken of all the shows, by one photographer, since 1987. The book, whatever it may be called, sounds like an update to “Wings: Backstage with Cirque du Soleil”, published in 1999 and featuring the photography of Veronique Vial.
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CIRQUE BUZZ NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
ALLAVITA! Cirque to Present new production at Expo Milano 2015 EXPO 2015 has selected the Cirque du Soleil Group, Events and Special Projects, to create an engaging and unique show concept to be presented during the Universal Expo taking place in Milan, Italy from May 1 to October 31, 2015. The colourful artistic circus will employ their graceful, acrobatic dancers to delve into the deep and complex ties between food and human existence at Expo's request. The theme of the Universal Exposition that runs from May to October next year is "Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life," exploring nutrition, food security, sustainable practices and celebrating global cuisines. More than 50 Italian and international artists will perform in the Allavita! (To life!) in the Open Air Theatre, which goes on stage from May 6 to August 23, 2015. The 2015 Exhibition theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” embraces culture, tradition, technology, innovation and their relationship with food. The Cirque du Soleil event production will celebrate these elements through the creation of a fascinating tale, interwoven with music and dance with the main inspiration stemming from the deep union between Food and Life.
Allavita! is the evocative title of this new exclusive production that will be presented during the Expo and will include the participation of over 50 Italian and international artists. This performance for the Universal Exposition of Milan 2015 will be set in a spectacular open air theatre from May 6 to August 23, 2015. The title Allavita! refers to the awareness of the winds that nourish us and the roots that bring our international family together. It is a call to feed our lives with pleasure, spice and passion. “We are proud of our choice of Cirque du Soleil to represent the universality of the public that will attend Expo Milano 2015. As one of the most renowned international companies of artistic performance, Cirque du Soleil constantly wishes to evoke the unreal, to invoke the senses and provoke the emotions in people from all over the world, using universal languages enjoyed by all,” said Giuseppe Sala, Commissioner of the Government of Italy for Expo Milano 2015 and CEO of Expo 2015 Company. !4
ALLAVITA! “We are extremely excited to bring Cirque du Soleil’s creativity to this significant event for Italy and the world,” said Yasmine Khalil, President, Events and Special Projects for The Cirque du Soleil Group. “Allavita! will be a never-before-seen production that will reflect the Expo Milano 2015 theme in an innovative, entertaining and thoughtprovoking style.” Cirque du Soleil will collaborate with experts in Italy to create Allavita!, which will include Italian performers who will attend invited audition sessions in Milan. Specialty technical and logistical experts from Italy will be a crucial part of the show’s production team and local providers and suppliers will also assist in diverse areas. “The high-quality expertise available in Italy will be a great benefit to the Cirque du Soleil team,” added Khalil. Allavita! will allow audiences to "discover the winds that sustain us, and the roots that unite our international family. An invitation to nourish our lives with pleasure, enthusiasm and passion," said Yasmine Khalil, event and special projects president for Cirque du Soleil. "Allavita! will be a never before seen production that will re-propose the Milan Expo 2015 theme in an innovative, entertaining and stimulating way". Art and food will also co-mingle for Expo in Milano al Bacio (Milan at the kiss), announced this week - a series of initiatives surrounding the celebrated Italian romantic painting, and symbol of the 19th century risorgimento movement that led to national unity, The Kiss, by Francesco Hayez. The painting represents a dashing young couple from the middle ages in the act of a passionate kiss, using colours and a presentation that made the painting a symbolic, political celebration of the alliance between the Italian patriotic movement and France.
Belle Arti di Brera - home to the celebrated masterpiece - will be part of the initiative as will a photographs of people posing like the protagonists of The Kiss. The students' paintings will be exhibited during the month of October and then, at the end of Expo, auctioned off to benefit Father Virginio Colmegna's Charity House Foundation, which supports troubled people in their effort to acquire autonomy. Milano al Bacio is curated by Flavio Maestrini, a journalist at the Rima publishing house and Pietro Pedroni of the advertising agency Temantica. *** Expo Milano 2015 introduces a new model for Universal Expositions in the 21st century through an innovative thematic approach that pervades every aspect of Expo and proposes to tackle the problem of nutrition for humankind, respecting the earth on which we live and from which we draw its exhaustible vital resources. The success of Expo 2015 will depend on the committed engagement of all the participants and their willingness to share their contributions to the theme across a platform that gives a voice to all the players involved. Six months of work, meetings and seminars will help bring out all the know-how needed to optimize the food chain with new perspectives on waste reduction, food security and a greater recovery of the nutritional value of the food. The Cirque du Soleil Events and Special Projects team is dedicated to designing and producing unique and exquisite experiences that remain etched in the minds of the audience. They have presented exclusive creative content for prestigious international events such as The Super Bowl, FIFA & FiBA, Academy Awards, Eurovision, as well as unforgettable corporate and private celebrations and high-end brand launches.
Pastry lessons, but also the creation of 20 different versions of the famous painting by as many art students at the Milanese art school Accademia di !5
SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil
A CONCERT FOR CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY
C
irque du Soleil would like to invite you to its 30th Anniversary Concert, an ephemeral musical event taking place from December 13 to 28, at the heart of Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Montreal!
The 75-minute concert will pay tribute to the music of Cirque du Soleil and will feature a choir of 70 voices (trained by Grégory Charles) and 6 soloists accompanied by 28 musicians. The audience will hear signers Audrey Brisson-Jutras, Dominic Dagenais, Mathieu Lavoie, Anna Liani, Francine Poitras and Roxanne Potvin interpreting some of the songs that have defined the music of Cirque du Soleil shows of the past 30 years.
As part of its 30th anniversary, and for the first time in its history, Cirque du Soleil will present a truly unique, exclusive music event celebrating 30 years of music. Presented by Xerox, this concert will run for two weeks only, from December 13 to 28, at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Montreal. Over the course of three decades, twenty-odd composers wrote and arranged the music for the 35 shows created by Cirque du Soleil since 1984. Drawing their inspiration from world music, rock, jazz or contemporary sounds, the composers have added their own personal signature to each of the 35 productions.
Ste-Croix worked with Alain Vinet, a DJ, musical producer and Cirque’s in-house musical director, to create this event. Vinet has worked on several other Cirque shows, including Amaluna and Totem, in various musical roles. “He’s done a wonderful job over the years,” Ste-Croix said. “So we offered him this possibility of gathering together all the music that covers the 30 years of Cirque du Soleil and putting the whole concept of music and chorus and singers into
a format of a concert which will be played live.” Although the venue was chosen for its wonderful acoustics as well as its spectacular architecture, the concert will not be recorded. Soundtracks of all the shows are already available on CD. And there won’t be any acrobatic numbers, but 40 costumed Cirque characters will be present.
One musical excerpt has been chosen from each of the 35 Cirque shows produced since the company’s inception in 1984. These include a Beatles song from the Las Vegas show LOVE and a Michael Jackson number from Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, as well as original music composed for the shows by René Dupéré, Benoît Jutras and others. Two to four musical minutes will be allotted for each show. !6
Q. What was the original idea for this project?
Q. How did you choose the music?
“This idea was born during a creative summit about music. It was held in St-Jean Baptiste church five years ago. An organ and voice performance has been presented and it provoked a strong emotion. Since then, the idea of presenting Cirque du Soleil music is in the air.” […] “For the 30th, we wanted to offer something different. This idea naturally came back”
“We wanted to follow Cirque du Soleil evolution. We are then presenting the song on a chronological basis. All our shows will be represented. We chose the pieces based on the effect they will produce in the church and on the effect our hundred participants, singers and musicians, will produce.”
Q. What’s the inspirations?
Q. What is the show universe?
“We wanted to put music to the fore. Cirque du Soleil music is extremely rich but is always supporting acrobatics acts. This time, music is the star of the evening. This will be a totally new way to experience those musical works”
“We chose to illustrate the Cirque du Soleil evolution by comparing with the stage of life. Our dear Zoé will be the connection during this whole story. We will see her at different stage of her life and feel the variety of emotion that comes with such a journey.”
The main Montreal celebration of Cirque du Soleil’s 30th anniversary was the opening night of Kurios in April. It was followed by a big party for employees in June. Other celebrations were held elsewhere in connection with the 18 Cirque shows currently playing around the world. THE TEAM – 45DEGREES Events, a company of Cirque du Soleil:
CREATIVE TEAM
PRODUCTION TEAM
Guy Laliberté – Artistic Guide
Yasmine Khalil – Executive Producer Patrice Poulin – Operations Director Denyse Ostiguy – Delegate Producer Geneviève Lussier – Production Manager Serge Poupart – Technical Director
Jean-François Bouchard – Artistic Guide Gilles Ste-Croix – 30th Ambassador Véronique Dussault – Event Designer Alain Vinet – Musical Director Thierry Angers – Assistant Musical Director Frédéric Chiasson – Arranger, Orchestrator & Band Leader Gregory Charles – Artistic Director Choir
Click For More Information
Claude Chaput – Pre-Concert Arranger Clara Antoun – Musical Coordinator Benoît Groulx – Music Consultant Mathieu Parisien – Sound Designer Bruno Rafie – Lighting Designer
!7 SOURCE: CirqueClub
Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, the Cirque du Soleil
Outsold Michael Jackson Tours
MJ IMMORTAL Tour
show celebrating the legacy of
Billboard, and the show grossed $360 million making it the eighth biggest tour of all time.
the King of Pop, ended its run
Written and directed by Jamie
on August 31 after
King, the show opened on
playing 501 shows in
October 2, 2011 in Montreal
157 d i f f e r e n t
and toured North America,
venues over three
Europe, Asia, Australia, New
years.
Zealand and the Middle East.
Mounted in cooperation with the Jackson family, the tour highlighted the music of Jackson in a rock concert atmosphere. Over the three years, 3,369,207 people saw t he show, according t o
Along with the music, performers and acrobats filled the stage with visuals and dance
which
were
choreographed by ten different experts, including those that worked with Jackson himself.
The top ten tours of all-time according to Billboard: U2 – 360° (2009-11) – $736 million The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang (2005-07) – $558 million Roger Waters – The Wall Live (2010-13) – $459 million AC/DC – Black Ice (2008-10) – $441 million Madonna – Sticky & Sweet (2008-09) – $408 million U2 – Vertigo (2005-07) – $389 million The Police – Reunion (2007-08) – $362 million Michael Jackson – Immortal (2011-14) – $360 million Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (2012-13) – $347 million The Rolling Stones – Voodoo Lounge (1994-95) – $320 million
SOURCE: VVN Music PHOTO: OSA Images
Las Vegas Designates Cirque du Soleil Boulevard In honor of Cirque du Soleil’s 21 years in Las Vegas, the city unveiled a special street sign. Clark Avenue, in front of the City Hall building, is now designated as Cirque du Soleil Boulevard. Mayor Carolyn Goodman presided over the unveiling ceremony saying, “Today is all !1 about the generosity of this wonderful organization.” SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil
TO G D IN E T R I S P A S C IN AD R O E R M B IM O T W INT S ’ ‘ O ASH L P S
s y n c h r o n i z e d swimming,” Jones said. “I mean, I’ve always felt more comfortable in the water than I do on land.”
After joining a national team in 2005, Jones qualified to compete in synchronized swimming in the 2008 Olympics. She placed fifth in the duet and team meets.
hey
say that “if you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life.” Such is the life of Henderson resident Christina Jones. Through her love for s w i m m i n g , h e r c a re e r i n b ro a d c a s t journalism blossomed.
“I competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing for synchronized swimming, and I just remember being fascinated with watching the reporters interview competitors,” Jones said. “I was interested in the process and how the cameras worked. I always knew I wanted to go to (college), so I decided to go for broadcast journalism.” The 26-year-old was recently named one of 14 recipients of the Tony and Linda Bonnici Broadcast/Communications Scholarship administered by the Nevada Broadcast Association. This is her second year receiving the scholarship, according to scholarship founder Linda Bonnici. “Here she is, an older student with a full-time job, and she’s still pursuing her passion and going to school,” Bonnici said. “She doesn’t let anything stop her. She’s adamant about getting her education.” Born near San Francisco, Jones said she can’t remember what it was like not to swim. “I remember when my mom took me to Disneyland when I was young, and she couldn’t keep me out of the hotel pool,” she said. “I didn’t want to go to Disneyland. I wanted to stay in the pool.”
“We trained six days a week for 10 to 12 hours a day, with at least eight hours in the water and land drilling,” Jones said. “It was intense. You have no time or energy for anything else. It’s a complete sacrifice.” After the Olympics, Jones moved to Las Vegas in 2009 to perform as a synchronized swimmer in Cirque du Soleil’s “O.” She currently performs in the show’s Nage act. She also recently accepted a publicist position with Water Beauties, a synchronized swimming production company. “I’ve been balancing the sport with school my whole life, so it comes naturally to me,” Jones said. “Water Beauties is the perfect opportunity. The ability to apply my new skills with something I’m already comfortable with is God-sent for sure.” In four years, Bonnici and her husband, Tony, have offered full-ride scholarships and advice to 33 recipients. Bonnici serves as the vice president of sales at KLAS-TV, and Tony is the vice president and general manager of Lotus Broadcasting. “We didn’t want to be just a financial resource. We want to be their mentors and make it personal,” Bonnici said. “We look at these students as our own kids. Whenever they’re struggling, we want them to feel free to call on us for guidance.” With the help of the association and Bonnici family, Jones plans to hone her broadcast skills before graduating in December. “I didn’t have any idea what I was applying for at first, but it is so much more than a scholarship,” Jones said. “The Bonnici family really cares about the recipients. They support us and give us advice, and it’s the biggest blessing I’ve had here in Las Vegas.”
At 6, Jones combined her love for the water with performing and joined a synchronized swimming team. “I used to choreograph dances with my friends and perform them for our parents, so it was a no-brainer to join !2 SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Credits: Photo: Chris Nicholls Model: Alexandra Tomlinson Styling: Zeina Esmail Hair & Makeup: Genevieve Lenneville Retouching: Lorca Moore
ALEXANDRA TOMLINSON FOR FASHION MAGAZINE Check Out This Amazing Photo Shoot With Fashion Magazine And Kurios By Cirque Du Soleil! !3
SOURCE: Inspiration by Color
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CRAIG PAUL SMITH Check out this great interview The Broadway Blog did with Craig Paul Smith, a “Comet” in Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at Bellagio!
“I’m an athlete,” says Craig Paul Smith, 41, who has performed in O, the groundbreaking—uhh…water breaking?—Cirque du Soleil spectacle at the Bellagio in Las Vegas since it opened 16 years ago. “I tumbled competitively for Great Britain on the national team from the time I was a teenager.”
Smith says this is a common challenge for gymnasts, swimmers, and other members of the Cirque corps who come from the world of athletics rather than having been trained in dance or circus arts. They also tend to discover a dramatic shift in life’s rhythms.
“But tumbling is not an Olympic sport, there’s not prize money or sponsorship money at stake. I was doing it to compete and represent my country.” For an athlete in a non-professional sport like tumbling, says Smith, Cirque du Soleil offers “the job of a lifetime.”
“As an athlete, you get very used to the idea of building up toward a competition over a length of time. You train and train and train, you peak at the competition, and then there’s a rest period. In Cirque, I have to peak ten times a week. Mentally, that’s tough. Another challenge for Smith was the fact that, even though his acrobatic routines in O take place on dry land and mid-air, he had to train and be certified in scuba diving along with the rest of the cast. “I’d never been much of a swimmer,” he admits. “The whole idea of putting myself underwater was a bit uncomfortable.”
“While I was competing, I was doing any kind of odd job that would let me continue to train and travel to competitions. I answered phones, waited tables, anything that would help generate a little cash. But ultimately, when you’re a high-level amateur athlete, you’re probably going to have to retire and learn how to do something very different than what’s been the biggest focus of your life.” And so, Craig Paul Smith ran off to join the circus. “There was a real transition I had to go through,” recalls Smith, “in order to learn how to perform for the audience, not just for myself and my team. Competing as an athlete uses a very inward type of energy. I had to learn to project out and engage the audience in what I’m doing.” When he was 23, at the suggestion of his coach, Smith went for an open Cirque audition in London. A year later, while at a competition in Russia, he got a phone call from his parents back in Birmingham, letting him know that he’d been invited to fly to Cirque du Soleil headquarters in Montreal to participate in the creation of the show that ultimately became O.
The things one does for the job of a lifetime. The third—and perhaps the least challenging—transition Smith made after joining Cirque was coming out as gay. He’d kept his sexuality secret from his parents and all but a few friends and teammates back in England. But the crucible of training seemed to boil everyone down to his or her core being. “When I went into the creation process in Montreal, we worked extremely hard for ten to twelve hours a day. Many different languages are being spoken, but you become a very tight family very quickly. You’re all very dependent upon each other no matter how different you are, and you just don’t have the extra energy to be anyone but yourself.”
!6 PHOTO: Cirque du Soleil SOURCE: The Broadway Blog
Cirque du Soleil’s
’Jewel’
Back in May of this year, Cirque du Soleil announced a partnership with Grupo Vedanta to bring Joyà, an intimate 70minute dinner show, to Mexico’s Riviera Maya in a custom built theatre. Fast forward 5 months and the theatre is near completion and the cast and crew is working hard for the November 8th preview performances and the November 21st premiere.
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THESHOW Joyà, meaning ‘jewel’ in Spanish, will tell the story of “a rebellious teenage girl whisked away to a mysterious jungle in her grandfather’s fantastical world. Surrounded by a strange band of halfhuman, half-animal assistants, the extravagant naturalist is on a relentless quest for the meaning of life.” The story is inspired by the migratory journey of the monarch butterfly.
THETHEATRE The Cirque du Soleil Theatre in Riviera Maya sits near The Grand Mayan resort. The 600-seat custom built theatre was inspired by the natural beauty of the surrounding jungle. Cirque du Soleil calls this their most intimate theatre (and show), which is true when compared to the other resident shows, but judging by a video released by Cirque, the stage won’t be as small as some might think.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE THEATRE - VIDEO
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Being an intimate show is not the only difference between Joyà and the other resident Cirque du Soleil shows. Joyà will offer a premium dinner service featuring international gastronomy and beverages.
Although we don't know much about the actual acts for the show (which is normal as this is a new show and Cirque may want to keep as many surprises secret as possible), but we know that Bungee, Chinese Poles, Trapeze and Handbalancing will be featured in the show. 15 creators and 24 artist will give life to this show.
CATEGORIES • VIP DINNER, CHAMPAGNE + SHOW - $225 • DINNER, CHAMPAGNE + SHOW - $165 • CHAMPAGNE + SHOW - $110 • SHOW ONLY - $80 • HIGH STOOLS + SHOW - $65 Performs: Tuesday through Saturday Dark: Sunday/Monday One/Two Shows Nightly - 9:00pm (Weekdays), 7:00pm & 10:15 pm (Fri, Sat & Holidays)
The artists started arriving to Riviera Maya in August and are currently working hard for the November 8 soft opening. Watch the video.
Tickets are now on sale online, but those hoping to score some tickets for the soft opening on November 8th are out of luck as they have sold out. According to Cirque, tickets are strong and many of the VIP categories sold out for the first few dates.
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SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil
In an interview with World Screen, Elie Dekel, the president of Saban Brands, tells World Screen about the plans or
For those who are scuba-certified, the pool in the Aqua Theatre at The Wynn Resort is the place to be on Wednesday, November 19, for Underwater Logistics At Le Reve (course L39 in the LDInstitute): Dive into the 1.1 million gallon pool at Le Reve—The Dream, the fabulous water show at The Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. An exclusive training session for backstage divers: get into the water and have an underwater tour with Le Reve’s scuba team to see how the show works from this very unique aqueous perspective. The pool is filled with cutting-edge technology from
the new business. In the interview, there’s a brief mention of the Saban/ Cirque du Soleil Partnership. WS: How has the partnership with Cirque du Soleil Média been in bringing elements of that brand to a new TV series? DEKEL: It’s been a wonderful experience. Their creative approach is inherently very collaborative. Within the Cirque universe they collaborate and create continuously and arrive at magical results. So the ability to engage with them on not just a business level but also on a creative level and on a strategy and branding level has been a wonderful and very fruitful partnership so far. In the case of this project, it’s original IP that we are creating that is inspired by the Cirque
underwater lighting to breathing apparatus, lifts, scenery, fountains, and more. Led by Christine Drumm-Coombs, Aquatics, head of department for Le Reve-The Dream. Limit 12 people: must be scuba certified, paperwork required: medical certificate and diving certification must be presented on-site. Participants must be 21 years of age or older. For those who do not want to actually get wet but learn all about the underwater technology at Cirque du Soleil’s O at Bellagio—perhaps the most spectacular of all the Cirque du Soleil shows— don’t miss the 90-minute session, Aquatics: The Underwater Stagehand, on Friday, November 21, 2014. (11:00am-12:30pm as part of the LDInnovation & Technology Conference/Production Techniques):
universe, the Cirque spirit, and the DNA of the Cirque brand. We’re using that as ingredients and core attributes that are now embedded into an original children’s show that will be entirely fresh. It’s not as if we are bringing cameras to the Cirque tent and shooting their performance. It’s not that at all. It’s a story-driven, characterdriven series that will inspire imagination and creativity in kids, which is core to the Cirque brand.
An in-depth look at the challenges of being an underwater stagehand at Cirque du Soleil’s aquatic production of O at Bellagio, led by experts from Cirque do Soleil’s aquatics technical team. The session covers training, performing cues on scuba, equipment selection, and the effect water has on every facet of the performance. Check out these sessions and all of the professional training opportunities at www.ldishow.com. And as they say, last one in the pool… Underwater Logistics At Le Reve Aquatics: The Underwater Stagehand LDInnovation & Technology Conference/ Production Techniques SOURCE: Live Design
Saban Talks Cirque Partnership
Aquatics At LDI 2014 Saban Brands has set up a new global content-sales unit to represent its expanding slate of properties, marking the company’s foray back to the TVdistribution space. The newly formed unit will be headed by Frederic Soulie, senior VP of global distribution, and will arrive at MIPCOM with a slate that includes Power Rangers, Julius Jr. and Digimon Fusion, plus Emojiville, Popples and a property co-developed with Cirque du Soleil Media. Since its formation in 2010, Saban Brands has been working with MarVista Entertainment on the representation of its titles, and will continue to do so in Latin America.
Las Vegas is home to two spectacular productions that take place in high-tech swimming pools and LDI has training sessions to take you under the water to learn all about the challenges of underwater technology.
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SOURCE: World Screen
SPARKED
An Interaction Between Humans & Quadcopters
Cirque du Soleil, ETH Zurich, and Verity Studios have partnered to develop a short film featuring 10 quadcopters in a flying dance performance. The collaboration resulted in a unique, interactive choreography where humans and drones move in sync. Precise computer control allows for a large performance and movement vocabulary of the quadcopters and opens the door to many more applications in the future. SPARKED PERFORMANCE
Get an exclusive look at the story behind the short film SPARKED: a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, ETH Zurich, and Verity Studios. SPARKED demonstrates how state of-the-art technology can be used to combine human actors and quadcopters in a symbiotic, choreographed performance. This collaboration has opened a new door to the future of technology in the world of live entertainment.
ETH Zurich | Verity Studios
SPARKED BEHIND THE SCENES
!1 1 SOURCE: Gawker, Cirque du Soleil
K U R I O S
about
 music?
If music is your passion, join us for this onenight-only themed evening in San Francisco on December 10th (i n c l u d e s regular show + off-stage KURIOS b a n d performance + after-party and m o r e !) to c e l e b r at e t h e launch of the KURIOS album release. It's a r a r e opportunity to meet the musicians and see them perform up close!
The
KURIOS
Cabinet
–
of
Curiosities album will officially be in stores across the
USA
and
Canada,
and
d i g i t a l l y worldwide as of December 9th, 2014. In the meantime, check
out
"Clouds" - a single from the album!
Open in browser
Information on Event Reserve Your Tickets:
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SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil
VIDEOS
Sneak Peek of the Music to JOYÀ!
Listen to an excerpt from the JOYÀ soundtrack as music composers Bob & Bill play the song in exclusivity! Open in browser
SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil
Meet Miron Rafajlovic, who toured three continents with KOOZA from 2007-2014 playing trumpet and both acoustic and electrical guitar. He also served as a backup for both drums and percussion! See his unique perspective in these two videos! Part 1
Miron Rafajlovic – KOOZA Musician
Part 2
Wonder what a typical day on tour is for a Cirque du Soleil singer? If so, follow Alessandra González (singer for Quidam) as she gives us a peek into her daily routine! Open in Browser
Alessandra González’s Typical Day on Tour
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The Beatles Love to Team With Las
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ITINÉRAIRE TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
BIGTOP Under the Grand Chapiteau
Atlanta, GA Oct 3, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 Miami, FL Dec 11, 2014 to Jan 25, 2015 Houston, TX Feb 12, 2015 to Mar 22, 2015
Warsaw, PL Sep 17, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Santiago, CL Aug 19, 2014 to Oct 5, 2014 Lima, PE Oct 25, 2014 to Nov 9, 2014
Nagoya, JP Nov 20, 2014 to Feb 1, 2015 Fukuoka, JP Feb 20, 2015 to Apr 5, 2015 Sendai, JP Apr 23, 2015 to Jun 7, 2015
London, UK Jan 7, 2015 to Feb 8, 2015 Bern, CH Mar 1, 2015 to Mar 15, 2015
Madrid, ES May 7, 2015 to Jun 21, 2015
Osaka, JP Jul 17, 2014 to Nov 2, 2014
Düsseldorf, DE Nov 6, 2014 to Dec 14, 2014
Syndey, AU Oct 28, 2014 to Jan 4, 2015 Melbourne, AU Jan 21, 2015 to Feb 15, 2015 Brisbane, AU Apr 10, 2015 to Apr 26, 2015 Adelaide, AU Jun 11, 2015 to Jul 5, 2015 Perth, AU Jul 31, 2015 to Aug 16, 2015
Toronto, ON Aug 28, 2014 to Oct 26, 2014 San Francisco, CA Nov 14, 2014 to Jan 18, 2015 Seattle, WA Jan 29, 2015 to Feb 22, 2015 Denver, CO TBA !1 5 Calgary, AB TBA
ARENA
In Stadium-Like Venues
Thessaloniki, GR - Sep 30 to Oct 5, 2014 Zurich, CH - Oct 15 to Oct 19, 2014 Rome, IT - Oct 22 to Oct 26, 2014 Bologna, IT - Oct 30 to Nov 2, 2014 Florence, IT - Nov 5 to Nov 9, 2014 Pesaro, IT - Nov 14 to Nov 16, 2014
 Milan, IT - Nov 19 to Nov 23, 2014 Turin, IT - Nov 27 to Nov 30, 2014 Paris, FR - Dec 2 to Dec 7, 2014
Highland Heights, KY - Oct 16 to Oct 19, 2014 Roanoke, VA - Oct 22 to Oct 26, 2014 Hershey, PA - Oct 29 to Nov 2, 2014 Columbia, SC - Nov 5 to Nov 9, 2014 Hampton, VA - Nov 12 to Nov 16, 2014 New Orleans, LA - Nov 19 to Nov 23, 2014 Sioux Falls, SD - Dec 11 to Dec 14, 2014 Milwaukee, WI - Dec 18 to Dec 21, 2014 Minneapolis, MN - Dec 23 to Dec 28, 2014
Albany, NY - Oct 2 to Oct 5, 2014 State Collge, PA - Oct 8 to Oct 12, 2014 Wilkes-Barre, PA - Oct 15 to Oct 19, 2014 Charlottesville, VA - Oct 22 to Oct 26, 2014 Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Oct 29 to Nov 2, 2014 Fort Wayne, IN -Nov 5 to Nov 9, 2014 Bloomington, IL - Nov 12 to Nov 16, 2014 Cedar Rapids, IA - Nov 19 to Nov 23, 2014
Lille, FR - Dec 10 to Dec 14, 2014 Lisbon, PT - Dec 18 to Dec 28, 2014 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES - Jan 3 to Jan 11, 2015 Bratislava, SK - Feb 5 to Feb 8, 2015 Budapest, HU - Feb 13 to Feb 15, 2015 Copenhagen, DK - Feb 18 to Feb 22, 2015 Vilnius, LT - Mar 19 to Mar 21, 2015 Minsk, BY - Mar 26 to Mar 29, 2015 Tel Aviv, IL - Jul 2 to Jul 16, 2015
Colorado Springs, CO - Dec 31, 2014 to Jan 4, 2015 St. Louis, MO - Jan 7 to Jan 11, 2015 Wichita, KS - Jan 14 to Jan 18, 2015 Tulsa, OK - Jan 21 to Jan 25, 2015 Oklahoma City, OK - Jan 28 to Feb 1, 2015 San Antonio, TX - Feb 4 to Feb 8, 2015 Phoenix, AZ - Feb 18 to Feb 22, 2015 San Diego, CA - Feb 25 to Mar 1, 2015 El Paso, TX - Mar 18 to Mar 22, 2015
Duluth, MN - Nov 26 to Nov 30, 2014 Kearney, NE - Dec 3, to Dec 7, 2014 Regina, SK - Dec 10, 2014 to Dec 14, 2014 Lethbridge, AB - Dec 17 to Dec 21, 2014 Kamloops, BC - Dec 24, 2014 to Dec 28, 2014 Prince George, BC - Dec 31 to Jan 4, 2015 Fairbanks, AK - Jan 8 to Jan 11, 2015 Anchorage, AK - Jan 14 to Jan 18, 2015 !1 6
**Closing, Anchorage, AK - Jan 18, 2015**
RESIDENT en Le Théâtre
Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas Performs: Saturday through Wednesday Dark: Thursday/Friday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: November 5 - 7 Added performances in 2014: December 26
Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas Performs: Wednesday through Sunday Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm & 10:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: October 5, December 1-16 Added performances in 2014: December 29
Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando Performs: Tuesday through Saturday Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 6:00pm & 9:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: November 2 -5, December 7-9
Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas Performs: Friday through Tuesday Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm & 10:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: October 21, December 10-18
Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas Performs: Tuesday through Saturday Dark: Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: December 2 Added performances in 2014: December 28
Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas Performs: Thursday through Monday Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: October 2, December 2-17 Added performances in 2014: December 31
Location: Luxor, Las Vegas Performs: Friday through Tuesday Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 10:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: November 9-17
Location: Aria, Las Vegas Performs: Friday through Tuesday Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: September 3-11, November 4
NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted into the theater.
Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas Performs: Saturday through Wednesday Dark: Thursday/Friday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 10:0pm 2014 Dark Dates: November 13-28 Added performances in 2014: December 26
Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico Performs: Tuesday through Saturday Dark: Sunday/Monday One/Two Shows Nightly - 9:00pm (Weekdays), 7:00pm & 10:15 pm (Fri, Sat & Holidays) Premiere will be held on Saturday, November 8th at 9:00
NOTE: While we make every effort to provide complete and accurate touring dates and locations available, the information in this section is subject to change without notice. As such, we do not accept responsibility for the accuracy of these listings. For current, up-to-the-moment information on Cirque's whereabouts, please visit Cirque's website.
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OUTREACH UPDATES FROM CIRQUE'S SOCIAL WIDGETS
Networking:
CirqueonFacebook, YouTube&Twitter !1 8
http://vimeo.com/105182768 http://wapo.st/YI16Ed
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Cirque du Soleil - KOOZA - autobus w Warszawie!
Link
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LINK
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FASCINATION! FEATURES
Fiddli By: Ke Seatt ith Johnso le, Wa n shing ton (
USA)
We’ve heard and written about in these pages some of the difficult decisions Cirque du Soleil has had to make to get in line with the current economic “reset.” Layoffs at Cirque IHQ and eliminating on-tour schooling are just two examples.
In addition, two subtler changes have taken place which, on their face, might not be considered hugely money-saving or revenue-generating. But when considered in the larger perspective they are certainly significant.
SHIFT CHANGE – Until recently, a “workday” at a Cirque Big Top tour for a two-show day was set up to emulate the common 8-hour workday
many of us work. The shift would start at 2:30pm with the crew clocking in, stocking up the tent and getting the
ng Ar ound the E dges
popcorn popping (department leads would start 15 minutes earlier). The Concessions tent opens at 3pm for the first selling period of one hour. The Grand Chapiteau opens at 3:30pm for a 30-minute seating period for the Matinee.
At 4pm Act One of the Matinee begins. It would end at 5pm and break for a 30 minute intermission. Act Two of the Matinee would start at 5:30pm and run until 6:30pm. The Matinee crowd is then given 30 minutes to make lastminute purchases and vacate the site.
crowd gets 30 minutes to leave, and at (or just before) 11:00pm the Grand Chapiteau as well as the Concessions Tent closes. Merchandise tills are counted and emptied and the crew is released for the night. This leaves the majority of local temporary workers working the show with a full 8-hour shift. (Actually 8.5 hours with a halfhour lunch and two 10-minute breaks.)
That’s how it USED to be. Now subtle tweaks have been made to the schedule.
At 7pm the cycle repeats for the Evening show. Concessions tent opens at 7pm, Grand Chapiteau opens for seating at 7:30pm. Act One of the Evening show starts at 8pm and ends at 9pm for the Intermission. Act Two starts at 9:30pm and runs until 10:30pm. The !2 9
Instead of starting at 2:30pm, the local crew now begins at 3:15pm, 45 minutes later. (Leads also start 45 minutes later, at 3pm instead of 2:15pm.) The Concessions tent now opens for the Matinee at 3:45pm, cutting in half the time between when the Concessions tent opens and the Grand Chapiteau opens. Instead of a full-hour selling period, the Concessions tent now gets 45 minutes. The Grand Chapiteau opens for seating at 4pm with a 30 minute seating period.
The Matinee now starts at 4:30pm, a half-hour later than it used to. In addition, each act of each Big Top show has been carefully trimmed to be no more than 55 minutes end to end – including introductory bits, safety warnings, and curtain calls. In some cases trims have been made to transitions between acts, sometimes a trick has been taken out of an act, in
Here’s another way to look at it, side-by-side. ITEM
OLD WAY NEW WAY
Leads start
2:15
3:00
Rest of Crew start
2:30
3:15
Open site for show 1
3:00
3:45
Open tent for seating
3:30
4:00
1st act start
4:00
4:30
1st act end
5:00
5:25
[Intermission :30] 2nd act start
5:30
5:55
2nd act end / reset
6:30
6:45
[Sell to those leaving] Open site for show 2
7:00
7:15
Open tent for seating
7:30
7:30
1st act start
8:00
8:00
1st act end
9:00
8:55
2nd act start
9:30
9:25
2nd act end
10:30
10:15
Tent close
11:00
10:45
Total shift length
8.5h
7.5h
[Intermission :30]
[Sell to those leaving]
others (such as Totem’s Perches act) the act has been cut entirely (which naturally reduces some payroll costs). How they get there is up to the Artistic Director but the mandate is clear, 55 minutes per act maximum.
Now the Matinee First Act ends at 5:25pm, with the intermission staying the same at 30 minutes. The Second Act begins at 5:55pm and is the same length as the First Act, 55 minutes. The Matinee now ends at 6:45pm, which is later then under the old system – but remember the
Matinee started a full half-hour later. A final selling period of 30 minutes lets the Matinee crowd leave the site.
Again, the cycle repeats for the Evening show, and with the same trims. The site opens at 7:15pm, and the Grand Chapiteau opens for seating at 7:30pm. The Evening First Act starts
IN DEMAND – Another change Cirque has made is to the way they price and group tickets through their ticketing interface. It used to be that all the seats in a Price Level inside a Grand Chapiteau were the same price. All the Price Level 1 seats were the same price for all seats so designated, regardless of the time of purchase. The same applied to “Premium” seats as well as all the other tiers. In addition, it used to be that all the seats in one section of seats were the same category. They changed that some time back when they upgraded the rows in Section 200 in front of the sound board to “Premium” seats, from what was formerly Price Level 1.
Now these assumptions are no longer true. They have adopted “demand pricing” which takes into account how popular seats are as well as what Price Level they are and the time they are purchased. The next time you look at Cirque tickets on the Cirque website, click around at various
at 8pm and goes for 55 minutes until 8:55pm. A 30 minute intermission follows until the Second Act begins at 9:25pm. 55 minutes later, at 10:15pm, the Second Act finishes with a half-hour to sell and clean up until the site closes at 10:45pm, 15 minutes later.
That’s not so bad. A little trim here, a little cut there, nothing too earth shaking. But look at the shift times. What used to be an 8.5 hour shift is now a 7.5 hour shift – a full one hour less per day, a 12% reduction! Still, that’s not too much. But now, multiply that by the cost of all your hourly workers: food, merchandise, box office, ushers, custodial, security. You’ve just reduced your local labor costs for that day by 12%, not insignificant!
performance dates and times and watch the price of tickets. Each show and time could show a slight variance to some sections, no longer are all the seats the same price across all performances. And sometimes they might divide up the seats in a section into different Price Levels, just for that performance!
Seats for Price Level 1 for a Wednesday evening show, if they are closer to being all sold out in that Price Level, can now go higher in price at a moments notice, reflecting in their pricing the demand for tickets (and for that price level of ticket) to that performance. And it could very well be different on a Tuesday night or a Thursday night, to say nothing of weekend shows.
So now it pays to look at a number of dates one might be interested in, even the same weekday in different weeks. Just like with airfares, it pays do research and be flexible!
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Photo: David Cannon Photographie
Marie-Michelle Faber The Chapiteau: Tell us a little bit about yourself. My full name is Marie-Michelle Faber, I’m 35 years old and I’m born in Quebec City on October 1st 1978! I have one brother who is with Cirque du Soleil too. His name is Jean-François Faber. He did Wintuk in NY (from the creation and until the last presentation of the show). He performed Trial Bike and also did the back up act of the show with a cube act. And those 2 disciplines are just a fine part of what he’s capable of doing. He’s very talented, energetic and fearless but all in control. TC: Tell us about your acrobatic and music background. How did you get started? I started as a gymnast at the age of 5. My parents said I was always trying to imitate my older cousin who did gymnastics, so they decided to enroll me in gymnastics. It was definitely the right sport for me because I was very ACTIVE! hahaha! I needed to climb, jump, have my head upside down, etc… I did 12 years of gymnastics on a high performance level. My parents didn’t have so much money and gymnastics was getting more expensive as I was getting older because the coaches were suggesting my parents to come to the gym more often, but that meant more money too… Which they couldn’t… So it stayed like this… until the gymnastic club decided to give me the opportunity to come more often without my parents to pay more. All those things I learned later… haha. Even though I did more hours in gymnastics I always went to normal school. I didn’t go to a
sport-study program thing. I had a very normal and happy childhood. I was NEVER pushed into my sport. All the coaches I had in my career as a gymnast were the BEST one I could have. They made me ADORE my sport from the beginning ’til the end. At the age of 17 I hurt both of my ankles pretty bad AT THE SAME TIME! I twisted my ankles to a 3rd degree injury. I remember the picture of my ankles snapping in front of my eyes. And the only thought I had in my head was… ”This is the end of my gymnastic career”, which it was… But this didn’t stop me from staying active in sport. I then switched to high diving. That was something!!! When you do acrobatics in the air and learn to land feet first… and now HEAD first!Mamamiaaa! This was a hard task for spatial orientation! hahaha! After many & Many & MANY flats, I finally got it! I was able to do tricks on 1m, 3m, 5m, 7m & 10 meter. Oof! On another note, I started to coach gymnastics at the age of 15, then became a judge for competitions too. Then one day the owner of the circus school of Québec asked me if I was interested in teaching at his circus school (The gym & the circus school were in the same building). I said yes! And this is where my world completely CHANGED! This is while I was into high diving (I was 17). What a beautiful year it was for me! So many discoveries. So I taught kids acrobatics gymnastics skills and in my time off I would play around on different apparatuses. I tried many aerial stuff! That was definitely what I preferred. Hahaha! Flying
Trapeze, Korean Cradle (like Paradis of Corteo), Aerial Cradle (like the boat of ”O”) Silks, Cerceau, even Russian Bar!
understand stuff, but I still feel that the BEST lesson is your own instincts! This is where you stay true to your own voice.
TC: Music!
TC: When and how did you audition for Cirque du Soleil?
Well my parents met through music. My mom was a singer and my dad a guitarist and percussionist. They toured as a trio (with one brother of my mom) and they decided to stop to have a family. So I was immersed into music in the womb! Bed stories were songs and my spoon was a musical instrument. It was great! At the age of 10 I started piano lessons! That was super fun. I did it for until I was about 15. But vocally, I only started to explore my voice at 18! Actually, when I started on Quidam. I bought my first Guitar in a toy shop in NY! hahaha! And from learning guitar it led me to sing songs. Then, I started to compose my own songs, and this is where two musicians of Quidam (Sebastien Savard & Jim Bevan) were interested in my stuff. We would play together in the hotel room after the shows. We created our band named ”QI” and played in venues with my original songs & covers. What a NICE time it was! TC: What is your voice type (Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, etc.)? Hmmm… For me, it doesn’t matter what ”type” of voice we have. I’ve been told many different things about my voices. So, I can’t say what ”type” of voice I have… What I can say is that I sing from my heart and my guts! I sang naturally and with instinct at first, then when I started to sing on Corteo, I started to have some vocal lessons. This is where I started to be confused and scared! I had to go through that path to
I auditioned as an acrobat in November 1997 in Montreal. We were 72 candidates from all over the world, and at the end of the day, only 4 of us were kept… BUT only 2 of us got a job! Crazzzzyyyy! Hey, it’s all about fitting the profile they’re looking for at the TIME! TC: How long did it take to receive a call back from Cirque? What was your reaction? They called me on December 1997 for a quick specific 3 day evaluation. I had to go back to Montreal and this time they tested me on Cerceau. Mamamia!!! Those 3 days were torture! Bruises, scratches, blister & blister, dizziness, new sore muscles and even though I was an acrobat and was used to twisting and being in the air, NOTHING can compare to be on a Steel RING over 20-30 feet up! It’s an adaptation and a new trust to build within you and the equipment. After those 3 days, they asked me if I was interested in pursuing Cerceau with them for a replacement on Quidam. They even told me that if I was not interested in Cerceau, they would find something else I would like to do! But I wanted to start with them NOW! haha! So I said YES! I wanted to do Cerceau, but inside Oof! I was not sure at first because of ALL the PAIN I had from those 3 days. hahaha!
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So I started my specific training on Cerceau on January 5th, 1998. I was suppose to be in formation for 6 months, but after 2 and a half months, I was ready to go on tour with Quidam (My first show was the PREMIERE IN NY 1998). I worked HARD! I worked my ass off! hahaha! I didn’t enjoy every moment of it because of the above list of PAIN, but today, I HAVE NO REGRETS from all the dedication I gave and new passion I developed at that time. It was worth it for sure. TC: How many different Cirque du Soleil shows have you performed in? 3 touring shows in total: Quidam from 1998 until 2001, 2003-04 (5 years in total), Corteo from 2004 – 2011 (With the creation), and Amaluna from 2011-13 (With creation). And just to name a few special event with CDS: The Grand Opening of the Venetian Casino of Macau 2007, The ”Quebec 400” show from Cirque du Soleil in 2008 and The world entrepreneur of the year in Monaco, Salle des Étoiles, 2011 Beside CDS, I worked with 2 other circus companies: Cirque ÉOS, production Imaginaire and Cirque Éloize, production Orchestra. TC: How is it that as an acrobat, you also became a singer in Corteo and Amaluna? This was really an unexpected road… haha! Maybe it was my destiny!? Singing & playing guitar was my passion on tour. :0) I was ALWAYS with my guitar and was ALWAYS singing!!! Unstoppable haha! Young and no fear of judgements… I was loud, free & happy hahaha! I was hired for the creation of Corteo as a Chandelier artist, but during the creation we had some vocal exploration sessions, and this is where the 2 main composers (Philippe Leduc & Maria Bonzanigo) saw potential in me. They liked my voice. They asked me if I was interested in singing in the show at few places… I said YESSSS!!!!! Of course! So it started like this. But the mix of blending aerial with vocal was in my head since the early 2000. So quite a long time ago! But I ONLY had the chance with Corteo to merge and create my first Vocal Aerial Silk act as a backup act for the show in 2008. Thanks to my senior Artistic Director at the time, Alison Crawford, who believed in my idea & potential! TC: Are you the first artists to do this, meaning, perform an act while singing? I know few people who mix singing with acrobatics. But it’s Cabaret style. One is a contortionist… Excellent act! Fun to watch! And another who did Silk & singing… again more as a cabaret style with low sealing… But she did her skills separate from her singing. When she was singing, she mostly sat in the silk. It was good, but just a different approach. TC: Singing or being an acrobat, which do you enjoy better? THE question! hahaha! I don’t prefer one or the other, but I prefer BOTH together! hahaha! Sometimes I do enjoy just the movement or just singing. I’m so clear hey! hahaha!
TC: Did you decide to go to Amaluna from Corteo? First you need to show your interest in changing shows or to do a new show to your Artistic Director. This gives you the opportunity to have your profile ”available” to casting. This is to make sure NO confusion happens between shows, casting and artists, which I did. Casting first approached me for a Cerceau act on Amaluna… I said No. I was definitely not interested in JUST doing a cerceau act. On Corteo, I had the best job ever; Chandelier act – Singer & my Vocal Aerial Silk act. It was hard to get something better than this. I told them if they were interested in a Vocal Aerial Hoop, then I would be interested. They contacted Diane Paulus, Director of Amaluna, and she said, “What a great Idea! This is what I want!” Then that was it! I signed my contract more than a year before starting with Amaluna! Even though I do miss Corteo sometimes, especially the spirit of the show & my friends, I knew I had to challenge myself again. TC: Do you enjoy the touring life? I do for sure! Otherwise I wouldn’t have done 15 years of it! First it’s an adaptation like everything, then you can’t wait to discover a new country or city! It becomes addictive. TC: Explain your day to day activity/routine. Well one thing I love about this life style of touring is the fact that I have pretty much ALL of my mornings. I like to take my mornings without a rush, take a good breakfast, sometimes 2! haha! Listen to some music, then when it’s time to go to work, I usually come 2 and a half hours before the show, sometimes 3. I eat again. haha! Because the food at the kitchen is so good! I start my makeup which it takes for EVER! My makeup on Amaluna is sooooooo Looooong! I don’t mind it most of the times, but sometimes… Awe! I miss my quick makeup I had on Corteo! Then It’s warm up time AT LEAST 1 hour before the show. I will warm up with a sun salutation (Yoga), making sure my breath is open and grounded and have an intention for my show. We can’t perform always the same way. This is what makes you an artist and not an executant. It’s all about taking the OCCASION and the present moment and feel what is the reality of your body, mind and spirit at this exact moment of the day. It’s a time of true and living connection in time in this very busy world. You can’t be somewhere else in your head, this is where things can be dangerous. It takes a lot of mental power to achieve a balance every day in a normal life. Same thing here on stage. TC: From the countries that you’ve visited while touring, which have you enjoyed the most? That’s a HARD question! It ALL depends on where we live, where the site (Big Top) is and the time of the year. All the places I went have a special memories attached to them. But what I enjoy the most from one country to another are not to be a tourist but to explore the city just by
walking around and seeing life and the energy of the place. Then you meet great people. TC: Explain the feeling when a friend or family member is in the audience seeing you perform. Definitely more nervous! haha! You want to make sure that everything will go perfect, no technical problems, ect, not only for my performance, but for the entire show. You wish that the show they see is the best of the best! hahaha. This excitement unfortunately makes you be more unstable!!! I’ve learn with time to let go (with the help of Yoga). TC: If you could be anything besides an acrobat or singer, what would you like to be? Hmmm… Well well… I think life really brought me to the right route for sure. I have no regrets in my path, but I definitely have a passion with the human body, so probably something in Research & Biology. There’s also the stars and the universe; I’m really attracted and intrigued to this. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was young. I guess something was already attracting me to be in the AIR! hahaha! Or should I say in space? TC: What are some of your hobbies? I make jewelry and I draw! I have a lot of artist painters on both sides of my family. I guess I have this in my blood too. It’s a type of mediation in some ways. TC: Are you still with Cirque du Soleil? Technically I’m still with Cirque du Soleil, but I’m not back on the show yet! My little one is amazing and growing so fast! She’s now 6 months old! I will be off from Amaluna for a long time because as a Canadian, I’m allowed off at least a year after birth due to maternity leave. My partner is on tour with Amaluna too; he’s a sound-man. We worked on Corteo together too for many years. So this life changing experience will lead us to a new route. Which one? Don’t know yet… I’ve been taking some intensive teacher training formations in Yoga since 2011. I went to India for my first formation in Ashtanga with Guru Dr. Senthil Kumar PhD. Then, I followed a different style with Bernie Clark in Vancouver, YIN YOGA, which was a true REVELATION for me! Recently, I had the chance to do my Prenatal Yoga Teacher training with Clare Newman. With this knowledge and teaching Yoga to few people on tour, it keeps me growing. I recently co-founded a new company called AIR YOGALTES with Genevieve Berube. We merged our expertise, knowledge and passion to create a new AERIAL YOGA & PILATES style. Our website is www.airyogalates.com. We have a FB page too. Check it out! So, this being said, maybe doing 8 to 10 shows a week is FINITO for me, but doing special events for cirque is a possibility. We will see, I don’t have to choose now, I still have time to think about if I go back or not. As for now I’m spending some great time as a family.
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