Cirque du Soleil

B Y   A N D R E W   J.  W E L S H

THE CIRCUS OF THE SUN CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

2009 marks Cirque du Soleil’s 25th year dedicated to the mission of invoking the imagination, provoking the senses and evoking the emotions of people around the world. With a host of new shows set to open, the continued success of the old standards and Guy Laliberte eager to become Canada’s first space tourist, Cirque du Soleil continues to prove that the sky isn’t the limit? it is only the beginning. As their popularity grew throughout the early 80s, the Stiltwalkers began to nurture a seemingly impossible dream: to create a Québec-based circus and perform across the world.

S T I L T W A L K I N G   B A B Y   S T E P S

Close to 30 years ago in a town just outside Quebec City, a colourful cast of characters took to the streets on stilts dazzling the towns people with music, dancing, juggling and fire breathing. The burgeoning band of buskers were named after the town and known as Les echa-ssiers de Baie-Saint-Paul (the Baie-Saint-Paul Stiltwalkers).

T H E   S P I R I T   O F   J A C Q U E S   C A R T I E R   I S   W A T C H I N G  Y O U

The buskers got their first big break in 1984 as Quebec City celebra-ted the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier’s discovery of Canada and needed a show that could carry the celebration around the province. One of the original Stiltwalkers, a then little known street performer named Guy Laliberté, successfully presented a proposal for the celebration and Cirque du Soleil was born.

 

A   O N E - W A Y   T I C K E T   T O   S U C C E S S

Like any new business Cirque faced a number of obstacles in the early years including financial difficulties, lukewarm responses and less than capacity crowds that threatened to derail the spectacle before it was running at full steam. But Cirque du Soleil and those who believed in it never gave up. This stubborn perseverance was witnessed in 1987 when the circus was invited to perform at the Los Angels Art Festival and accepted despite only having funding to make the trip one way. Had the show been a failure instead of a critical and financial success, the performers would have been stranded in Los Angeles and Cirque du Soleil would never have become a household name synonymous with Canadian success.

 

1 0 0   M I L L I O N   A N D   C O U N T I N G

Today, with over 4000 employees staging shows on five continents Cirque du Soleil is one of Canada’s most recognized and well-received cultural exports. Each of Cirques 19 shows boasts unique themes, stories, music and costumes that blend circus styles from around the world to create a spectacle of enchantment and wonder for audien-ces young and old. Cirque estimates that close to 100 million people worldwide have witnessed the show with a further 15 million expected to attend in 2009. 

 

F R O M   B U S K E R   T O   B I L L I O N A I R E

Guy Laliberté, has also done quite well for himself. The little known stiltwalker turned founder, CEO and majority stakeholder of Cirque du Soleil - whose achievements have earned him billions of dollars as well as the Order of Canada - is preparing to become Canada’s first space tourist.

 

T H E   S A F E S T   B E T   I N   V E G A S

As Laliberté blasts of this fall the success of his circus continues to soar – especially in Las Vegas, Cirque de Soleil’s home away from home. The bright lights, glitz and glamour of the City of Sin provide an ideal backdrop for Cirque; allowing for shows catering to both the new ‘fa-mily friendly Vegas’ as well as more risqué performances intended for adult audiences. With six shows in permanent residence including Mystere, O, KA, LOVE, Zumanity and Criss Angel Believe, Cirque du Soleil has taken Las Vegas by storm playing to a combined audience of over 9000 people each and every night.

 

B U G S   A B O U N D

By the time Laliberté returns to earth, Cirque du Soleil’s latest incarnation – OVO -  will have already hatched in Toronto at the Port Lands on Cherry Street. OVO (Portuguese for egg) explores the teeming ecosystem of insects as only Cirque du Soleil can. Replete with an unmistakable signature flurry of sight and frenzy of sound, OVO promises to uncover the mystery of the secret world beneath our feet.