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T h e U n o f f i c i a l
C i r q u e d u S o l e i l N e w s l e t t e r
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http://www.CirqueFascination.com
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VOLUME 16, NUMBER 1 January 2016 ISSUE #144
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Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque
du Soleil Newsletter.
A new year begins and with it new hopes and dreams for us and for our
friends at Cirque du Soleil. But while they said a teary goodbye to
Corteo in mid-December, will say a heart-felt goodbye to Quidam
in February, and a more shocking goodbye to Zarkana Las Vegas in
April, Cirque du Soleil is lining up new entertainment for us to
enjoy this year, and for years to come. In fact, not long after we
put our last issue to bed, Cirque posted a casting notice for a Senior
Technical Designer for a project called "Dubai 2018". This piqued my
interest so I took a look at all the postings and put together a
brief list of the upcoming projects we currently know about and
from what part of the Cirque du Soleil Group they come:
- ON THE RECORD: BAZ rumored return in 2016 (CDS Theatrical)
- LUZIA for April 2016 (Creations Meandres)
- PARAMOUR for April 2016 (CDS Theatrical)
- CHARLEBOIS/HOMMAGE in July 2016 (45 Degrees)
- THE WIZ on BROADWAY for 2017 (CDS Theatrical)
- SODA CIRQUE for March 2017
- CIRQUE 2017 for April 2017 (Creations Meandres)
- LA FORGE AUX ETOILES for 2017 (45 Degrees)
- MSC CRUISES for 2017 (45 Degrees)
- DUBAI 2018 for 2018
- HANGZHOU RESIDENT for 2018
- THEME PARK/RESORT for 2018/2019 (Sandbox)
Learn more about a few of these in our news and features sections
this month. Additionally, in the days leading up to TORUK-The First
Flight's premiere at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Brendan Kelly of the
Montreal Gazette dove into the World of Pandora, publishing several
articles about TORUK's creators, the cast, and more - including a
review of the show! Check out his fantastic work within. We've pooled
it all together in one spot for easy reading!
And while we continue our look back at Guy Laliberte's Poetic Social
Mission - part 5 of 8 - we also hear from three Cirque fans as
they take in shows and concepts around the world. First, there's
"The Trickster" with a review of CREACTIVE at Punta Cana, followed
by "MungoJerrie"'s review of La Nouba on December 12th (the B-Boy
act had just been put in place), and finally Aiden Lam gives us
a new peek at Amaluna, in Paris on December 15th.
As always we also have the relevant posts made to Cirque's Facebook
pages, and updates to Cirque's touring schedule.
So, let's get started!
/----------------------------------------------------\
| |
| Join us on the web at: |
| < www.cirquefascination.com > |
| |
| Realy Simple Syndication (RSS) Feed (News Only): |
| < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?feed=rss2 > |
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\----------------------------------------------------/
- Ricky "Richasi" Russo
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CONTENTS
===========
o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings
* La Presse -- General News for the Month
* Q&A - Quick Chats & Press Interviews
* Special Engagement - More In-depth Articles
o) Itinéraire -- Tour/Show Information
* BigTop Shows -- Under the Grand Chapiteau
* Arena Shows -- In Stadium-like venues
* Resident Shows -- Performed en Le Théâtre
o) Outreach -- Updates from Cirque's Social Widgets
* Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub
* DidYaKnow? -- Facts About Cirque
* Networking -- Posts on Facebook & Other
o) Fascination! Features
* LOOK BACK: Guy Laliberte's Poetic Social Mission
PART 5 of 8: "T-30 Days and Counting"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
* SPECIAL /// "TORUK-The First Flight Premieres"
Written By: Brendan Kelly, The Montreal Gazette
* FANS REVIEW CIRQUE DU SOLEIL:
- CREACTIVE at PUNTA CANA by The Trickster
- LA NOUBA w/B-BOYS - by MungoJerrie
- AMALUNA in PARIS - by Aidan Lam
o) Subscription Information
o) Copyright & Disclaimer
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CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS
=======================================================================
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LA PRESSE General News for the Month
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Flip Through the Official The Wiz Live! Playbill
{Dec.01.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
Just like the Playbill theatre fans know and love from attending
live theatrical experiences on Broadway and around the country,
our exclusive and official The Wiz Live! Playbill puts the
complete cast, creative team, song list and more at your
fingertips. You can peruse bios and previous credits of the cast
and crew, see pictures and videos from the production process
and read about the development of this exciting new live
television musical. Its a must-see for theatre fans and anyone
excited about The Wiz Live!
Check out the Playbill here:
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ewaWWG >
The Official The Wiz Live! Playbill was created and designed by
Sarah Jane Arnegger and Logan Culwell using PLAYBILLder, a
platform that lets you build your very own Broadway quality
Playbill program! Use PLAYBILLder to engage and build your
audience with tools to inform friends and family of production
information. Share your Playbill virtually, promote your show
through social media, distribute programs in your theatre and
much more!
{ SOURCE: Playbill.com }
45 Degrees Presents: Charlebois, a hommage
{Dec.01.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
Next Summer, the Amphithéâtre Cogeco of trois-Rivières will
present the second Cirque du Soleil homage series tribute,
created and produced by 45 Degrees. The show is based on the
musical work of Montreal native Robert Charlebois, a Francophone
Canadian author, composer, musician, performer and actor.
According to Wikipedia, among his best known songs are Lindberg
and Je reviendrai à Montréal. His lyrics, often written in
joual, are funny, relying upon plays on words. He won the Sopot
International Song Festival in 1970.
Tickets for the 20 performances starting on July 13, 2016 (and
running until August 13, 2016) are currently on sale at:
http://bit.ly/cirquecharlebois
{ SOURCE: 45 Degrees }
The Wiz Live Comes to DVD December 22nd!
{Dec.08.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
Thursdays live telecast of The Wiz Live! delivered hit ratings,
averaging a 3.4 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49 and 11.5
million viewers overall to dominate the night for NBC. It was
the networks best Thursday average in total viewers, excluding
sports, since September 2014, and nearly tripled NBCs best 18-
49 Thursday average, excluding sports. It was also NBCs
highest-rated night for any night of the week, excluding sports,
in 11 years, since November 2004.
Also included on the DVD will be the NBC special, The Making of
The Wiz Live, featuring the behind-the-scenes story of producing
this live television event!
In addition to the The Wiz Live! on DVD, the previously
unreleased Diana Ross album, Diana Ross Sings Songs from The
Wiz, a rare 1978 recording that features Ross singing every role
from the classic movie musical, is out now via all digital
retailers.
DVD TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Street Date: December 22, 2015
Selection Number: 61174714
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time: 2 hours 12 minutes
{ SOURCE: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment }
BAZ Returns February 14th
{Dec.09.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
According to Robin Leach, of Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous
fame who also pens a couple of columns for the Las Vegas Sun,
the musical salute to director Buz Luhrmanns movies Strictly
Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and The Great
Gatsby will return to audiences on February 14, 2016, following
the construction of its new theater at Palazzo.
{ SOURCE: Las Vegas Sun | http://goo.gl/xufBCs }
New Pictures & Video of Cirque du Soleil Theme Park
{Dec.09.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
The Goddard Group, the developers of the Cirque du Soleil Theme
Park along with Grupo Vidanta, released a couple of blue sky
renderings of the park. These are different than the many we
featured in our article about the - The Celebrate Project An
Amazing Destination! back in August (which you can read here:
http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=6427).
The first is a blue sky illustration by Christopher Smith that
will give you a taste of just how incredible the worlds first
Cirque du Soleil water park will be when it debuts at Vidanta
Nuevo Vallarta in 2018! The second is an illustration by design
master John Horny depicting one of the incredible attractions
Goddard is developing for the worlds first Cirque du Soleil
resort.
See these new images here:
LINK /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7052 >
Check out a teaser video here:
LINK /// < https://youtu.be/WlLj_k-TBQ0 >
{ SOURCE: Goddard Group, YouTube }
45 DEGREES Celebrates First Year
{Dec.12.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
It has already been a year since we embarked on this journey,
and what a journey it has been! Ive been asked countless times,
why launch 45 DEGREES, why create a new company and a new brand
when our activities were successful within Cirque du Soleil.
It was precisely based on the success we reached as Cirque du
Soleil Special Events that the idea of 45 DEGREES was born. We
called ourselves 45 DEGREES, as it is the latitude where our
offices are located and the ideal temperature (in Fahrenheit) to
serve champagne! We wanted to give ourselves the latitude to
create the most memorable events using Cirque du Soleils
expertise and the latest technological trends, as well as use
our attitude and dare to create the unimaginable.
Over this past year, weve created a strong team on every front
and have allowed ourselves to provide the creative strength and
production capabilities to our clients for exceptional projects.
We engineer moments for all senses. We see things in ways never
thought possible; not for what they are, but for what they could
be.
In 2015, 45 DEGREES has had the opportunity to create and
produce spectacular events while collaborating with top teams
close to home and across the globe. For this, I thank all of
you.
Here is to another creative, stimulating, boundary breaking
year! Long live 45 DEGREES.
Yasmine Khalil, President 45DEGREES
{ SOURCE: 45 Degrees }
What is C:LABs The Glassbox Project?
{Dec.13.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
The GLASSBOX project was developed to test emergent screen and
image technologies for the stage. GLASSBOX is able to combine
streaming video and graphics on its external surface, as well as
onto objects or performers placed within the box. It was custom-
built through an assemblage of transparent LCD screens,
programmed light and video projectors as well traditional LCD
screens. GLASSBOX expands our toolkit, creating illusionary and
immersive performance spaces located at the intersection of
screens, performers and magic!
VIDEO /// < https://youtu.be/w8O0r1KbHas >
Project Team: Yves Aucoin, Philippe Chiasson, Francis Corbeil,
Bernard Fouché, Karl Gaudreau, Arthur Joron, Agnieszka Kubik,
Rémi Lapointe, and Stéphane Mongeau.
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil }
CORTEO Says Goodbye
{Dec.13.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
We are grateful to all those who have joined us in this
fantastic journey.
o) Corteo has been in 19 countries, 64 cities
o) Traveled 108,316 km
o) Have been born more than 50 babies
o) They have thrown over 809,380 chickens to the stage
o) Valentyna has smacked Grigor more than 10,000 times
o) Weve occupied more than 500,000 room in 150 different hotels
o) Weve released 300 pounds of confetti
o) Corteo has used over 5,000 trucks to mobilize the show
Finally, Corteo is moved after having received the love and
support of more than 8.4 million people around the world, want
to thank you and share all our love and joy from half the world.
Check out a goodbye video here:
< https://www.facebook.com/Corteo/videos/10153275977626179/ >
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil }
Cirque du Soleil Media Presents: Toruk Takes Flight
{Dec.14.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
New documentary offers unprecedented look at the creation of the
new Cirque show inspired by James Camerons Avatar
Bell and Cirque du Soleil Media announced a unique documentary
about the creation of the new Cirque show, TORUK: The First
Flight, inspired by James Camerons Avatar, which has its world
premiere at Montréals Bell Centre on December 21 and will be
presented in Toronto as of January 7, 2016. The documentary,
Toruk Takes Flight, is available now only on Bell Fibe TV
community channel TV1.
We are proud to team up with Cirque du Soleil to bring Fibe TV1
viewers behind the scenes to witness the creation of this
eagerly awaited new Cirque experience, said Nicolas Poitras,
Vice President, Bell Residential Services. Original community
content like this exclusive documentary is another of the unique
benefits of Bell Fibe TV.
In Toruk Takes Flight, viewers will meet Michel Lemieux and
Victor Pilon, the writers and directors of TORUK: The First
Flight; Jean-François Bouchard. the shows creative guide;
Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté; and the director of
Avatar, James Cameron.
Viewers will also go behind the scenes with several of the
productions main designers and performers and witness their
struggles and uncertainties as the pressure builds towards the
launch of this unprecedented multimedia experience.
Toruk Takes Flight is directed by-award winning Montreal film
maker Adrian Wills, who received a Grammy Award for Best Long
Form Music Video for All Together Now, a documentary on the
creation of another Cirque du Soleil show, The Beatles LOVE.
TV1 can be found on channel 1 of the Fibe TV programming guide
or on the Fibe TV app. Toruk Takes Flight will be available in
the TV1 on-demand community folders, currently including
Montréal, Toronto, Québec City and Ottawa. With shows such as
Sound & Vision, Toronto Song Project and Made in Montréal, TV1
provides Fibe TV subcribers a variety of informative and
inspiring community content about food, entertainment, sports,
people and places in their city from a range of independent
producers.
For more information about Toruk Takes Flight, please visit
Bell.ca/Toruk.
{ SOURCE: PRNewswire | http://goo.gl/Vld41Y }
Follow Cirque on Snapchat!
{Dec.17.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
Snapchatters, Cirque wants to snap with you! Add them:
CIRQUESNAP for Cirque du Soleil exclusives.
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil }
The Wiz Coming Home to Broadway 2016-2017 Season
{Dec.21.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
In December 2015, NBCs THE WIZ LIVE! re-introduced the world to
the magic of this beloved musical. Next season, THE WIZ will
return to Broadway for the first time in over 40 years!
Featuring acrobatic wizardry by Cirque du Soleil, this is a
whole new Oz and a soulful reminder that theres no place like
home.
Cirque du Soleil already has a teaser page up about The Wiz on
Broadway here: < https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/the-wiz >
On the page they have a few glimpses from The Wiz Live:
o) Meet Erick Heppell Performance Design and Acrobatic Coach
LINK /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQov4FPOGEQ >
o) Meet Emmanuel Jacquinot Coach and Movement Design
LINK /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkHexQs5go0 >
o) Meet Sylvia Gonzales Artistic Coach
LINK /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvmYdrHcbMA >
o) Meet the Artists
LINK /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwlhB1HjvW8 >
You can also follow the news about The Wiz on Broadway at their
dedicated Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WizTheMusical
And Twitter: https://twitter.com/WizTheMusical
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil }
Buy TORUK Merchandise, Meet TORUK Artists!
{Dec.27.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
Interested in meeting one of the TORUK artists? With select
merchandise purchases you have the chance to meet an artist
after the show! Check out the arena merchandise stands for more
info.
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil }
Check Out These JOYÀ Visual Concepts
{Dec.30.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
Check out these wonderful new JOYÀ visual concepts...
FOTOS /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7223 >
We executed an advertising proposal for JOYÀ, the resident
Cirque du Soleil show in Riviera Maya, focusing on an overall
concept involving the alchemy, the five senses of perception,
and five teachers of the show. In addition to the challenge of
including and highlighting the culinary experience that exists
in the theater, we also had to create new graphics with
inspiration and closeness with the other Cirque du Soleil shows,
different from JOYAs today.
I think they succeeded!
{ SOURCE: Behance }
Check Out These Great Rehearsal Photos of JOEL!
{Dec.30.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
Based on the below it seems JOEL has: hoop manipulation (Elena
Lev style), aerial hoop (Varekai style), rola bola (Kurios
style), Aerial Straps, Korean Plank, Unicycle Duo, Ladder,
Diabolos (a trio), Handbalancing (on some kind of split wooden
cane structure), Juggling (lighted balls and also clubs), Trampo
Wall, and Aerial Cross Wheel. With a few puppets. Take a look!
FOTOS /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7232 >
VIDEO /// < https://youtu.be/-SnF-F73mp8 >
VIDEO /// < http://www.1tv.ru/i_video/107307 >
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil RUS Facebook, YouTube; Urgant Show }
Complete Casting Announced for PARAMOUR
{Jan.04.2016}
-------------------------------------------------------
Complete casting has been announced for Cirque du Soleils new
Broadway show Paramour. The company will feature a cast of 38
singers, actors, dancers, and internationally renowned
aerialists, acrobats, and circus arts performers. The cast and
creative team represent 13 different countries (Argentina,
Australia, Belgium, Belarus, Canada, China, Cuba, France,
Poland, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States),
spanning five continents. The production is claiming that this
will be the most internationally diverse production to originate
on Broadway.
Staged by French director Philippe Decouflé, the musical
production will blend the best of Broadway with Cirque du
Soleils signature style. Paramour is set in Golden Age
Hollywood, where a young poet is forced to choose between love
and art.
Bradley Dean will play A.J., the director; and Ryan Vona will
play Joey, the composer. Deans New York credits include A
Little Night Music, Spamalot, The Last Ship, Doctor Zhivago and
Evita on Broadway; A New Brain at Encores!; and The Fantasticks
Off-Broadway. Vona played Andrej in Once on Broadway.
They will join the previously announced Ruby Lewis, who has
appeared in national tours of Gypsy, Grease, Jersey Boys and We
Will Rock You, who will be making her Broadway debut in
Paramours lead role. She has appeared in Cirque du Soleils For
The Record: BAZ, a post-modern cabaret inspired by the films of
director Baz Luhrmann.
The cast will also include Tom Ammirati, Andrew Atherton, Kevin
Atherton, Lee Brearley, Yanelis Brooks, Sam Charlton, Martin
Charrat, Nate Cooper, Katrina Cunningham, Myriam Deraiche, Kyle
Driggs, Jeremias Faganel, Amber Fulljames, Steven Trumon Gray,
Tomasz Jadach, Rafal Kaszubowski, Reed Kelly, Denis Kibenko, Joe
McAdam, Raven McRae, Sarah Meahl, Amber J. Merrick, Sheridan
Mouawad, Amber Pickens, Justin Prescott, Fletcher Blair Sanchez,
Matthieu Sennacherib, Bret Shuford, Blakely Slaybaugh, Sam
Softich, Amiel Soicher, Amber van Wijk, Bruce Weber, Tomasz
Wilkosz, and Zhengqi Xia (Da Qi).
Under the artistic guidance of Jean-François Bouchard (creative
guide), the creative team includes Pascale Henrot (associate
creative director), West Hyler (associate creative director and
scene director), Jean Rabasse (set designer), Philippe Guillotel
(costume designer), Bob & Bill (composers), Andreas Carlsson
(composer), Daphné Mauger (choreographer), Patrice Besombes
(lighting designer), Anne Séguin Poirier (props designer),
Olivier Simola (projection designer), Christophe Waksmann
(projection designer), John Shivers (sound designer), Shana
Carroll (acrobatic choreographer and designer), Boris Verkhovsky
(acrobatic performance designer), Pierre Masse (rigging and
acrobatic equipment designer), and Nathalie Gagné (makeup
designer).
Paramour will begin preview performances on Saturday, April 16,
and open on Wednesday, May 25, at the Lyric Theatre.
Also...
o) Check Out Paramours Set!
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7057 >
o) See a Costume Rendering of Paramour's "Leading Lady"
< https://goo.gl/YDA1BV >
o) Exclusive Broadway.com Preview of PARAMOUR
< https://youtu.be/wXYkDAOa3UE >
o) Paramour wishes us a heart-souring holiday season!
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7199 >
{ SOURCES: Theater Mania, Broadway World, Broadway.com, Playbil }
---------------------------------------------------
Q&A - Quick Chats & Press Interviews
---------------------------------------------------
Meet Taryn Wa, Kooza Tapis Rouge Chef
{Dec.03.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
With Kooza back in Vancouver, VanCityBuzz had the opportunity to
experience Tapis Rouge and speak with Taryn Wa, the Tapis Rouge
chef.
Q. How long have you been working with Cirque Du Soleil in
Western Canada?
Weve been catering the VIP Tapis Rouge tent, um this is the
third show that weve done, so for the past 3 years.
Q. What were you inspired by when creating this menu for KOOZA?
What we like to do is take a look at each of the acts; we look
at the visuals from each act as well as the whole theme of the
show and see what we can come up with menu wise from there. We
find our inspiration on a few different levels.
Q. Besides the menu, what other parts of the VIP experience did
you design?
The whole creative part of our work isnt limited to just the
menu; we also came up with all of our serving pieces as well as
the uniforms for our servers.
Q. Tell us about a standout element of the KOOZA VIP experience
that you think is really special.
Actually someone told us that this was one of the best things
theyve ever eaten and it was our mini plated entree at the chef
station in the VIP tent. Its a glazed beef short rib with
potato puree, black garlic smear, and shaved black radish. Its
delicious, perfect for the season, warm, comforting, and is also
presented very elegantly. The inspiration for how this dish
looks was actually from an act in KOOZA where people in skeleton
outfits are dancing. So the dish is completely black and white
with no other colours present. For food to look like that is
really visually striking, but then it actually tastes great as
well!
Q. What would be another a must try item from the KOOZA VIP
menu?
Our desserts are also really great and were inspired by a
whimsical circus theme. We have an amazing pastry chef named
Steven; hes French and makes amazing macarons! Theres also
this one dessert item that looks like a caramel apple. Its a
little profiterole with a red crunchy topping and is glazed to
look really shiny like a caramel apple, but not at all.
Q. Anything else youd like to say?
This is absolutely the best way to see KOOZA. You get to come
in, have some drinks, have some great food and mingle
beforehand. You get amazing seats and during intermission you
get to come back for dessert, tea and coffee. Its just a really
great experience being in that little tent. You know everybody
in there is just having an amazingly fun time; the guests, our
servers, our staff, our chefs, everybody loves it and its just
a really great vibe.
{ SOURCE: Vancity Buzz | http://goo.gl/QVAOLX }
A Chat With Michel Laprise
{Dec.11.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
The first time Michel Laprise encountered a Cirque du Soleil
show, he was a young boy in Québec City. Exploring a Downtown
market with his father, Laprise was tempted by, as he puts it,
a strange kind of music.
I was a kid following a pied piper, he says. Laprise stumbled
across one of the performance troupes early shows. Back then,
there werent any security or guards. I went right up to the
canvas tent and lifted it up.
What he saw changed his world.
Québec City, as Laprise describes it, is a place where Everyone
wears the same shoes; a very suburban place, but the shows
diversityand excitementspoke to him.
I told my dad I wanted to see the show that same night. I saw
it again the next night, he says. I went off to boarding
school after that, but if it were up to me, I wouldve seen that
show six times in a row.
The memory of Laprises first Cirque encounter fadedLife
happens, as he puts it. But shortly after completing drama
school in London and Milan, he was given an opportunity. The
Montréal-based performance group was looking for a talent scout,
and Laprise, with his intimate contacts in the world of theater,
fit the bill.
I thought Id do it for a few months and see the world, he
says. A decade and a half later, he is one of Cirques rising
stars.
Laprise is now helming his first full-throated Cirque du Soleil
show. One of its Big Tent productions, which travel from town
to town, Kurios will be stationed at Dodger Stadium from now
through Feb. 7. While the style of Cirque has become ubiquitous
even the subject of parodyLaprise sees this production as a
return to form for the revolutionary performance enterprise.
I want to get back to what made Cirque original. We were street
performers at first, he says. Acts working the streets have a
differentand usually more demandingset of goals. Unlike a
traditional show, your audience does not expect that youre
coming, they do not have to pay attention, and you must alter
the course of their dayget them to stop and enjoy your art
before you get any compensation. At its soul, street performance
is about surprising and delighting an audience, because, as
Laprise puts it, Your livelihood depends on it.
Cirque du Soleil, which was founded in 1984, has very much
outgrown its spontaneous roots. With residencies dotting Las
Vegas, and a cavalcade of performers awing audiences on almost
every continent, its one of theaters most successful ventures.
How does a group so familiar surprise the jaded?
I drew from the unusual, says Laprise, adding that the new
shows twist on a Steampunk aesthetica mix of Victorian works
and sci-fi whimsywas inspired by turn-of-the-century optimism.
The late 19th century was a time of wonder, when people were
becoming more in touch with their humanity, says Laprise.
Suddenly, with the gramophone, music could travel. Electricity
seemed magical. I see our time as a parallel of the Victorian
age, he explains.
The story of Kurios, like most Cirque shows, was long in
development. Laprise says that a typical show takes two years of
planningnever mind the actual rehearsalsbefore it comes into
form.
The story of Kurios follows an inventor who has amassed an
impressive amount of trinkets, most of which he does not
understand. In an attempt to unravel their meaning, he opens a
portal between our world and another dimension. But instead of
traveling elsewhere, the inventor is greeted by a string of
otherworldly creatures, each of which embodies a facet of
discoverywonder, joy, trepidation and imagination.
I want the audience to leave the show questioning their
reality, says Laprise. At one point we have a number involving
chairs, and theyre used as props in a dance. I want the
audience to come away and look at something that ordinary, and
think about it in a different way.
Laprise, who currently lives in Montréal, represents a
renaissance in Cirque du Soleil. With its ever-expanding list of
residencies, drawing upon a list of musical influences as
diverseand profitableas Michael Jackson and The Beatles, the
company has become a staple of North American Theater. As its
Vegas roster grows, the company is investing in off-the-wall
shows like Kurios, whose main influence, as Laprise puts it, is
French Steampunkan aesthetic that doesnt even return
relevant results on a google search.
Laprise, who is openly gay, began working at Cirque as a talent
scout, reorganizing the interview process to highlight the best
and most spirited performers. Laprise thought the gig would only
last a few months, but he stayed with the company for a few
years. After becoming familiar with the inner workings of the
company, Laprise asked Guy Laliberté, the founder and creative
director of Cirque du Soleil, for the chance to direct his own
show.
He told me, Are you crazy? which of course was a great vote
of confidence, says Laprise. Laliberté made him the Special
Events Designer, which covered Cirques more commercial venues
unveilings at Microsoft, integrations with Québec Citys 400th
anniversarybefore assigning him a touring show.
Laprise also served as a creative director for Madonnas 2012
Super Bowl halftime show, and directed her MDNA Tour.
Madonna is hysterical. When my accent was bigger, says
Laprise, whose way of speaking very much pins him as a French
Canadian, she would crack up when I spoke. She sends me flowers
on my birthday. Shes a very smart performer.
This is the first of several shows he has planned for Cirque du
Soleil, and its run so far has been a success. Though its not
customary for a director to travel with a show, Laprise makes a
point to show up to as many performances as possible.
More than anything Ive been involved with, this show recharges
my batteries, says Laprise. When asked what he wants audiences
to take away from the show, hes concise. I want them to feel
as if anything is possible. I want them to feel joy.
With a show as breathtaking and unique as Kurios, Laprise is
sure to succeed.
{ SOURCE: Frontiers Media | https://goo.gl/DSVawd }
Q&A /// Meet TORUKs Daniel Crispin
{Dec.28.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
A Brisbane man swapped his shirt and tie for blue body paint
after he was confirmed as the principal actor in Cirque du
Soleils latest show, inspired by James Camerons Avatar.
Having graduated from a diploma in teaching and learning in
2014, Daniel Crispin, 28, was put on placements in various
Brisbane schools to get classroom experience, with his passion
for acrobatics continuing after school hours.
He worked as an acrobatic instructor at Flipside Circus in
Brisbanes north every afternoon and trained vigorously every
evening for his role in Cirque du Soleils TORUK The First
Flight.
I had only completed my placements and internships at the
beginning of this year, what made training for this show
incredibly exhausting as placement hours are 100 per cent
unpaid, Daniel said.
If I could fit in 90 minutes of focused work I would be very
happy.
Daniel said it was hard to put into words how he felt when he
found out hed been named as the principal actor of the show.
It has been my dream and a goal for a decade to work at Cirque
du Soleil, he said. To be a part of such an amazing team and
to take a bow in front of 8000 people and receive a standing
ovation as the main character goes beyond what my dreams ever
could have imagined.
As a child, Daniel practised Taekwondo and had always had an
awe for all things acrobatic, moving from competitive sport to
performance art after realising his legs were too short to
reach Olympic glory.
After high school, Daniel travelled across the United States,
teaching acrobatics at summer camps, before returning to
Australia to graduate, on a scholarship, from the National
Institute of Circus Arts in 2010. A major shoulder
reconstruction in 2013 put his dreams on hold for a while and
Daniel undertook a graduate diploma in teaching and learning, to
ensure he had a plan B for the future.
I am appreciative of the career I have and every single day I
step on stage I am auditioning for the right to have such an
incredible life, he said. There will be a point that my body
cannot keep up with the physical demands of acrobatics, which is
something I am at peace with.
For now though, Daniel is embracing all that life has to offer,
travelling to new cities every five days with the largest
theatrical producer in the world something which could last
for up to 10 years.
Daniel has performed for Madonna and featured on reality TV show
Australias Got Talent and said he would like to continue
performing on stage or screen for the rest of his life, in
whichever capacity his body allows. I have aspirations to work
as a creative and artistic director at Cirque du Soleil and I am
always working on side projects of visual art, music and stage
and screen projects.
{ SOURCE: Brisbane Times | http://goo.gl/46qRNQ }
---------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT - More In-depth Articles
---------------------------------------------------
Get Interactive with the TORUK-The First Flight App!
{Dec.11.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
TORUK The First Flight gets interactive with a new app!
SAP, in their latest collaboration with Montreal-based Cirque du
Soleil, is moving beyond logistics to provide audience members
with an interactive spectator experience that brings involvement
to a whole new level. The first-of-its-kind app enhances the
overall show experience and enables audience members to be part
of the action before, during, and after the performance. Full of
surprises, the application allows you to immerse yourself deeper
into the world of Pandora and interact with the events taking
place on stage, as well as to explore Pandora, the alien world
where the story takes place, and more.
And its available for both Apple and Android users!
# # #
SAP and Cirque du Soleil announced a new, breakthrough digital
integration for the highly anticipated production TORUK The
First Flight. Through a collaboration with longtime technology
partner SAP, TORUK The First Flight will be the first Cirque
du Soleil show that will allow and encourage spectators to
use their mobile devices during the show. By leveraging
technology from the SAP HANA® platform, the TORUK The First
Flight mobile app enables spectators to become part of the show
before, during and after the performance.
While there were worries about distracting the audience and
disrupting the experience, Louis Malafarina, head of corporate
partnerships at Cirque du Soleil, says that the companys
creative team was supportive from the start.
Since beginning to develop the app last summer, SAP has worked
to create an immersive, 3D experience without overshadowing the
circus experience, says Malafarina. A number of effects ended up
on the cutting room floor, including a photo based activity that
just didnt mesh with the projects objectives. Using real-time
analytics and geospatial capabilities, SAPs technology is able
to map the entire arena and whos in it.
Ultimately, were measuring the interactivity of the audience
members and the various sections theyre sitting in, says Adam
Novek, client partner, innovative business solutions at SAP. He
calls the app an enabler between the audience and the show,
which allows the shows controllers to bring an on-stage effect
back to audience members in real time based on how the users are
engaging with it on their phones.
Entering into completely uncharted territory lent this
collaboration an air of opportunity and innovation while also
presenting numerous challenges to the team, according to Bill
Keays, strategic science and technology advisor for Cirque.
Known unknowns, like venue bandwidth, combined with the nuts and
bolts of functionality across myriad operating systems and tight
timelines mean success is all in the details, Keays says.
He explains that ultrasonic sound is used to trigger push
notifications in the app, a workaround to overcome wi-fi dead
zones in cavernous stadiums and the potential for data overloads
when sending information to hundreds of phones at precisely the
same moment.
This immersive digital technology brings Cirque du Soleil fans
closer to the action and creates a more powerful experience for
spectators of the incredible new show TORUK The First Flight,
said Maggie Chan Jones, chief marketing officer, SAP. Were
proud to bring technology from SAP HANA front and center, giving
audience members an opportunity to interact with the characters
and special effects on their mobile devices throughout the
production.
Before spectators even enter the arena, they can download the
TORUK The First Flight mobile app to receive ticket and show
information and immerse themselves into the world of Pandora to
learn more about the characters and mythical storyline inspired
by James Camerons movie Avatar. Throughout the performance,
the SAP HANA platform will facilitate communication between
spectators and the shows visual effects control system,
creating a personalized experience delivered directly to their
mobile devices based on their interaction with the app and
location in the theater. This is accomplished through native and
high-performing spatial processing capabilities in the SAP HANA
platform, which provide functions that seamlessly analyze and
process geospatial information in real time. After the show,
spectators can continue to engage with TORUK The First Flight
through interactive images, videos and content that extends
their experience.
When we set out to create a show that provided an unparalleled
audience experience, we knew SAP would be the right partner to
make that happen, said Louis Malafarina, senior director,
Corporate Alliances, Cirque du Soleil. We believe the TORUK
The First Flight mobile app will help enhance the overall
spectator experience, bringing fans deeper into the world of
Pandora in ways they never thought possible. We look forward to
continuing to work with SAP to develop new, innovative
experiences for audiences of our future shows.
TORUK The First Flight represents the most recent technology
collaboration between SAP and Cirque du Soleil. Since 2001, SAP
has helped Cirque du Soleil become one of the largest
entertainment companies in the world. By implementing a wide
range of SAP solutions, Cirque du Soleil continues to simplify
its global operations including finance, human resources and
procurement systems, helping streamline its business logistics
and drive rapid growth.
o) CHECK OUT PICTURES OF THE APP HERE:
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7072 >
o) GET THE NEW APP HERE:
- APPLE: https://goo.gl/Kvgclz
- ANDROID: https://goo.gl/m87Xxp
{ SOURCE: SAP, Cirque du Soleil, Tech Vibes }
ZARKANA CLOSING! Last Show April 30, 2016
{Dec.16.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
We have been informed of the new plans for the theater space at
ARIA. We have informed our Artists and Staff (today) that
Zarkana will end its fantastic journey on the 30th of April
(2016). We will of course use our best efforts to redeploy as
many employees as possible. As MGM Resorts Internationals
preferred creative content provider we remain in discussions
with them for any future possibilities on property. More than 3
million people have enjoyed Zarkana in nearly 5 years since its
début at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Since its
opening at ARIA on November 9th, 2012, Zarkana has played over
1,400 times.
WHY IS ZARKANA CLOSING?
Thats a good question. The answer is
The Aria needs more
convention space:
Cementing its position as one of North Americas premier
destinations for large-scale meetings and events, ARIA Resort &
Casino announced today a major expansion of its award-winning
LEED Gold-certified convention center. The $154-million project
will deliver an additional 200,000 square feet of
technologically advanced, flexible meeting space across four
stories, highlighted by stunning indoor/open-air spaces and a
glass-enclosed venue with dramatic views of The Park and
spectacular new Las Vegas Arena. With the completion of the
expansion, ARIA will feature more than 500,000 square feet of
superior meeting space for its luxury clientele.
Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2016 with anticipated
completion in February 2018.
Convention business at ARIA is booming, and demand is currently
exceeding the space we have available, said Bobby Baldwin,
ARIAs president & COO. Hosting large meetings and conventions
is a core part of our business; as our clients needs grow, we
are committed to grow with them.
ARIAs new convention space will maintain MGM Resorts
Internationals commitment to build all new venues to LEED Gold
standards or better, creating one of the most expansive high-
end, environmentally friendly meeting facilities in the world.
Already an established leader in this area, ARIA has integrated
environmentally responsible practices and services for all
meetings, conventions and events, earning it a prestigious five
keys from Green Key Globals Eco-Rating Program.
Tony Yousfi, ARIAs vice president of sales, said, Our guests
expect luxurious offerings and will be wowed by the new
convention space. With the addition of this elite 200,000-
square-foot venue, ARIA exponentially increases the spectrum of
events and services that can be hosted at our AAA Five Diamond
resort.
The first level will feature an open ballroom with ample pre-
function spaces, and access to an exclusive loading dock for
events that require sizable displays. Versatile indoor-outdoor
breakout rooms which provide meetings flexibility to enjoy the
Las Vegas weather while conducting business will highlight the
second level, while the third level will offer a large ballroom
as well as naturally lit pre-function spaces connecting to
ARIAs existing convention center. The facilitys top floor is
set to become one of Las Vegas most unique meeting venues as it
complements a vast ballroom with a striking outdoor patio that
can accommodate receptions for up to 2,000 guests. The top-floor
patio will feature stunning views overlooking The Park and Las
Vegas Arena, both of which are slated to open in April 2016. The
new convention space will take the place of the location
currently occupied by Cirque du Soleils production of Zarkana,
so it has to close.
{ SOURCES: Cirque du Soleil, ARIA | http://goo.gl/oZOqmE }
20 Years of Cirque du Soleil at the RAH!
{Dec.14.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
When Cirque du Soleil returns in January with its incredible
production Amaluna, it will mark the 20th anniversary of the
association between the Royal Albert Hall and the Canadian
circus troupe world-renowned for its slick and daring acrobatic
shows. Before 1996, when Cirque brought its show to the domed
Hall for the first time, its touring shows had been largely
restricted to a travelling big top. Such a grand venue may seem
like an unlikely upgrade from a tent, but performers and
audiences immediately embraced the idea of transferring the
dizzying spectacle into the Royal Albert Hall.
For such an extensive 5,000 capacity auditorium, the Hall has a
unique feeling of intimacy, which has lent itself very well to
Cirque shows. The tiered audience is never far from the action
if youre perched in the higher seats, Cirque performers are at
eye level or above rather than distant specks. Positioning shows
within the incomparable space of the Hall means that Cirque
tweaks its touring shows for up to nine months before their
arrival this can include fitting extra supports beneath the
stage, reducing the size of some structures and finding new
points of focus for the performers eyelines to execute moves
with pin-sharp accuracy.
Since 1996, Cirque has staged 17 seasons at the Hall, totaling
almost 850 performances. Each of its seven shows (the
forthcoming Amaluna will be the eighth), has transformed the
Hall with totally new feats, themes and sounds. These include
the breathtaking spectacle of supple bodies contorting into
unbelievable positions, the astounding precision of aerial
performances and leaps, mind-boggling juggling and daredevil
high-level moves on the spinning wheel of death.
VIDEO /// < https://youtu.be/SCcT5I8X38s >
# # #
SALTIMBANCO The relationship between the Royal Albert Hall and
Cirque du Soleil began in 1996 with Saltimbanco, a show which
brought together more than 50 performers from around the world.
The cast performed in a set modelled on an urban environment,
where they wowed audiences in the Hall for the first time with
jaw-dropping skills, trapeze, pole-balancing, juggling and
clowning. So popular was the show that it returned the following
year, and was repeated in 2003.
ALEGRIA Alegria has been the most frequently-staged Cirque
show (performed in 1998, 1999, 2006 and 2007). The show takes
its name from the Spanish word for joy, and it features
performances from a palette of colourful characters around a
theme of the delicate generational balance between the old order
and the new order.
DRALION The next show brought to the Royal Albert Hall was
Dralion a truncation of dragon and lion, symbolising a meeting
of east and west (performed in 2004 and 2005). In this show the
ancient elements of earth, air, fire and water were given human
form and voyaged through a magical futuristic dimension.
VAREKAI Varekai, staged in 2008 and 2010, imagined what would
have happened if Icarus had not crashed not into the sea after
flying too close to the sun, but had instead landed in a magical
land of thick forests and fantastic creatures.
QUIDAM Quidam, which was staged in 2009 and again in 2014, is
a show seen through the eyes of a bored youngster, ignored by
her parents, who seeks escape in an imaginary world. She meets a
vivid cast who encourage her to free her soul. (FASCINATION
NOTE: Quidams 1999 tour in London was performed under the big
top at Battersea Power Station).
TOTEM In Totem, performed in 2011 and 2012, the stage was
constructed to resemble an island in the shape of a turtle shell
and illustrated, through a visual and acrobatic language, the
evolutionary progress of species.
KOOZA Kooza, Cirques most recent London show (visiting in
2013 and 2015), let audiences follow the story of a naïve young
clown trying to find his place in the world. The canopy above
the stages centrepiece Bataclan took 60 projectors to
illuminate in order to create the extraordinary lighting
effects.
AMALUNA The relationship shows no signs of ending, with
Amaluna extending the association further when it arrives in the
Hall in January.
{ SOURCE: Royal Albert Hall | http://goo.gl/d1tHJI }
Meet La Noubas New Acts: B-boys and Aerial Bamboo
{Dec.16.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
The three young men spin and twist and jump and flip. Dressed in
vivid purple and blue, they create splashes of color among the
drably dressed automatons that surround them onstage. In grays,
khaki and tans, those drudges march as one, arms swinging
mechanically, knees raised together.
But not the colorful trio. Sometimes excitingly in sync,
sometimes surprisingly freestyling, they offer a subversive
spirit among the percussive beats.
B-boys have come to La Nouba, Cirque du Soleils high-energy
showcase of circus arts that has run at Walt Disney World since
1998. The athletic dance is one of two new acts in the show
and its the opening number.
Its not a soft and sexy dance its strong, it came from the
streets, says b-boy Dmytro Li. I see a similarity to martial
arts.
The b-boys spin on their heads and unfold their bodies to flip
up off their backs with seeming ease. These are moves born in
inner-city neighborhoods and thats exactly the vibe show
director Daniel Ross wants.
La Nouba is a fairy tale but it starts with the idea of the
big city, he says. We wanted something powerful and urban, but
when you watch them you think, How is this possible? Thats
what b-boys share with the circus.
The B-Boys are Jean Carlos Lloret, Josh Ortiz and Dmytro Li.
The other new act, a romantic aerial performance thats both
spellbinding and heart-stopping, is worlds apart from the
aggressive energy of the b-boys. Spouses Alexander and Ekaterina
Abramov say their love of performing is an extension of their
love for each other.
We say its a love story that we project to the audience,
Ekaterina explains through an interpreter. We are describing
the story with the tricks we do in the air.
Called aerial bamboo, the traditional Chinese circus art is
rarely performed today you can count the number of top
professionals on one hand, Ekaterina says.
Bamboo remains only in the acts name: The couples pole-like
apparatus, suspended from the theater ceiling, is now made of
stainless steel. In one remarkable sequence, Ekaterina
dizzyingly spins with unnerving speed, supported by the strength
of her partner.
Joining La Nouba brought the Abramovs, who hail from Moscow,
to the United States for the first time. There are very good
people here, Ekaterina says. Everyone is helping us.
Other firsts: This is the first b-boy act to appear in a Cirque
show, and the first time this particular trio has performed
together.
We feel each other very well, Li says. Maybe that was luck.
Born in the former Soviet Union, Li performs as the Flying
Buddha. All the men sport nicknames, a defining aspect of b-boy
culture: Bronx-born Josh Ortiz is known as Incredible Josh.
Jean Carlos Lloret, a Puerto Rico native who grew up near
Boston, is called Bebo.
The guys were born in the 1980s, when break dancing exploded
into pop culture. But they are quick to point out that true b-
boying is different than what Hollywood portrayed in glossy
movies such as Flashdance.
Theres a whole language to b-boy, says Ortiz. Its from the
original culture of hip-hop.
Like many before them, the guys discovered the b-boy world as a
way to escape their everyday lives. We grew up very poor. We
didnt have anything. School was terrible, says Ortiz, who
comes from a family of b-boys. I channeled all my anger at
everything into dancing.
Li, who credits Bruce Lee as an inspiration, had a martial-arts
background and preconceived ideas. My mentality was that
dancing is only for girls, he says. As a teen, he had a change
of heart when he observed other kids busting moves at summer
camp. His reaction: What is this? I want to do this!
The boys personal stories helped them stand out among the
dozens hoping for a chance to join La Nouba.
What tipped the balance is what they had to say, Ross says.
These guys were unique, and they were touching. They had
something to give.
Their achievements helped, too: Lloret came in third on
televisions Americas Best Dance Crew show in 2010 and
appeared on So You Think You Can Dance and the film Step Up
Revolution. Ortiz also appeared in Step Up movies and
performed with Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. Li has made TV
and film appearances and has a string of victories in
international competitions.
The Abramovs have years of experience working in circuses in
their homeland. They learned the intricate combination of
balance and flexibility required for aerial bamboo about a
decade ago from retiring Russian artists.
They were looking for a young couple to take over, Ekaterina
says. Her husband adds, Its a really rare act so they didnt
want it to disappear.
The two, who married in 2010 after 10 years of dating, have
performed in Egypt, Spain, Italy, Thailand and Israel. They had
been in discussions with Cirque du Soleil about working together
for years waiting until the right show came along. The grace
and poetic moments of their act make them the perfect
counterpoint to the b-boys, Ross says.
To integrate the new segments, which replace the jump-rope and
high-wire acts, Cirque brought back the original choreographer,
composer and lighting designer of La Nouba. Newcomers to the
show wont realize it has changed, Ross says, but updates can
be an occasion to push a show forward.
SEE IMAGES OF THE NEW ACTS HERE:
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7261 >
EARLIER: B-BOY ACT INTEGRATED (December 12th)
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7068 >
EARLIER: FIRST PICTURE OF AERIAL POLE (December 25th)
< http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=7202 >
{ SOURCE: The Orlando Sentinel | http://goo.gl/8nVQDC }
Could This Be Luzia? (Probably Not.)
{Dec.30.2015}
-------------------------------------------------------
I ran across something interesting this afternoon, as I poked
around the Internet looking for new information about Cirque du
Soleil a character and acts list for LUZIA. The information
that Im about to share with you was originally posted to
WikiNews on December 11th, and then promptly deleted. Much of it
is very suspect (Mister Fish, really? And sounds a lot like
KURIOS with some wish-listing added too), but there could be a
few nuggets of truth in there to make reading this worthwhile.
We know that Hoop Diving is in the show as an example. If
nothing else it will give us a few good laughs, right? So
without further ado...
CHARACTERS
o) McLeach: a poacher, is on a quest in which he creates a
machine to travel into another dimension to find the place
where the possible and the impossible meet.
o) Richo the Hummingbird: Richos Hummingbird costume allows him
to bend way down or stand way up so he can be at eye level
with absolutely everyone.
o) Mr. Fish: An authority figure, Mr. Fish is the leader of the
group. This serious chap is the embodiment of technological
progress.
o) Cody the Lion: Cody can receive alpha waves by turning on her
heels and pointing her lion skirt in various directions.
ACTS
o) Juggling: An artist performs juggling infused with
breakdancing and modern dance
o) Bungee: A group of artists bounce and swing from the ceiling
to the ground and back on bungees.
o) Hand balancing: An artist performs handbalancing on canes.
o) Contortion: The four wriggling artists execute a series of
pyramids and figuresusing the Rainbow as a platform.
o) Russian swing: Acrobats propel themselves high into the air
with three sets of Russian swings and dive down into the
Rain.
o) Rola Bola: An Aviator balances on tubes on a platform
suspended in mid-air.
o) Flying Trapeze: Completing more than a dozen tricks in little
more than six minutes, the Catchers have a particularly
difficult job as they spend the majority of the performance
upside down with little break in between.
o) Shoulder pole wire: An original Alegría act, it featured a
young performer who balanced a long pole on their shoulders
with a tight wire platform on top. On this wire, a younger
performer flipped, turned and leapt always keeping their
balance.
o) Teeterboard: Three feuding artists send each other flying
high in the air in this energetic act.
o) Hands Puppetry: The performers present a story of a person
who hip-hops, swims, and later falls in love, using their
hands as puppets dressed up in miniature shoes and hats.
o) Hoop Diving: Acrobats jump through a tower of hoops, which is
sometimes light.
Take all this with a huge grain of salt!
{ SOURCE: WikiNews Archive }
=======================================================================
ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION
=======================================================================
o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
{Amaluna, Koozå, Kurios, Luzia & Totem}
o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues
{Quidam, Varekai, TORUK & OVO}
o) RESIDENT - Performed en Le Théâtre
{Mystère, "O", La Nouba, Zumanity, KÀ, LOVE,
Believe, Zarkana, MJ ONE & JOYÀ}
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,
the Fascination! Newsletter does 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: < http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ >,
or for a more comprehensive tour listing, visit our Itinéraire
section online at: < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?page_id=6898 >.
------------------------------------
BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau
------------------------------------
Amaluna:
Paris, FR -- Nov 5, 2015 to Jan 3, 2016
London, UK -- Jan 16, 2016 to Mar 6, 2016
Amsterdam, NL -- Mar 17, 2016 to May 1, 2016
Frankfurt, DE -- May 11, 2016 to Jun 12, 2016
Knokke-Heist, BE -- Jul 14, 2016 to TBA
Koozå:
Montevido, UY -- Mar 9, 2016 to Mar 20, 2016
Buenos Aires, AR -- Apr 21, 2016 to May 8, 2016
Next Stop: Australia
Kurios:
Los Angeles, CA -- Dec 10, 2015 to Feb 7, 2016
Atlanta, GA -- Mar 3, 2016 to May 8, 2016
Boston, MA -- May 26, 2016 to Jul 10, 2016
Washington, DC -- Jul 21, 2016 to Sep 18, 2016
New York City, NY -- Sep 30, 2016 to Nov 27, 2016
Luzia:
Montreal, QC -- Apr 21, 2016 to Jul 16, 2016
Toronto, ON -- Jul 28, 2016 to Oct 16, 2016
San Francisco, CA -- Nov 10, 2016 to Jan 22, 2017
Seattle, WA -- Feb 2, 2017 to Mar 26, 2017
Calgary, AB -- Apr 6, 2017 to May 21, 2017
Totem:
Tokyo, JP -- Feb 03, 2016 to Apr 10, 2016
Osaka, JP - Jul 14, 2016 to Oct 2, 2016
Nagoya, JP - Nov 10, 2016 to TBA
Fukuoka, JP - Feb 2017 to TBA
Sendai, JP - Apr 2017 to TBA
------------------------------------
ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues
------------------------------------
Quidam:
Wollongong, AU -- Dec 23, 2015 to Jan 2, 2016
Hobart, AU -- Jan 6, 2016 to Jan 10, 2016
Newcastle, AU -- Jan 15, 2016 to Jan 24, 2016
Aucland, NZ -- Feb 5, 2016 to Feb 14, 2016
Christchurch, NZ -- Feb 17, 2016 to Feb 26, 2016
** FINAL SHOW: February 26, 2016 **
Varekai:
Barcelona, ES -- Jan 1, 2016 to Jan 10, 2016
Valencia, ES -- Jan 14, 2016 to Jan 17, 2016
Malaga, ES -- Jan 21, 2016 to Jan 24, 2016
Vitoria-Gasteiz, ES -- Jan 27, 2016 to Jan 31, 2016
Lyon, FR -- Feb 3, 2016 to Feb 7, 2016
Hamburg, DE -- Feb 10, 2016 to Feb 14, 2016
Luxembourg, LU -- Feb 17, 2016 to Feb 21, 2016
Hanover, DE -- Feb 24, 2016 to Feb 28, 2016
Antwerp, BE -- Mar 2, 2016 to Mar 6, 2016
Bordeaux, FR -- Mar 10, 2016 to Mar 13, 2016
Montpellier, FR -- Mar 17, 2016 to Mar 20, 2016
Nice, FR -- Mar 23, 2016 to Mar 27, 2016
Moscow, RU -- Apr 14, 2016 to Apr 24, 2016
St Petersburg, RU -- Apr 27, 2016 to May 8, 2016
Kazan, RU -- May 11, 2016 to May 15, 2016
Chelyabinsk, RU -- May 18, 2016 to May 22, 2016
Togliatti, RU -- May 25, 2016 to May 29, 2016
Sochi, RU -- Jun 2, 2016 to Jun 5, 2016
Zaragoza, ES -- Jun 29, 2016 to Jul 3, 2016
Santander, ES -- Jul 3, 2016 to Jul 10, 2016
Granada, ES -- Jul 13, 2016 to Jul 17, 2016
Murcia, ES -- Jul 20, 2016 to Jul 24, 2016
Nantes, FR -- Nov 16, 2016 to Nov 20, 2016
Toulouse, FR -- Nov 23, 2016 to Nov 27, 2016
Strasbourg, FR -- Nov 30, 2016 to Dec 4, 2016
Paris, FR -- Dec 6, 2016 to Dec 11, 2016
TORUK - The First Flight:
Toronto, ON -- Jan 7, 2016 to Jan 10, 2016
Quebec City, QC -- Jan 14, 2016 to Jan 17, 2016
Auburn Hills, MI -- Jan 22, 2016 to Jan 24, 2016
Houston, TX -- Feb 11, 2016 to Feb 14, 2016
North Little Rock, AR -- Feb 17, 2016 to Feb 21, 2016
North Charleston, SC -- Feb 26, 2016 to Feb 28, 2016
Sunrise, FL -- Mar 3, 2016 to Mar 6, 2016
Miami, FL -- Mar 10, 2016 to Mar 13, 2016
Tampa, FL -- Mar 17, 2016 to Mar 20, 2016
Tulsa, OK -- Mar 24, 2016 to Mar 27, 2016
Kansas City, MO -- Mar 30, 2016 to Apr 3, 2016
Oklahoma City, OK -- Apr 6, 2016 to Apr 10, 2016
Louisville, KY -- Apr 28, 2016 to May 1, 2016
Cincinnati, OH -- May 4, 2016 to May 8, 2016
Columbus, OH -- May 11, 2016 to May 15, 2016
Hamilton, ON -- May 20, 2016 to May 22, 2016
London, ON -- May 27, 2016 to May 29, 2016
Providence, RI -- Jun 3, 2016 to Jun 5, 2016
Duluth, GA -- Jun 15, 2016 to Jun 19, 2016
Raleigh, NC -- Jun 22, 2016 to Jun 26, 2016
Ottawa, ON -- Jun 30, 2016 to Jul 3, 2016
Denver, CO -- Jul 21, 2016 to Jul 24, 2016
Lincoln, NE -- Jul 27, 2016 to Jul 31, 2016
Chicago, IL -- Aug 3, 2016 to Aug 7, 2016
Brooklyn, NY -- Sep 7, 2016 to Sep 11, 2016
Newark, NJ -- Sep 14, 2016 to Sep 18, 2016
OVO:
Lake Charles, LA -- Apr 8, 2016 to Apr 10, 2016
Baton Rouge, LA -- Apr 14, 2016 to Apr 17, 2016
Greensboro, NC -- Apr 20, 2016 to Apr 24, 2016
Cleveland, OH -- Apr 27, 2016 to May 1, 2016
Syracuse, NY -- May 4, 2016 to May 6, 2016
Philadelphia, PA -- May 11, 2016 to May 15, 2016
Bangor, ME -- Jun 2, 2016 to Jun 5, 2016
Bridgeport, CT -- Jun 8, 2016 to Jun 12, 2016
Hartford, CT -- Jun 15, 2016 to Jun 19, 2016
Atlantic City, NJ -- Jun 22, 2016 to Jun 26, 2016
Charlotte, NC -- Jul 6, 2016 to Jul 10, 2016
Portland, ME -- TBA
---------------------------------
RESIDENT - en Le Théâtre
---------------------------------
Mystère:
Location: Treasure Island, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday
Two shows Nightly - 7:00pm & 9:30pm
2016 Dark Dates:
o January 2 13, 2016
o February 7, 2016
o March 16, 2016
o May 7 11, 2016
o July 6, 2016
o September 10 14, 2016
o November 9, 2016
Special / Limited Performances:
o March 12, 2016 (7pm Proceeds Donated to One Drop)
o June 18, 2016 (Only 7pm performance)
o June 19, 2016 (Only 7pm performance)
o December 29, 2016 (Two Shows)
"O":
Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday
Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm
2016 Dark Dates:
o February 7, 2016
o March 18
o April 11-19
o June 12
La Nouba:
Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm
Zumanity:
Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
(Only 7:00pm on the following days in 2015: January 20,
May 8, May 15, May 19, May 20, and December 31)
KÀ:
Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark Thursday/Friday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
(Only 7 pm performances on May 9, 16 and June 21)
LOVE:
Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
(Only 7:00p.m. performances on May 15-16, June 19-21, December 31)
(Only 4:30p.m. & 7:00p.m. performances on July 4)
CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE:
Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
ZARKANA:
Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm
** UNTIL APRIL 30, 2016 **
MICHAEL JACKSON ONE:
Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (USA)
Performs: Two Shows Nightly - Dark: Wednesday/Thursday
Schedule: 7:00pm & 9:30pm on Friday, Saturday, Monday & Tuesday
4:30pm & 7:00pm on Sunday
JOYÀ:
Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday
One/Two Shows Nightly:
9:00pm (Weekdays)
7:00pm & 10:15pm (Fri, Sat & Holidays)
=======================================================================
OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS
=======================================================================
o) Club Cirque -- This Month at CirqueClub
o) DidYaKnow? -- Facts About Cirque
o) Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube
---------------------------------------------------
CLUB CIRQUE: This Month at CirqueClub
---------------------------------------------------
Cirque du Soleil Webseries
------------------------------------------------------
*) THE STORY OF AN ENCOUNTER: LUZIA
Cirque du Soleil's 38th original production - LUZIA - is a
new touring show under the big top. The name LUZIA fuses the
sound of luz (light in Spanish) and lluvia (rain), two
elements at the core of the shows creation. This new webseries,
which will begin in 2016, documents the show's creation.
o) EPISODE 0: THE TEASER
December 18, 2015
Have a sneak peak at Cirques new web-series for 2016: The
Story of an Encounter!
LINK /// < https://goo.gl/eH9z7b >
*) KURIOS ABOUT...
Two new episodes of the Kurios About... webseries were posted
this month. Follow the cast and crew of KURIOS on tour, and find
out what hides in their Cabinet of Curiosities. From the Big Top
to Costumes, Make-up, Food and much more, the 12 episodes KURIOS
About The Webseries gives fans a behind-the-scenes peek at the
Cirque du Soleils 35th creation. Explore our universe and
reality from the eyes of an insider, see the artists and the
staff work with devotion to make the show happen day after day
and discover how unique our on tour lifestyle is.
o) EPISODE 6: THE FOOD
December 1, 2015
Here in the KURIOS Kitchen, we are the total opposite of a
typical restaurant: The menu changes but the clientele stay
the same. Find out how we keep the moral of the cast and
crew of KURIOS high every day.
LINK /// < https://youtu.be/N1P1MKAImxg >
*) KA: BEHIND THE BLOCKBUSTER
o) EPISODE 1: THE THEATER
December 1, 2015
The KÀ theatre was the first live performance space to
incorporate speakers into every seat. With more than 5,000
speakers, over 3,000 lighting instruments, and truly
impressive moving platforms, the theatre at MGM Grand in
Las Vegas is one of the most phenomenal stage accomplishments
Cirque du Soleil has ever achieved. This video describes
every major performance space used in KÀ.
LINK /// < https://youtu.be/csS2N5YDtu4 >
o) EPISODE 2: WARDROBE TOUR
December 16, 2015
KÀs Head of Wardrobe, Eric Wood, gives us a sneak peak at
the costumes, wigs, and makeup in the wardrobe department
for the show. Each KÀ performance involves approximately
1,600 costume pieces, 16 wigs, and 20 loads of laundry!
Watch Eric share the story behind some of the outfits and
reveal interesting details about the unique approach Cirque
du Soleil takes to costume creation.
LINK /// < https://youtu.be/GJyzAmgmJP0 >
o) EPISODE 3: THE MUSIC
December 29, 2015
The music in KÀ combines epic, cinematic moments with super
high rocknroll energy. In this video, KÀs Musical Director
and Conductor describes the process of what he calls real-
time film scoring. Go behind the scenes with him and the
off-stage band of KÀ by Cirque du Soleil to experience the
extraordinary, powerful music of the show.
LINK /// < https://youtu.be/8PTXxJxMJUc >
---------------------------------------
DIDYAKNOW?: Facts About Cirque
---------------------------------------
o) Did you know: Over 110 different make-up colors are used by JOYA's
artist in the show? Its definitely worth seeing them in person!
o) Did you know: Seventy specialists in Montreals Cirque du Soleil
headquarters worked more than 35,000 hours to produce the first
full set of costumes for KA?
o) Did you know: The material of the trench coats worn by the Smooth
Criminal characters in MJ ONE is made of a high-end French fabric
woven from a plastic material? When the rhythmic gymnasts do
cartwheels, their coat seem to hang in the air, emphasizing their
graceful, swirling motions.
o) Did you know: The costume department for Mystere created plaster
heads of each artist? This is done to insure a proper fit and
prevent their hats and wigs from falling during the performance.
o) Did you know: It takes 21 trucks to move Varekai's equipment from
city to city?
---------------------------------------------------
NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter
---------------------------------------------------
{Compiled by Keith Johnson}
---[ AMALUNA ]---
{Dec.19}
The Royal Albert Hall but together a nice little Christmas
video featuring various artists, including Amaluna! You can
watch it here!
VIDEO /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozPnQ7T0XQY >
---[ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ]--
{Dec.03}
Here's a sneak peek of some of the Cirque acrobatics
you'll see during The Wiz Live.
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/WH4PPU >
{Dec.04}
Last nights The Wiz Live featured some amazing
acrobatics by Cirque artists. See how they got ready
for the show in the video below and learn more about
the upcoming Broadway revival:
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/2a0aI4 >
{Dec.21}
Introducing the first ever Cirque Sessions from backstage
at the TORUK premiere at Centre Bell in Montreal!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/JD5VtH >
{Dec.23}
Experience the backstage view of our artists in warm up,
minutes before showtime.
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/EtcO5Q >
{Dec.30}
Always dreamed of trying pole dancing? What are you
waiting for? Here is how it feels to spin upside-down!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/cE0smC >
{Dec.31}
2015 has been an exciting year for us! Check out some of
the years top moments.
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/ao6de3 >
---[ CORTEO ]---
{Dec.01}
Last two weeks of Corteo in Quito.
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/puipQM >
{Dec.06}
Angelita checking her "look" for the show today!
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/PL7Fi2 >
{Dec.10}
We only got 7 shows! All lots are members of the bar
high send much love.
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/6CSVHn >
{Dec.11}
We have 5 shows and 3 days for the grand finale!
The group of paradise sends a lot of strength!!!!
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/wNNLbM >
{Dec.12}
Weve only got 3 shows in 2 days, and we remember
every single detail.
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/TyZzGY >
---[ JOYA ]---
{Dec.04}
Would you like to know more about the technical side of our
show? Discover interesting data in this month's edition of
SoundcheckMx magazine. [ED NOTE: Spanish Only!]
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GDT3sz >
---[ KOOZA ]---
{Dec.13}
Check out hour our Trickster trains to perfect his jump
outside the box move!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/5yXkW4 >
{Dec.24}
Happy Holidays to each one of you from KOOZA!
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/Zgr2LH >
---[ KURIOS ]---
{Dec.11}
Our characters were happy to participate in the ABC 7 Spark
Of Love event today, bringing gifts from our cast and crew.
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/8QDXfb >
{Dec.17}
KURIOS premiered in Los Angeles last week and it was a
great celebration with the Angelinos. Here is a little
recap video of our evening!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/2zOrYF >
{Dec.24}
Feliz Navidad, Happy Holidays from the cast KURIOS!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/E7Udm3 >
---[ LA NOUBA ]---
{Dec.08}
Ready for show and tell? Heres a fun little story all
about Pablo and Pablo!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/xRkTZc >
---[ "O" ]---
{Dec.29}
In the theatre of your mind, who will you choose to play?
In this theatre, who will you choose to play with?
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/wbmE7O >
---[ QUIDAM ]---
{Dec.10}
Here it is... the first Quidam Premiere of our last leg.
Our Ringmaster Mark is ready to start the show.
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/rQbyH2 >
{Dec.23}
Getting ready for the show, guess what's on our minds?
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/4g3eEE >
{Dec.28}
How do you spend your time off at the beach? Our Banquine
team spent it paying homage to the lost art of Beachobatics!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Kkr51t2 >
{Dec.31}
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2016 will be a special year for Quidam and
we are kicking it in style, on the beach doing what we do
best. Standby year 2016 and show #6351. GO!
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/jhpxNQ >
---[ TORUK ]---
{Dec.06}
Thanks Allentown for making our visit an unforgettable one!
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/BtBB21 >
{Dec.08}
Behind the scenes with a few of the incredible technicians
that help bring TORUK to life every show!
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/WmKwVO >
{Dec.10}
How many puppeteers does it take to bring the TORUK to life?
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/CpGqED >
{Dec.21}
Montreal, the wait is finally over! The artists are ready
for our world premiere. Are you?
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/f3CRVK >
{Dec.21}
It's been a long road to our world premiere for our artists
and tonight they finally make their big Cirque hometown debut.
See how theyre feeling about the big night!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/bmQgkk >
{Dec.21}
Merci, thank you Montreal!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/wPPQ5t >
{Dec.23}
Couldnt make it to our world premiere? See what the
buzz is all about!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/XUeTzz >
{Dec.23}
The reviews are in! Among them, Le Devoir calls TORUK the
most successful marriage between circus, theater, and cinema!
LINK /// < http://goo.gl/0ok6wo >
{Dec.26}
A calm backstage right as the show begins
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/AuKq8I >
{Dec.29}
Cirque du Soleil is innovating with TORUK. See why.
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/vMhHv2 >
{Dec.30}
Getting into character. Do you know what his name is?
(Answer: Ralu)
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/j1Gn3s >
{Dec.31}
From our family to yours...
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/maJ62D >
---[ TOTEM ]---
{Dec.12}
Tonight marks the last performance of original cast members
Alevtyna Titarenko (Rings Trio/Hand-to-Hand) and Gael Ouisse
(Rings Trio/Hand-to-Hand/Escalade) who are moving on to new
adventures! Best of luck and keep shining on and off stage!!
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/UfB2gZ >
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/C7Vloy >
{Dec.13}
Thank you Singapore! We are sarying goodbye tonight to key
members of the tour who are moving on to new projects! Thank
you for everything Yang Jie, Josh, Alya, Gael, Etienne, Mi
Jang, Jordyn, Angie, Kevin, Gabriel, Pete, Corinne, Bianca,
Dominique, Annie-Claude, Jake, Daniel, Philippe, Sarah,
Mariana, Cleisson, Toni, Philip, Hrsto, Marc, Sparky, Réjean
and Lyne!
{Dec.14}
Ever wondered how it is when our artists fly home for
the holidays?
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/X92F9X >
{Dec.16}
Looking for fitness exercises to start the new year?
What do you think of Oyuna's push-ups?
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/kSiGui >
{Dec.22}
Our Japanese house is going up! In Japan, Cirque du Soleil
shows perform in a custom-made dome which is raised with
cranes and is made to resist earthquakes. We can't wait to
see you in our new home, starting February 3rd in Odaiba!
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/hELs1O >
{Dec.23}
Even though we're off on vacations at the four corners of
the planet, we wish our fans from around the world Merry
Christmas and/or Happy Holidays! May this magical season
make your wish come true!
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/vh368S >
{Dec.26}
Singapore Tatler featured last month an 8-page Fashion
Photo Story shot at the Big Top with some of your favorite
acts and characters.
LINK /// < https://goo.gl/G2rWkJ >
---[ VAREKAI ]---
{Dec.02}
Ready for Opening night at the Olympiahalle München!
(ED: Look at the space between the floor seats and
the "grandstand" seats!)
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/32HMye >
{Dec.20}
We are delighted to begin our tour in Coruna.
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/viD8FP >
{Dec.21}
Join us in wishing TORUK-The First Flight a fantastic
world premiere and a wonderful tour! Best of luck to all
cast and crew.
VIDEO /// < https://goo.gl/rKh6SG >
{Dec.25}
Its business as usual for the cast of Varekai in A Coruña
on this Christmas day! Merry Christmas to all of you who
follow our adventures around the world.
{Dec.30}
Today was a very special day! We did a function at La
Pedrera-Casa Milà in Barcelona! It was wonderful! Stay
tuned for more photos.
FOTO /// < https://goo.gl/rg55ap >
=======================================================================
FASCINATION! FEATURES
=======================================================================
o) LOOK BACK: Guy Laliberte's Poetic Social Mission
PART 5 of 8: "T-30 Days and Counting"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
o) SPECIAL /// "TORUK-The First Flight Premieres"
Written By: Brendan Kelly, The Montreal Gazette
o) FANS REVIEW CIRQUE DU SOLEIL:
- CREACTIVE at PUNA CANA by The Trickster
- LA NOUBA w/B-BOYS - by MungoJerrie
- AMALUNA in PARIS - by Aidan Lam
------------------------------------------------------------
LOOK BACK: Guy Laliberte's Poetic Social Mission
PART 5 of 8: "T-30 Days and Counting"
By: Ricky Russo - Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
------------------------------------------------------------
Six years ago, on September 30, 2009, a civilian became a spaceflight
participant aboard Soyuz TMA-16, a manned flight from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to and from the International Space Station
(ISS). Joining two members of the Expedition 21 crew Russian
cosmonaut Maksim Surayev (Commander, from the Russian Federal Space
Agency, FSA) and NASA Astronaut Jeffery Williams (Flight Engineer)
was Guy Laliberté, who paid approximately $35 million USD for his seat
through the American firm Space Adventures, becoming the first
Canadian space tourist in the process. Besides fulfilling a life-long
dream, Lalibertés spaceflight was dedicated to raising awareness on
water issues facing humankind on planet Earth, making his spaceflight
the first in his words poetic social mission in space. And much
of this experience was captured on film and recently spun into a
feature-length documentary entitled TOUCH THE SKY. While the
documentary is a compelling visual look into the experience, the
adventure was also captured by Laliberté himself in the form of an
online journal.
At the time these events were originally taking place, we here at
Fascination were more concerned with the happenings here on Earth
with BELIEVE, ZAIA, ZED, OVO, VIVA ELVIS, and BANANA SHPEEL so we
didnt give much thought to this endeavor. However, thanks to the
recently discovered documentary (the aforementioned TOUCH THE SKY), we
recently re-discovered a text-copy of this journal in our archives,
which allows us to explore this extraordinary time in Cirque du
Soleils history in more detail. Thus in this series well be taking a
look back at Guys Poetic Social Mission through his eyes, from the
journal, in monthly installments, taking you through the initial steps
Guy undertook all the way through to the launch and landing. In Part
1, "The Countdown Begins" we listened as Guy took us through his first
steps. In Part 2, "Training Kicks Up a Notch", Guy got settled in, and
passed a few essential tests. In Part 3, "Getting My Hands Dirty", Guy
gets down into the nuts and bolts of his training. In Part 4, From
Training to Reality, Guy gets a bit more hands on with the actual
equipment hell be flying in. And now we continue with Septembers
logs... theres only 30 days left to go!
# # #
POST 59 | DAY 158 - September 01, 2009
FEELING SICK
I slept badly and woke up with a sore throat and a slight fever. Uh-
oh. Thats all it takes for me to become paranoid. I start asking
myself all sorts of questions. Why do I have these symptoms? Is it the
pressure? The lack of sleep? I absolutely refuse to have come this far
for nothing! As this is really not a good time to be sick, I prepare
myself an anti-flu cocktail: Benylin, homeopathic flu buster,
NeoCitran, Vicks
the whole kit and caboodle!
So I could get some rest, I immediately called Renée-Claude to cancel
the interviews that were scheduled with journalists that evening. I
also decided to cancel the weekend I had planned with friends in
Moscow to celebrate my 50th birthday. I wasnt willing to take the
risk of some more nights of poor sleep that would further weaken my
immune system.
Taking my glazed look along with me, I nonetheless dragged myself to
our workout session in the ISS! Given the limited space, my partners
reacted quite strongly to the not-so-subtle scent of camphor I was
wearing! I told them I was fighting the flu and was afraid of being
contagious, but they didnt seem to worry
Perfect timing: according to our schedule, we were supposed to finish
at 6:00 p.m. but we finished at 1:00 instead (well, Jeff and I, that
is). So I went back to my apartment to rest and was able to take a
very sudorific 2-hour nap! Then the telephone started ringing non-stop
and I worked on the last details of the press conference.
* * *
POST 60 | DAY 159 - September 02, 2009
MY 50TH BDAY
My last posts come to you a bit late and Id like to apologize for
this delay. Organizing the September 2nd press conference kept me
quite busy, but I have lots to tell you about this special day. I hope
you enjoy reading about it in the 3 posts Ive prepared, which cover
days 159, 160 and 161.
According to my schedule for Wednesday, I was only starting my day at
11:00 a.m., which was lucky for me since the bout of fever and the
sweating the night before had disturbed my sleep. My eyes still looked
dull when I woke up but that didnt keep me from being in good
spirits: it was my birthday! Poking my head outside the door, I
discovered magnificent scenery: the first rays of the sun shining
through the mist rising off the lake. I took a few minutes to express
my gratitude to life for everything it had given me over the last 50
years. And I made myself smile by placing an order for 50 more of the
same, all the while being fully aware that life has been very good to
me so far: no matter what lies ahead, Ive already received more than
my share of blessings.
After my workout at 6:00 p.m., I immediately contacted the team in
Montréal and we went over all the details together. Then, I headed to
the cottage where my film crew is staying and where everything was set
up for the press conference.
* * *
POST 61 | DAY 160 - September 03, 2009
PRESS CONFERENCE
My last posts come to you a bit late and Id like to apologize for
this delay. Organizing the September 2nd press conference kept me
quite busy, but I have lots to tell you about this special day. I hope
you enjoy reading about it in the 3 posts Ive prepared, which cover
days 159, 160 and 161.
Since the press conference was broadcasted live on the Web, we were
all a bit anxious since this type of transmission is complicated to do
from here. The technicians were nervous and so was I. After all, I
would be announcing an event that Im proud of, all the more so
because we had little time to set it up. I was proud of my team and
happy to unveil the details to all. I truly believe that itll be
terrific.
A technical problem arose a few minutes after starting the press
conference. Luckily for us, we had allowed for a delay! The
technicians were quick to act and we took everything from the start.
I had a lot of information to give in French AND in English, in
addition to answering the many questions asked. Overall, everything
went well but Ive come to realize that, despite my experience, press
conferences are not the form of interview where I feel most at ease!
After the conference, my team came out with champagne to celebrate my
birthday so, even though I was tired, I took the time to enjoy it with
them. I also tasted a wine thats as old as I am! It felt odd to
discover that a 50-year old wine can retain its qualities
I hope the
same can be said of me! ;-)
I also received a very nice surprise from the staff back at my office.
They had put together a whole outer-space special on video to mark
my 50th birthday, which really made me laugh! And then the film crew
made us all laugh with their montage of bloopers shot last week when
Claudia and the kids came to visit me in Star City!
To top it all off, Vladmir, the cottage owner, came with his 2
grandchildren to give me a present, a clown doll, which I found really
adorable.
I headed back to my room early, my heart filled with joy, touched by
everyones thoughtfulness. When I stepped into my room, I saw that I
had received quite a lot of birthday calls, text messages and e-mails
but I was just too exhausted. Im sorry for not answering you all but
I think that if I had, Id still be at it right now! Before calling it
a day, I briefly went on the Internet and was happy to see that the
conference seemed to have reached its goal.
* * *
POST 62 | DAY 161 - September 04, 2009
OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY DINNER
My last posts come to you a bit late and Id like to apologize for
this delay. Organizing the September 2nd press conference kept me
quite busy, but I have lots to tell you about this special day. I hope
you enjoy reading about it in the 3 posts Ive prepared, which cover
days 159, 160 and 161.
I woke up feeling much better. It looks as though I was able to get
rid of this flu. I was also scheduled to start quite late that day,
which was perfect. I had feared a very intense and busy week but, as
it turned out, it was the least demanding week in terms of training
hours: a beautiful birthday gift!
We had an exam in the afternoon and everything went well for our team.
We also had very interesting meetings with experts who will be taking
part in our mission.
At the end of the day, I was interviewed by a correspondent from La
Presse, a Montréal daily, followed by an official birthday dinner
organized by Geneviève, with my cosmonauts/astronauts, part of the
Space Adventures team, the film crew, and so on. It was a quiet
evening, but very pleasant, with more delicious Armenian shashliks on
the table!
Of course, in keeping with Russian tradition, we raised our glasses
many times throughout the meal. One toast from Max and Jeff touched me
deeply. Im truly proud and honoured to do this trip with these two
wonderful people and delighted to see that our relationship is getting
stronger every day.
The meal ended with my favourite Russian crepe cake, complete with
cream and strawberries, that Ive managed to resist since my arrival
in Star Citybut not today!
My film team then presented me with a video montage (a secret request
from Geneviève!) of birthday wishes from friends and family members,
and even from the ISS team! This beautiful token of friendship is
proof to me that the small gestures are those that make us live the
most intense emotions.
The evening came to an end quite early because my 2 two partners had a
centrifuge test the next day. Oh, how I sympathized! I did offer them
an exchange (their centrifuge test for my vestibular test in
Baikonur), but they didnt accept. Its strange that no one wishes to
exchange anything for the vestibular test, dont you think?
And so I went to bed early, my head filled with all those lovely video
messages and my heart filled with love.
* * *
POST 63 | DAY 163 - September 06, 2009
QUIET WEEK-END
As soon as I got up on Friday, I went for a swim before my class on
communication methods and an exam on how to install our seats and pack
our effects on board the Soyuz.
Once my week was over, I felt completely drained but happy, and was
looking forward to a quiet weekend. And so, on Saturday, September 5,
I took advantage of my time off to clean my mess (clothes, food,
paperwork and so on), go through my backlog, return my calls, get a
massage
Though I would have loved to see my friends in Moscow, it was
wise of me to stay put and be productive instead (while keeping nice
and quiet!).
By the end of the day, my apartment looked spick-and-span. And I slept
like a bear in winter!
On Sunday, I had planned to rearrange the music in my iTunes (this is
a hobby of mine that I hadnt done in quite a while), but I was very
disappointed to discover that my application wasnt working! Since it
was Sunday, there were no technicians available, so my project ended
right then and there. :(
As it was nice outside, I used my free time to go for a long walk,
then I filed photos, made a few more calls and watched some movies.
All in all, not a bad thing! I guess this goes to show you that things
usually happen for a reason
Sadly, I dont have any pictures of bed sheets to show you this week
since I happened to be bedridden on the day when the cleaning is
usually done. They werent able to make my bed, so they left me with
the same sheets (and my germs
) as the week before.
* * *
POST 64 | DAY 164 - September 07, 2009
PREPARING FOR SIMULATIONS
Big week ahead! This is our final week of exams and a very important
moment for the team since each one of us will be tested by members of
the commission, Energia and all the other partners. To receive
permission to fly and be approved as a flight crew, good grades are
essential! Its also a question of honour, since it involves the
teams reputation. Im trying to remain calm and focusedI dont want
my team to lose points because of me!
Together, on Monday morning, we reviewed our work plan for the
simulation exercise aboard the ISS, including each members
responsibilities, the sequence to follow, etc. In the afternoon, we
prepared for the simulation exercise aboard the Soyuz.
Though this day was a statutory holiday in Canada and the United
States, just a glance at the state of my room would tell you that it
was definitely not a work-free day for me! As usual on Monday
evenings, I had lots to do, which I handled as quickly as possible
since I needed to go over all my course material and mentally prepare
myself. The key is to remain focused throughout the next two days.
* * *
POST 65 | DAY 165 - September 08, 2009
SIMULATION IN THE ISS
Before I describe my day, let me briefly explain to you the procedure
that precedes a simulation exercise. First, we report back to the
members of the commission in the big room where the simulator is
located. (Today, there were a lot of people.) First, we salute our
instructors, then the hank-ranking officials (called the Big Bananas
by the people here!). According to protocol, the three of us must
remain standing, facing a table on which lay our flag and several
envelopes. One of the crew members must choose an envelope, which all
three of us sign and then hand back to one of the officials. This
envelope contains a surprise exam that is added to our work plan, to
test how well we do when faced with an unusual situation. Lets just
hope we wont be ejected from the building one day!
Today, our simulation exercise in the ISS started out slowly but
surely. We dealt with a few communication problems, some of our
equipment broke down and we had to extinguish a fire (no less!). All
we needed to top it all off was a battle with Darth Vader!
Usually, when we have simulation days such as this one, we get
together afterwards for lunch with the backup team, and we use this
time to continue our preparations for the afternoon. At lunchtime
today, though, the backup team didnt show upwe found out they hadnt
finished their simulation exercise in the Soyuz. Needless to say, we
were quite puzzled!
And so, to get back to the procedure, the officials watch us all day
and, at the end, they give us their comments. This is sometimes
followed by some debating, since were allowed to explain the reasons
behind our decisions. Today, we were given a perfect mark: 5 out of 5!
Once this was over, we went to see what was going on with the backup
team, who were in the Soyuz while we were in the ISS. They were in the
process of receiving their marks. This was interesting for us since
they made a few mistakes that would certainly be useful for us the
next day
In the evening, I had interviews, meetings and videos to prepare for
the mission log. I still had a good nights sleep and was feeling well
rested the next morning.
* * *
POST 66 | DAY 166 - September 09, 2009
SIMULATION IN THE SOYUZ
On Wednesday, the simulations continued and we followed the same
protocol here as for the ISS simulation: we put our spacesuits on,
stood facing the table, picked an envelope and off we went for another
simulationin very good spirits. I had less tasks to carry out this
time since the exercises were intended more for the commanding officer
and the engineer. Once again, we received a perfect mark: 5 out of 5.
We were proud as peacocks!
Following tradition, the two crews (us and the backups) invited the
officials for drinks and hors doeuvres once the two simulations were
over. We raised our vodka-filled glasses to this and to that
and it
didnt take long before we were all hugging, congratulating and
thanking each other, paying compliments and offering words of support.
It also didnt take long for the clown in me to be slightly tipsy!
What followed afterwards was probably the most dangerous part of my
training: pedaling my way back to my apartment, safe and sound!
Keeping my balance was quite a challenge, as was avoiding all the
obstacles on my path that the vodka had conveniently erased from my
mind: holes in the road, wildand truly terrorizingdogs
and I forgot
all the rest!
When I finally made it to my apartment, I succeeded in calling my love
via Skype (I dont think I was extremely coherent) and then plopped
onto my bed fully dressed! At least I wasnt aware of being attacked
by mosquitoes that night. But maybe I killed them all with my new
extra-strength vaporizer: my vodka-laced breath!
* * *
POST 67 | DAY 167 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
BEGINNING OF OFFICIAL CEREMONIES
On Thursday, September 10, my mind and body were able to function
normally once again after a good shower. Today was another formal day,
starting with a meeting with the high-ranking officials in Star City.
Today (and I know youll have a good laugh at this one), is also the
beginning of a series of important official ceremonies where Ill be
required to wear a tie! I congratulated myself for having snatched a
few during my last weekends in Moscow and was relieved to find a black
one that perfectly matched my black jacket. :) However, I needed the
kind help of a tie-knot expertMarsel to be specific!
Once the briefing with the high-ranking officials was over, we headed
over to the White Hall for the projection of a slide show displaying
all the training weve followed.
Then, we went back to the office where the doctor gave us certain
instructions and handed us an anti-virus kit that included hand soap
and alcoholno, not vodkawipes, since we will be put in semi-
quarantine as of tomorrow. Without cutting ourselves off from others,
we will have to avoid crowds, not shake hands with someone who seems
ill and disinfect our hands often. So, if one of us refuses to shake
your hand, this may be a sign that you should see a doctor!
The doctors visit was followed by the press conference where, once
again, I was asked a lot of questions.
We then went on to the Star City museum, in Gagarins old office, for
another tradition that involves signing the book that contains all the
signatures of astronauts, and adding a personal message. I wrote a
line that means everything to me: Today, I feel like the Little
Prince.
Afterwards, we all went to Moscow to visit the Red Square. The visit
started in a very touching fashion: we laid flowers on the grave of
certain cosmonauts, including Gagarins.
We also did a private visit of the Red Square buildings. This was very
pleasant, since the wives, the children and the guides were with us. I
was the only one without his family, so needless to say, I missed them
even more.
The visit over, my teammates were officially on a 5-day vacation. As
for me, Ill have to wait till Christmas unfortunately. :( I spent a
part of the evening in interviews with the Russian press to talk about
the Poetic Social Mission as well as the Varekai show that starts in
Moscow next October 23.
I wanted to make the most of my time in Moscow, so I invited my
coordinator, Geneviève, my film crew, and one of the Cirque du Soleil
partners in Russia, Craig Cohon, to the Nobu restaurant to celebrate
this last step in the examination process. I was pleased to have them
taste new types of sushi (though Geneviève, of course, insisted on
having maki!) and some good bottles of sake. We were so drowsy on our
way back to Star City that I think our snores were powerful enough to
push the minibus forward!
That night, I had the weirdest dreams since I started training, and I
tossed and turned so much that I hardly slept. Luckily, I didnt dream
about dying of suffocation under a sumo wrestler! The fact that Im
about to start another chapter of this adventure probably explains why
Im so restless.
* * *
POST 68 | DAY 168 - SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
SURVIVAL COURSE
I woke up a bit confused on Friday, dragging my feet after an almost
sleepless night. My training that day was difficult: it was our
survival course and practice that would teach us emergency techniques
should the Soyuz land in water or in the mountains or catch fire
The toughest practice was in the afternoon, after the simulation
exercise in water. This was the first time we were testing the Soyuz
in a sort of real-life situation, i.e., with all our luggage around us
and the doors closed. Noting the little space available gave me a
little shockand the fact that we had quite an imposing trainer in
between us added to this claustrophobic feeling!
So for 2 hours, the exercise involved removing our spacesuit, and
putting on a jumpsuit, then another one (a winter one, this time), a
waterproof suit, then our life buoy. And there you have it! What you
should also know is that we had to change in a space about the size of
one person. I think I lost 2 kilos during this exercise!
All this took place with the rescue team (the first members to arrive
on the scene after a landing), in an old warehouse where older Soyuz
spacecraft and flags of the Soviet Union are stored.
After this experience, I enjoyed a wonderful 2-hour swim in cool,
soothing water. A sheer delight! And, just to stay on the topic of
water, my day ended with a ONE DROP board meeting.
* * *
POST 69 | DAY 170 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2009
I AM READY!
I almost (and I do say ALMOST) had a weekend off, but no! The only
moment of relaxation consisted of a massage on Saturday, September 12.
After this 90-minute break, I went over the last details of our show
Poetic Social Mission: Moving Stars and Earth for Water with my
creative director, Fernand Rainville, and the executive producer,
Martin Dignard.
Whats great is that new artists have confirmed and I find it really
encouraging to have such strong support. For certain cities, the show
is really well organized and for others, we see that theres still a
lot to do. Luckily for me, I dont have any hair left on my head to
tear out! But its all part of the challenge and we knew what to
expect, so well deal with it!
On Sunday, we had a little brunch in the American cottage: a good
breakfast and Bloody Marys! The atmosphere was very relaxed and
friendly, but I had to leave early because I had a work session in the
afternoon to film the backup sequences for our show.
The work session finished right on time: I was able to listen to the
Italian Grand Prix and talk via Skype to my oldest son, who was
celebrating his birthday. I then listened to a few films and went to
bed for a nice long sleep.
The week went by so fast. Im eager to leave for Baikonur now and to
start preparing myself mentally for the launch. I cant wait to live
these last moments of preparation. I really am ready!
* * *
POST 70 | DAY 171 - SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
IN THE WATER
So here we are finally! Only a few days before our departure for
Baikonur!
On Monday, September 14, Barbara and I had our last course (actually,
the second part of last Fridays course). It consisted in helicopter
rescue operation simulations in the Hydrolab. The training facilities
here are similar to those we saw in Houston.
First of all, we underwent a brief medical examination (blood
pressure, heart rate and so on) followed by a short theoretical
preparation. The three simulations consisted in a ground exercise with
our survival suits on, then a helicopter rescue exercise wearing our
spacesuits and, to finish, a rescue-at-sea exercise during which we
had to wear our water suits over 3 layers of clothing. Everything went
smoothly and we were even able to have a few laughs!
As I was leaving the Hydrolab, I bumped into a group of Quebecers
whose visit of Russia included a stop in Star City. We talked a bit
and took a group picture. It was a really pleasant encounter.
This was followed by an interview with Radio-Canada, a 2-km swim and,
to top it all off, a Cirque du Soleil board meeting. Of course, I also
had to continue packing my bags!
* * *
POST 71 | DAY 172 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2009
OFFICIAL VISIT
Tuesday, September 15, was another protocol and tie day, since it
was our official visit with Mr. Anatoly Perminov, head of Roscosmos,
the Russian Federal Space Agency. The main and backup crews were both
present.
While we were waiting for Maxim and Sasha (the other commander), who
were on their way back from a weekend in the country, we thought of
escaping to McDonalds but our doctors wouldnt let us! To think that
this is the first time I feel like eating junk food since I arrived
here and its forbidden! We ended up in the Roscosmos canteen, which
was just as well.
Our afternoon at Roscosmos was very pleasant, filled with good
discussions, pictures, congratulations, gifts, etc.
That evening, I took part in a Noyau créatif(creative nucleus) of
Cirque du Soleil held in Montréal, then made a few phone calls since
my objective was to settle all work-related issues during the next two
days. This was a last call of sorts since I wouldnt be speaking to
my team until possibly a week after my return to earth. Im well
prepared in terms of physical, theoretical and technical training.
Its now time for me to prepare myself mentally. Everyone here tells
me to rest well, so I followed their advice that night and had a good
nights sleep!
* * *
POST 72 | DAY 173 - SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
LAST DAY IN STAR CITY
On Wednesday, September 16, we had a brief medical follow-up in the
morning then met the medical heads to review the medical procedures
with them.
That afternoon was another busy one for me: shooting of special images
with my film crew, a final training on the various camera equipment
with Marsel (also a professional photographer) from Space Adventures
and with Alain, one of my cameramen, a long meeting with Fernand
Rainville and many personal calls. Since I had been told that the pool
in Baikonur wouldnt be available, I also took this time to swim a few
laps.
I finished the day with a teleconference meeting at 9:30 p.m. with
Frank Devine (he was in the ISS, I was in one of the Star City
buildings) to explain to him the segments that would involve his
participation during the October 9th event.
My bags were all packed and I was ready for the big trip! I was filled
with all sorts of emotions, ranging from relief to excitement.
# # #
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next month well continue with Departure for Baikonur (September
2009, Pt 2), Moving Stars and Earth for Water (On Orbit), and
finishing up with Back on Earth Mission Success!
Stay tuned!
------------------------------------------------------------
"TORUK-The First Flight Premieres in Montreal"
Special Reprint By: Brendan Kelly, Montreal Gazette
------------------------------------------------------------
What follows is a series of articles written by Brendan Kelly (save
one, the last), which were published in the Montreal Gazette in
celebration of TORUK-The First Flights premiere there.
THREE VIEWS OF LIFE ON PANDORA
------------------------------
Gabriel Christo, who plays the Navi character Ralu: This has much
more of a storyline (compared to other Cirque shows), and being a
lead, Im on stage 95 per cent of the time, and that requires a lot of
awareness. It also requires a lot of cardio. Its also a big amount of
responsibility. Were speaking Navi, and the more we learn, the more
were going to add into the show. We know there are Avatar fans coming
to the show that know Navi, so we cant just make up words. We have
to really know it. Navi is my fourth language. I speak Portuguese,
Spanish, English and a little bit of Navi. I learned all these
languages with Cirque because we travel everywhere.
One of the challenges for Patrick Martel (left, with Viperwolf and set
designer Carl Fillion) is that a Toruk puppet is not a 3D image. Its
a real object.
Patrick Martel, puppet designer: The challenge when youre creating
something that was seen in the film Avatar is that the audience has
seen these creatures before and theyll recognize them, and they have
to feel the same pleasure they had when they saw them in the film. The
other challenge is its not a 3D image. Its a real object. The
challenge for the new creatures who were not in the film is to make
sure the puppets fit in the Avatar universe.
Costume designer Kym Barrett had to keep in mind she was creating for
Navi characters, who are much taller and slimmer. Kym Barrett,
costume designer: The idea of trying to create those kinds of colours
on stage was a challenge, and also to create for Navi, who are much
taller and slimmer. So that was the technical challenge. Were not
recreating the movie. Were creating the world of the past, the
archeological beginnings of the movie. So that gave us a little more
freedom.
TORUK-AT A GLANCE
-----------------
The latest Cirque du Soleil show, Toruk The First Flight, inspired
by Canadian director James Camerons 2009 blockbuster film Avatar, has
its official world première Monday at the Bell Centre, though it was
road-tested for several weeks in smaller markets in Louisiana,
Virginia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. It will then tour arenas
across the continent until at least September, with runs scheduled in
26 other cities.
But if Toruk writer-directors Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon are
feeling the pressure, theyre certainly doing a good job of hiding it.
We were sitting recently in a lounge at the Cirques massive world
headquarters in St-Michel, and the two seasoned Montreal multimedia
creators looked mighty relaxed, talking about the lengthy creative
process behind this ambitious reboot of the most successful movie ever
made a strange tale of human-like creatures on a moon named Pandora,
far from Earth.
This is a huge deal for the Cirque. It is the companys first major
production since founder and chief shareholder Guy Laliberté sold his
controlling interest in the Montreal-based circus to a U.S. private
equity firm and a Shanghai-based company this year. And it comes after
a bumpy couple of years for the Cirque the show Zaia closed in
Macau, China in 2012, and then Viva Elvis bit the dust, becoming the
Cirques only failure in Las Vegas. There were also 400 layoffs in
2013, most of them at the Montreal headquarters.
Some producers might favour the tried-and-true given all this
pressure, but not Cirque du Soleil. Toruk messes with the classic
Cirque formula big-time. I saw a 30-minute excerpt in Bossier City,
La., in late October, and this is not your fathers Cirque.
In the past, the companys shows have had thin poetic storylines, and
the focus has always been on the show-stopping acrobatic acts. But not
here. Toruk has a relatively straight narrative by Cirque standards,
and it even has a narrator, who will speak on stage in English (and
also in French in Montreal). Thats a first for the circus. Another
first is that several performers will have microphones and will be
speaking in the Navi language that was invented for the film.
Its a high-wire act (pun intended). On one hand, its very different
from the usual Cirque fare; on the other hand, its not at all a stage
recreation of Avatar.
Its a challenge and its a risk, said Lemieux.
But we have to take risks or we just end up repeating the same recipe
from one show to the other, added Pilon. The Cirque has the audacity
to try something different and to bring something theatrical to this
show. But its a hybrid, between the circus, cinema and theatre.
Lemieux underlines that, yes, there is more of a story than in most
Cirque shows and, yes, there is narration for the first time, but its
only four or five pages of text in the whole show, he notes. So Toruk
is not a play.
The story takes place 3,000 years before the film Lalibertés idea
and so there are no humans, no Jake Sully. The main characters are
three Navi teens Ralu, Entu and Tsyal who are on a mission to
find Toruk, a giant red and orange predator who rules the skies over
Pandora.
Another innovation is the use of life-sized puppets that depict
creatures from Avatar including Viperwolves and Direhorses and
some other creatures invented by the Cirque team.
The Cirque always comes to us when they want to renew themselves,
said Lemieux.
Lemieux and Pilon have worked on several Cirque productions, notably
Delirium, Midnight Sun and Michael Jackson ONE.
Delirium was their first arena show and the Cirque wanted to do
something different, said Lemieux. It had techno music and had a
different esthetic look. And they also wanted to do something
different with Toruk.
We want to spark peoples imaginations. Thats our job. We have to
communicate our enthusiasm for the show to our performers, and their
job is to communicate that enthusiasm to the public. That enthusiasm
is for beauty, for nature, for humanity. Thats what the Cirque
celebrates. I rediscovered that when we presented Toruk in the U.S.
You look at the audience they watch violent films and TV shows, and
all of a sudden theyre in front of something that demands
imagination. Theres something European about it.
Of course, Toruk has that arty Euro flavour thats been the Cirques
bread and butter since the troupe began wowing audiences in the mid-
80s. But its also based on a big Hollywood movie.
The challenge is to respect the work of James Cameron, said Pilon.
The challenge is to create something in an arena. Thats a big
constraint. Every arena is different. And its big. So we have to
create something intimate and spectacular in a gigantic space.Whats
unusual is theres a story, a narrator, and were not in a theatre.
Were not at Place des Arts. We have intimate moments and its in an
arena, a place where you go to see hockey games or big rock shows. So
were giving them something they dont normally get in arenas.
A Q&A WITH MICHEL LEMIEUX AND VICTOR PILON
------------------------------------------
Michel Lemieux: There are moments of theatre. But its not theatre.
Its more of a fable, a tale, than it is a play. There are four or
five pages of text in 100 minutes. There are one or two phrases here
and there. I sat in the audience (during the previews in the U.S.) and
I saw people watching the Storyteller even when he wasnt talking. He
tells the story sometimes without words, with gestures. And theres a
warmth in his voice. Its almost like your grandfather telling you a
story.
MG: What is it in Avatar that made you think, OK, I can make a show
out of this?
Victor Pilon: Its the whole idea that were all connected. That we
have to respect each other, that we have to respect nature. If you
destroy nature, youll destroy yourself.
ML: Theres a political aspect, too. The idea that we have to all
unite. That we have different cultures, but we have to come together
to find solutions to save the planet.
MG: How do you guys situate Toruk in your own work, given that you
have been creating multimedia shows for years?
ML: For us, it always has to be un coup de coeur. If were going to
spend a couple of years of our lives working on something, we dont
want to just do it for the gig. Whether its something we initiate
ourselves or if a producer asks us to do a project, we dont want to
just do it for money. Thats really sad. We do it because the show has
values in it that are important. We both have houses in the country
and were really into nature and we think we have to take care of it.
Its fragile. So we have to talk about that. We had a coup de coeur
for this. We had one for Shakespeares The Tempest (the basis for
their show of the same name), for Norman McLaren (the filmmaker who
inspired their show Norman).
VP: For me, theres no difference between doing a show for the
Cinquième Salle of Place des Arts on Norman McLaren and doing a Cirque
show. Were aware the venues are different, that the audiences are
different. But the work we did with Norman nourishes our work with the
Cirque.
ML: Filmmakers make films that are often quite different from film to
film.
MG: But there are some filmmakers who make films that have much in
common.
VP: When we did the retrospective of our work at the (Montreal) Museum
of Fine Arts last year
ML: We saw videos of our shows from the past 30 years. And my fear was
that there would be no link between them. But I watched the videos and
I saw an evolution. You see the same themes, the same colours, the
same esthetic, in a little show, in a Cirque du Soleil show, in a show
on the street for 200,000 people. And people who know us will see our
signature in Toruk.
MG: What is that signature?
ML: Its an integration of different media. Were purists of
multidisciplinary art. There are people that do theatre and add a
little video. There are people who do dance who add a little theatre.
Us, we put all of these things on the same level and then we integrate
them.
MG: You have that in common with the Cirque. They mix up art forms
too. Theyre not really a circus they produce shows with a bit of
the circus, with dance, with music.
VP: Its really about what we have to say and how were going to move
the audience.
CAMERON SAYS AVATAR AND CIRQUE ARE A NATURAL FIT
------------------------------------------------
For James Cameron, the creation of a Cirque du Soleil show inspired by
his film Avatar is a natural. In fact, he feels Toruk The First
Flight, which has its world première Monday night at the Bell Centre,
is a natural part of the ongoing creative process in the Avatar
franchise.
The Canadian filmmaker is deep into work on three sequels to the 2009
blockbuster set on the faraway moon Pandora, and he says its even
possible that Toruk will have some artistic influence on the upcoming
movies.
I think there are some nice ideas that were developed by the artists
on Toruk, Cameron said in an interview at a downtown hotel Monday
morning. I tell my artists, Hey, make sure were not ignoring what
theyve done. Why wouldnt it be a creative feedback loop? They fed
on our designs. There are a few things I liked in the costume design.
So its nice for me to see how other people interpret the Navi world
and the world of Pandora.
The first Avatar sequel is scheduled to hit theatres at Christmas
2017, with the following films opening in 2018 and 2019. All three
will be shot simultaneously.
Christmas of 17 is the target, Cameron confirmed. At least, thats
what weve announced. But I dont consider that to be as important as
the fact that when we get all three films done, we drop them a year
apart. I call it a meta-narrative that runs across the three movies.
Each film stands alone, but it also tells one much larger story.
We have design more or less finished, which is an enormous task. Its
been about a two-year task. (Weve finished) all the creatures and the
landscapes, and the new worlds within the world of Pandora that you
see. The writing is ongoing, but almost finished. Technical
development is done. Stages are done. Infrastructure. So were really
poised to start after the first of the year.
The links between Cirque du Soleil and Avatar actually stretch back to
before the first movie was completed. While working on Avatar, Cameron
invited Cirque CEO Daniel Lamarre to come down and visit him and his
colleagues. Cameron told Lamarre how he had been influenced by the
Cirque while developing the Navi characters for the film. They even
hired a former Cirque performer to advise the actors on how to move
with the grace of the troupes artists.
Its a closing loop now, said Cameron. I was inspired by the Cirque
du Soleil shows, with their celebration of human physicality, with
their made-up culture, their made-up languages, that sense of a
wondrous transport to a different world. It was very much in my mind
when I was creating Avatar.
I got to know the Cirque guys when I was finishing the film and we
started talking about other projects, which led to making a 3D film
together, called Worlds Away. Then they came to me and said, We want
to adapt Avatar to a show. They werent sure at that time if it was
an arena show or a tent show. And I said, This is perfect. We
absolutely should work together. So now theyve closed the loop.
Toruk is written and directed by seasoned Montreal multimedia creators
Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, and the Cirque team came up with the
novel idea of setting the show 3,000 years before the events of the
film. So humans have not yet arrived on Pandora. Instead, the show
tells the story of the giant predator Toruk, who rules the skies of
Pandora, and three Navi teens who set out to save the moon.
(Cirque founder) Guy Laliberté is very clear, he said. He says, I
dont like Hollywood. I dont like how they think. I dont like those
guys. But I like you guys, and I like what you created with that
movie.
For me, it was a no-brainer. Id already worked with them on Worlds
Away, and Ive always loved what they do. I learned to appreciate
their creative culture, which is very much not the way Hollywood
works, and I actually think we in the Hollywood community could learn
an awful lot from how the Cirque operates, in the way it celebrates
the artist and gives them free rein.
For them, it was a huge leap of faith. Theyre doing something very
experimental and very risky which is, theyre applying narrative to
something that before was very free-form and kind of surreal and
whimsical at times. Now they were applying the rigour of actually
telling a story, and that meant instead of having a series of
specialist vignettes, they now had to create a troupe of
actor/performers. Theyd never done that before, and so not only did
they need to be good acrobats, they had to act, do dialogue, do
scenes. Theres a narrative storyteller. This is all new stuff for
them.
So theyre starting to play by the rules of the stage show, like a
play, and yet they still had to hold on to what was definitively
Cirque in the minds of their fans.
# # #
Dive into TORUK The First Flight by Cirque du Soleil, a live
multimedia immersive spectacle that brings to the stage the
breathtaking world of James Camerons AVATAR. Hear Cameron talk
about how AVATAR and Cirque both celebrate the beauty of physical
prowess. Listen to show writers and directors / multimedia directors,
Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon and playwright Olivier Kemeid explain
the mythical tale they imagined about three youngsters who set out to
save the Tree of Souls after a volcanic eruption, and about the first
Navi to ever ride the great predator that rules the Pandoran sky.
VIDEO /// < https://youtu.be/H416arSJBw8 >
MONTREAL GAZETTE'S REVIEW
-------------------------
The Cirque du Soleils new touring arena show Toruk The First
Flight, which had its world premiere Monday night at the Bell Centre,
is chock full of stunning visuals, stirring choreography and maybe the
most eye-popping set ever seen at the Habs rink. There are many
pleasure to be had.
The story, sadly, is not quite as captivating. It is inspired by
Canadian filmmaker James Camerons blockbuster hit Avatar and like
that movie, it is set on the faraway moon named Pandora. But its a
prequel, taking place some 3,000 years before the action portrayed in
the film.
As promised, this is indeed the most narrative show the absurdly
popular Montreal circus has ever delivered. For the first time ever,
the Cirque has a narrator on stage and The Storyteller, played by
Montreal actor Sébastien Dodge, delivers a recap of the action every
few minutes. In fact, the use of a real language is also a first for
the Cirque. Dodge speaks in French for the Montreal run, though there
are two shows with English narration (Dec. 23 and Dec. 28). Toruk
heads out on a tour across North America after the Bell Centre run and
naturally the narration for the other dates, other than in Quebec
City, will be in the language of Shakespeare.
While were on the subject of the Bard, lets just say that the
writing here is a notch or two below Shakespeares wordplay. I know, I
know, its unfair to compare most anyone to the worlds most famous
playwright but the fact is that the writing here just quite literally
brings the Cirque back down to Earth.
Until now, the Cirque shows always had the loosest most threadbare of
stories and we never cared because we were having so much fun soaking
up the dazzling acrobatic acts and the Cirques innovative oh-so-
Québécois blend of avant-garde theatre, modern dance and bopping
world-music.
There is little of that classic Cirque fare in Toruk. Yes theres
dance and music, much of it quite beautiful, but dont go expecting
the kind of show-stopping high-wire acts that have been the outfits
calling card since the very beginning.
Now the story is front-and-centre, written by co-directors Michel
Lemieux and Victor Pilon, with the help of playwright Olivier Kemeid.
And how do I put this politely? Well lets just say it doesnt bear
careful scrutiny.
At the start, theres a giant volcanic eruption on Pandora and it
looks like the sacred Tree of Souls is to be destroyed. Thats when
two Navi teens, Ralu (Gabriel Christo) and Entu (Guillaume Paquin),
best buds since childhood, decide they will be heroes and go seek out
the Toruk, a giant predator of the skies, to save Pandora. Along the
way they will hook up with a young woman Tsyal (Giulia Piolanti) who
is initially reluctant to join the trek but eventually returns in a
canoe to pick them up and continue on towards Toruk.
There is also much dialogue between the three of them in Navi, the
language made up for the film, and the performers have microphones,
also novel for the Cirque.
The show kicks off in high style with a highly-charged sequence
powered by the energetic percussion work of Daudet Fabrice Grazai but
its really in the second act that you begin to fully appreciate the
handiwork of Lemieux and Pilon who have crafted an astonishing multi-
media spectacle using 40 video projectors that showcase the visuals on
a 20,000-square-foot surface. Theres a tremendous moment when visuals
of waves wash through the crowd and then crash on to the set.
And those same projectors create one stunning visual tableau after
one, in effect producing a new decor for each scene. Lemieux and Pilon
have spent the past couple of decades dreaming up wonderful shows that
mix every media imaginable, some with the Cirque, many in other
settings, and so its no surprise that the real force of the show is
that heady blend of visual flair and poetic stage smarts thats always
been their trademark.
Set designer Carl Fillion has done a magnificent job of re-creating
Pandora with a set that takes up almost the entire ice surface,
anchored by the giant Omaticaya Home Tree and a rock island jutting up
from the ground. Then there are Patrick Martels giant puppets, these
strange surreal creatures operated by puppeteers usually in full view,
or in the case of the Direhorses, with two guys inside the horse
puppet, with their legs standing in for the horses legs. I couldnt
help thinking it was a little like that genius moment in Monty Python
and The Holy Grail when the guys are pretending to be horses and
making the horse-clopping sound by banging together coconuts.
Theres also a bunch of kite sequences that are like nothing youve
ever seen before. You just dont normally think of choreographing the
motion of kites and it somehow works. In other words, kudos to
choreographers Tuan Le and Tan Loc.
And hats off to Lemieux and Pilon for creating this visual feast. No
one does awesome sound-and-light show like these Montreal hipsters.
But where was the story editor? Where was the voice of reason to step
in and tell the Cirque creative team hang on a second, this text
simply isnt strong enough to use as the foundation of a two-hour show
and, more to the point, much of it doesnt even really make sense.
Like what is it with the sacred objects the three teens are searching
for? If you know what thats all about, let me know.
GLOBE AND MAIL: 2 OUT OF 4 STARS
--------------------------------
When Cirque du Soleil was new, there was novelty in a circus that
focused entirely on the human body, with no animals to tame or do
tricks with. In that sense, its a surprise to find that the dominant
figures in the newest Cirque offering are giant animal puppets.
Toruk The First Flight spins off from Avatar, the 2009 blockbuster
film set on a remote tropical moon crowded with flying dragons,
viperwolves and hammer-headed dinosaurs. The show, which opened in
Montreals Centre Bell on Monday, is a troubling redface spectacle in
which the human performers spend much time handling puppets, not so
much doing the kind of acrobatic feats for which Cirque became known.
Avatar told the story of blue indigenous humanoids under siege by
rapacious humans, and of a white disabled ex-Marine who achieves the
Grey Owl-ish fantasy of becoming more native than the natives. Toruk
is set before the invaders arrive, and the Navi people are threatened
this time with destruction by natural forces.
The show has the narrative structure of an adventure video game, in
which two Navi warriors must collect five sacred objects to save
their people. Along the way, they encounter a menagerie of beasts from
Avatar, including flying banshees, six-legged horses and Toruk, the
biggest flying predator in the sky.
The real stars of Toruk are the designers: Patrick Martel (puppets),
Carl Fillion (set and props) and Alain Lortie (lighting). The shows
vast scenic projections make the craggy playing area a constantly
changing world of wonders, culminating in a virtual flood that sweeps
across the stage from projected waterfalls.
The human participants, who are supposed to be three metres high,
often look puny in this milieu. Those who arent manipulating savage
dogs or giant flowers mostly scamper about and do decorative flips and
leaps, occasionally climbing up something to spin or somersault onto a
mat. Its pretty small beer by Cirque standards, though the tableau at
any given moment looks like the best National Geographic photo feature
that you will never see.
Even the protagonists have little to do once the quest gets rolling,
other than to mime fear or astonishment as the next big puppet floats
in. The heroes become part of the audience, like Marie and the
Nutcracker watching the pageant of dances in the second half of The
Nutcracker.
Theres no dramatic tension, because we know the lads will win
somehow, and because the puppets and a ponderous narrator impose a
stately rhythm on the show. Toruk is made for Avatar fans who want to
see its world recreated in an arena, and who may be content to see how
inventive writer-directors Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon can be
about ticking off specimens from the films flora and fauna.
As a fantasy about indigenous people, however, Toruk is obnoxious to a
degree that Avatar wasnt. The Navi in the film were facing naked
colonial violence, and an explicit threat of cultural genocide. You
could see the movie as an environmental parable about the kinds of
colonial relationships still active in many parts of the world,
including Canada. But there are no white people in Toruk, and in their
absence, the whole elaborate spectacle descends into redface.
This kind of redface doesnt recycle negative stereotypes of native
people, only the noble ones. Toruk presents a fabricated indigenous
society of a kind that many white people would like to see in the
world. It leaves out everything that may seem alien or threatening
about real indigenous people.
The imaginary Indian, to borrow a term from historian Daniel Francis,
has a long history in Canada, but as our new Prime Minister says, this
is 2015.
Anyone who has any inkling about whats in the recently issued Report
of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will have a hard time
accepting Toruk as a benign entertainment. Its also propaganda, for a
continued state of willed oblivion about real indigenous societies.
SOURCES: http://goo.gl/GXux0T, http://goo.gl/6wMnXg,
http://goo.gl/HoFppH, http://goo.gl/AM2BKq, http://goo.gl/TtnW17 }
------------------------------------------------------------
FANS REVIEW CIRQUE DU SOLEIL:
CREACTIVE at PUNTA CANA by The Trickster
LA NOUBA w/B-BOYS - by MungoJerrie
AMALUNA in PARIS - by Aidan Lam
------------------------------------------------------------
CREACTIVE at PUNTA CANA
by: The Trickster
Hey folks, I've just returned from a stay at Club Med Punta Cana,
where I of course attended Creactive every day. In a nutshell I
thought it was a lot of fun and I tried lots of activities that I've
seen in shows. The staff (aka. GCs) are really professional and nice.
It was a short stay but here are some activities I got to try:
Flying Trapeze: The usual at Club Med. You don't actually do any
catching unless you prove to be really talented.
Trampoline: I have a trampoline in my garden, but I've always wanted
to experience the circus trampolines. And it was amazing. You barely
need to push on your legs and you're already flying up high. The staff
really teach you basic techniques to get it right.
Aerial Silks: This was quick but I wanted to see what it felt like. So
I climbed it and the GC taught me the footlock and some poses using
that footlock. I knew it was a stretchy fabric but it was even
stretchier in real, and it hurts much less then Spanish Webs.
Vertical Wall: This was totally inspired from KA, and TORUK seems to
have one too. Except here at Creactive it's not a hard wall, it's a
massive stretched net, like a massive vertical trampoline. They teach
you basic tricks like bouncing off it and then doing side flips. They
also teach you how to run sideways on the wall, which is quite hard as
you're not allowed to push or else you bounce and flip and it's just a
mess. And I heard it was hard; so true! You don't feel it right after,
but your abs hurt for the next day or two. It's also really hard to
keep your balance on this wall.
Acro Bungee: This was probably my favorite activity. First the GCs
teach you the basics of how to do a front flip and a back flip. And
it's much more complex than just kicking your legs. They then hoist
you up pretty high, and then you gotta do the pulling on the bungee to
bounce. And at first, before doing your first flip, you get really
scared because you're really high up, but once you flip, you realize
it's actually not that hard and that you just need to have arm
strength and concentration. I ended up doing double back and front
flips. This is the activity where I really felt like I was on stage;
so cool. Doing flips on the bungee was really fun.
Juggling: Now I did this because it wasn't my age groups turn to do
the big activities yet, so I decided to learn how to juggle 3 balls.
The GC is really talented. He makes you do a bunch of drills to ensure
you work on coordination. And I actually managed to juggle for a few
seconds!
SHOW: On every Sunday night, they have a Creactive show. It's a basic
storyline of a hotel guest that wants to try the activities. And the
GCs showcase all the activities with Cirque music. The flying Trapeze
guys were real good! They all were good. They're all probably in the
database.
Now there were some activities that I didn't try or that weren't
available on the days I was there. i.e. Aerial Hoop, German Wheel. All
the non-acrobatic activities I didn't do. (Face painting, Mask Making,
dancing). The also do bungee games for small children.
One thing that I didn't like was that apart from Saturdays, you only
had an hour at Creactive, as it was separated by age groups. But apart
from that it was really amazing and if any of you are planning to go
to Punta Cana, try out the Club Med! The Creactive space is really
nice.
FUN FACT: The acrobatic master of Creactive was an artist at Cirque
for 16 years. Flying Trapeze at Mystere and then La Nouba. He is the
only artist at Cirque that has caught a quadruple flip on trapeze.
It's great to see they put experienced people in their projects.
Basically every day, the mornings are one hour for young children, one
hour for young adults/teens. Then in the afternoon there's 2 hours
available for 18+.
Saturdays is family day for 2-3 hours in the morning, and afternoon is
the usual 2 hours for 18+.
So there's no sign up needed. You go, see what activities they offer
on that day (Flying Trapeze is every day) and you go to what you want
to do. The trapeze always has a little line, but the setup is big
meaning sometimes they run two trapezes at a time. For the other
activities, there was sometimes no one as I was first, or there was 2-
3 people. Then this depends on how full the resort is because the week
I went, half of it was closed for renovation. Also, from what I saw,
if you're waiting in line and the hour for your age group has passed,
they will try and fit you in, a.k.a dig into their break times,
they're really nice.
You can do as many activities as you want! One day I did: Juggling,
Trampoline, and Aerial Silks. But the activities won't last 30 min.
For most, it depends on how tired you get and how many people are
waiting. And remember, you get tired quite quickly because it's hot
and humid outside. But once I did see a girl do aerial hoop for a good
20 min, there was no one waiting and she was quite good, so the GC was
showing her a bunch of different poses. And if there's an activity you
want to try and you don't like it, it's fine, you can just do it for 1
minute and then leave.
Honestly I'm not sure about the non-acrobatic activities, but I know
that on the schedule, they usually have one a day. For the age groups
however, I'm not sure, don't want to promise you anything.
# # #
LA NOUBA
December 12, 2015
By MungoJerrie
To celebrate successfully completing my first semester of grad school,
I decided to pop over and see La Nouba on Saturday evening. This was
my first Cirque show, back in July 2010, and since I have seen it four
times. Its by far my favorite show. I love the music, the immense
amount of characters, the theme (which seemed appropriate), and the
show has always been represented by unique acts. As we all know, La
Nouba is undergoing some drastic changes and I had the pleasure of
catching a glimpse of the new B-Boys act, better known as
breakdancing! Like my previous viewing in 2013, everything seems to be
in tip top shape. I especially enjoyed the new clown duo (we recognize
them from Alegria); it was nice to genuinely laugh along. Theres so
much life breathed into the production and even in an era where Cirque
has been chipping away at the smaller details, almost all the
background that takes place during every act remains. I will say,
though, it did feel as if the acts progressed at a much faster pace
than I remember. But the show didnt let out until almost 7:45pm, so
perhaps I imagined it. The show is almost 20 years old and yet, it
doesnt feel stale. I think thats the beauty of why we love Cirque du
Soleil.
Opening/B-Boys: Still remains my favorite opening to any Cirque show,
save for Dralion perhaps. The slow reveal of the attics mysterious
inhabitants is wonderful and pure Dragone era Cirque. The new B-Boys
act officially debuted last night, which was certainly exciting. I
have never seen a break dancing act live before, so I dont really
know how to describe it other than, its break dancing. It reminds me
of a very high paced acro-sport, but thats far from what it actually
looks like. Initially, I was apprehensive of this dance style coming
into the show, but it fits the live it up theme well. It is composed
of three male performers and they owned that stage. I wasnt too fond
of the costumes but an act of this nature requires a looser fitting
garment. The only odd thing? Four male Urbanites ride around the stage
on remote controlled skateboards during the act. Not sure what this
represents, but it did add a new dimension to the number.
High Wire: One the best acts in any Cirque show. Everything from the
act itself to the park like atmosphere created onstage is sublime.
Liama continues to be a standout track and Sellane (sp?) is a
phenomenal vocalist! Very happy I was able to see this before they
remove it. Hopefully, Cirque will reinvent Liama for the new act, much
like they did for B-Boys.
Diablo: Not as exciting as in previous viewings. I believe there is a
new group performing because it wasnt polished. Thats not a
criticism since this is a high octane act that requires tons of
mastery. I think a few more weeks and theyll be in tip top shape.
BMX: Another one of my favorites and one we havent seen replicated in
any other show, to my knowledge. The performer has a new costume which
is dark lime and orange-ish in color, with a pair a black shorts worn
over the outside. No new stunts here.
Aerial Silks: Again, one of my favorite acts in any Cirque show! The
staging is magnificent, A Tale is always amazing live (I almost always
scream when that slow beat drops), and its an all-around sexy act!
Rola-Bola: My very first time seeing this act live and also my very
first time hearing A La Lune! LOVED IT! The performer brought the
house down!! A real nail-biting combination of juggling and balancing,
you can tell the entire cast enjoys this act very much. Le Titan and
the Green Bird support throughout.
Flying Trapeze: Flawless as always!
PowerTrack/Trampoline: Such an energetic way to end the show. It
really encapsulates the live it up theme of La Nouba.
# # #
AMALUNA in PARIS
December 15, 2015
By: Aidan Lam
This is my first show review so bear with me (especially since this
was my first time seeing Amaluna live, having only seen it once on DVD
before)...
So I watched the DVD and in all honesty really disliked it. Amaluna
had the worst clowns, the opening few acts were dull and the music for
some acts weren't suitable BUT having heard about the numerous and
drastic changes to the show, I decided to give it a go and my
instincts paid off. The new changes have completely remodeled the show
for the better and it is amazing!
*Opening: The opening remains consistent with the DVD, and the music,
red cloth and 'dance number' (idk what to call it) is still a wow
factor.
*Hoop Diving: This is the NEW act I was most looking forward to and it
was pretty good! So the lizards come on stage and for most of the
trick used the hula hoops to jump through, which I found disappointing
considering the guy holding the hoop kept moving it last second to
help the jumper... But this was an act they were trained to do as a
secondary thing after Icarian (I'm pretty sure it's the Iris guys).
The new music is much more suitable now and the final two jumps are
done on Dralion style hoops which brought me back to that glorious
show. The last jump itself has 6 hoops ontop of each other, similar to
that of Dralion so I think they brought back that one Dralion artist
into the show to do those two jumps while the rest was done by the
Iris icarians. 8/10
*Aerial Straps: The acts I believe has added the storm goddess as a
fourth artist. The three in blue (as per the DVD) still go around the
periphery of the stage whilst the storm goddess (similarly dressed but
in black) does tricks down the centre. Usually I find aerial acts
boring (especially silks) but this was really interesting, especially
with them flying up to podiums on the lighting columns and flying over
the audience. 9/10
*Clowns: The clowns are now Miranda's nanny (Mainha) who is NEW. They
replaced the clown in the yellow drapes with a slightly plump lady
with a broom, similar to the cleaner in La Nouba. The act centres
around a flirtatious game between her and Romeo's master (Papulya).
These new clowns are better than before because it no longer has the
pregnancy scene (which I found irrelevant and plain weird) but instead
their is LOTS of kissing and Papulya staring at her bum which I still
wasn't a huge show. Seriously, I know there was the Kooza clown
petition which was a bit extreme, but this act was borderline MA 15+
and I didn't laugh once, as I did for other clowns eg Dralion), but it
was much better than the original amaluna clowns. 3/10
*Peacock Dance: This act was fascinating in the way the artist twisted
her body, reminiscent of the 1000 arms and stick dance. It serves as a
short interlude before the next act which I liked because if it went
on for too long I would get tired of it, but it was perfect in its
length and I found the dance as enchanting as Romeo did! 8/10
*Aerial Hoop/Singing: This act never ceases to amaze. The brilliant
voice of Marie Michelle Faber all whilst combined with her graceful
athletics in the air is pretty special. Amaluna will probably struggle
to find someone else capable of all those things in one. Our show
didn't see the moon structure, instead she just came down on the hoop,
which was a little disappointing but if you didn't know the show, it
would seem normal. 8/10
*Waterbowl/handbalancing: Our Miranda was performed by the backup
artist, a Mongolian girl with probably the longest, ad most difficult
to pronounce name so I'll just call her Miranda... She had great
chemistry with the Romeo on stage and really captured the childlike
quality associated with the plot line (which is much less strong in
the new version). Her handbalancing was well executed, but I've seen
it time and time again. This particular one was almost identical to a
shortened Dralion one. I've never seen the Waterbowl live before this
and I don't think much of it even now. There isn't much acrobatics
involved, just diving into the bowl then jumping out again, however I
did like he last part when Miranda is in the tank and Romeo sees her
from outside. It reminds me of the fish tank scene of Romeo and
Julliet in the Luhrman movie and the obvious connotations of their
love story. 6.5/10
*Uneven Bars: I always thought this act was good, but I hated the old
music. Luckily the shows creators did too and have changed it to a
new song (sorry, but I dont know what it's called). The acrobatics
are amazing as always, however the absence of trampoline (as in Totem)
makes the artists much more static, and the close proximity of the
bars doesn't let them do as any jumps, then when they remove the
middle two, the outer ones are too far apart for them to swing from
one to the other as I would've liked but considering there was no
trampoline, it was very good, especially with the new music. 8/10
*Teeterboard: This act was extremely well executed, as per the DVD.
The platform behind it allows the artists to get more height and so do
bigger and better jumps. This reminded me of the Dralion teeterboard
and I love it. This being said, since Dralion is more single jumps, I
preferred that to the long buildups to the jump in Amaluna which
slowed the pace a little. 7.5/10
*Stick Balancing (Manipulation): This is the same as the DVD and boy
was it a hit for me. At times the sticks wobbled a bit too close for
comfort but every time she managed to control it and everything went
smoothly. I was extremely nervous through the majority of the act and
hardly dared to breathe. That being said, the stupid "singer" kept
sighing deeply throughout the song (during the quiet parts she acts as
wind or something, but is so harsh that it sounds like a mini
hurricane) and I was worried it would scare the hell out of the artist
and cause the sticks to fall. Luckily the artist somehow ignored the
singer's "musical interruptions" which was my only criticism of the
act (I'm referring to the singer, not the artists ability to ignore
her just to clarify). 8.5/10
1000 Arms and Sticks: This act was really interesting and I haven't
seen anything like it live before. The only problem is that unless you
are looking from the exact front of it, you don't get to appreciate
the spectacle of one person with many arms. Unfortunately for me where
I was sitting, even though the stage turned, when it was facing me,
nothing was happening on stage for the split second everything was
lined up. Luckily it wasn't a long act and the music suited the dance
number well. 6.5/10
Chinese Pole: This solo artist was very talented, but I found it
lacked the scale and impact from the music Saltimbanco had. If I
hadn't seen Saltimbanco before, I think I would enjoy it more, but I
keep comparing it to the extremely powerful act which was one of my
all-time favs. Still, considering there was only one pole and one
artist, it was brilliantly done. 7.5/10
Juggling: It was Victor Kee. Need I say anymore? His acting is amazing
as Cali and the fluidity of his body is amazing. The juggling itself
was even better than Dralion with more variety than it. I found it all
too short! But that's probably because I love his act! The fire ball
was really good as a final act, but because it only lasts 2 rounds, I
think a more powerful finale could be a 8 or 9 ball juggle as is in
Zarkana... Still, I'm so glad I got to see him before he leaves the
show, next year I believe. 8.5/10
Icarian Games: This final act was nothing short of spectacular! The
Iris style Icarian was really interesting to see live, although I
think the Varekai one is still more interesting when they do the
repeated loops of the man on the guy in the chair (simply because that
trick in Varekai lasts at least double the time). Also I was extremely
disappointed that one of the tricks they did was a guy doing a
backflip from one person'a shoulders down to the lying down catcher.
He missed the landing and fell off the catcher. They simply moved on
and didn't retry the trick which was VERY un-cirque-like and
unacceptable! Other than that however, they were faultless and
extremely good. The audience were very supportive when he fell, but
I've seen numerous videos eg Quidam's banquine or Totem's unicycle
bowls where they redo the trick when they stuff up and I was surprised
they didn't even try to get it right this time. 8.5/10
=======================================================================
COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER
=======================================================================
Fascination! Newsletter
Volume 16, Number 1 (Issue #144) - January 2016
"Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (C)
2001-2016 Ricky Russo, published by Vortex/RGR Productions, a
subsidiary of Communicore Enterprises. No portion of this newsletter
can be reproduced, published in any form or forum, quoted or
translated without the consent of the "Fascination! Newsletter." By
sending us correspondence, you give us permission (unless otherwise
noted) to use the submission as we see fit, without remuneration. All
submissions become the property of the "Fascination! Newsletter."
"Fascination! Newsletter" is not affiliated in any way with Cirque du
Soleil. Cirque du Soleil and all its creations are Copyright (C) and
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{ Jan.05.2016 }
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