The faces of REBEL

{Article was translated from the original Catalan via Google Translate}

Live new experiences, travel, meet people from all over the world, act, dance, learn, have fun, improve, live a dream … They are verbs used by artists and technicians who are part of the Cirque du Soleil at the time to describe the benefits of your work. For them, it is an experience to be part of the largest company in the sector worldwide. “I have always dreamed of working with the Cirque but I had never imagined that one day I would have the opportunity to become a main character,” says Yoherlandy Tejeiro Garcia, the dancer that stars Rebel.

He is one of nearly fifty people, featuring artists and technicians, who make it possible for every night from Tuesday to Saturday during the month of July to carry out the best show with the Cirque du Soleil label. They work intensely to produce a show that begins to create weeks before the first function, and they do so far from the Principality. Specifically, everything starts in Montreal, where the Canadian company has its headquarters. “It is a process of creation before and every act is separated previously separately,” says Jorge Tapia, councilor of the show. Once you have a concept of show developed, you take to Andorra to put the pieces together. “We do not really test acrobatics, but transitions,” Tapia describes.

When the show is already mounted and the premiere arrives, the hours of work are reduced, although they continue to be a few. Tuesdays, on the first day of the week’s function, begin the rehearsals at 3 pm, and the rest of the days start at 4 pm, less Saturday, the last day, in which they are already more shot and start training an hour later. The technicians are always the first to arrive and then the artists are coming to practice and make up.

The rest of free days and mornings take advantage of them to visit different places in Andorra or other nearby cities, disconnect, relax, train, group … Each artist and technician has their preferences, as well as their history. Yoherlandy, for example, has taken advantage of some time to be with his family, who has come to visit. “During the mornings we play a little, we walk, we join … Just now I am here with my wife and my son and we do many activities, we take him to the park, in the pool, we have also gone to Barcelona the two days pounds, “he says.

He is a native of Cuba, where he studied dance for eight years. In 2015 he decided to move to Canada, where his current partner resided, to try his luck in this world. He soon had his first chance in the Canadian company with a show that was held in Quebec. He continued to make some events with a single representation with Cirque du Soleil, but this year he received the great news that would give life to the main character of the Andorran show. How did you get it? From a dance television competition in Canada, where Rebel’s artistic director Lydia Bouchard worked as a judge. “He saw me during the entire competition and when he finished he told me that I had a proposal for me of a character who falls for the wrong person. At first I did not believe it because it was something giant for me, “describes Yoherlandy. Now you’ve seen how every night from Tuesday to Saturday between June 29 and July 28, you have thousands of eyes on you. “It’s a challenge,” he says.

Those who also have a great responsibility are the protagonists of the Globe of Death number, an oval cage in which four motorcyclists go round continuously, remaining a few centimeters from each other. “It’s very dangerous, so we try every day, between an hour and an hour and a half,” says Jefferson Godoy, one of the four specialists. When they are not on stage, they spend hours in the gym, or by checking the bikes to ensure they are all in full condition. “When we are inside, we forget everything, the public, the music, the problems … We are only the four inside”, emphasizes the artist, who emphasizes that “we must have a confidence of 110 percent with those others “. You also need many years of practice to get into that ball and not shiver when doing what they do. In the case of Jefferson, He was nine years old with his bicycle, next to his father and grandfather, in Brazil, where he was born.

At age 14 he was already on the stage with a motorcycle. In all these years, but there is always room for fright. “I suffered from injuries to the ribs, hands, fingers and feet, I opened my head … These things happen,” says the Brazilian, who reminds us that “10 years ago I did not have any fright. “. He takes it with such passion that he is already teaching his son of six years this particular art. “It’s crazy about that. She sees it and she likes it. Then he comes with the bicycle and when he can he puts himself inside the balloon to make turns. I like to see how he does it, “says Godoy as he smiles. At age 14 he was already on the stage with a motorcycle. In all these years, but there is always room for fright. “I suffered from injuries to the ribs, hands, fingers and feet, I opened my head … These things happen,” says the Brazilian, who reminds us that “10 years ago I did not have any fright. “. He takes it with such passion that he is already teaching his son of six years this particular art. “It’s crazy about that. She sees it and she likes it.

Then he comes with the bicycle and when he can he puts himself inside the balloon to make turns. I like to see how he does it, “says Godoy as he smiles. At age 14 he was already on the stage with a motorcycle. In all these years, but there is always room for fright. “I suffered from injuries to the ribs, hands, fingers and feet, I opened my head … These things happen,” says the Brazilian, who reminds us that “10 years ago I did not have any fright. “. He takes it with such passion that he is already teaching his son of six years this particular art. “It’s crazy about that. She sees it and she likes it. Then he comes with the bicycle and when he can he puts himself inside the balloon to make turns. I like to see how he does it, “says Godoy as he smiles. He takes it with such passion that he is already teaching his son of six years this particular art. “It’s crazy about that. She sees it and she likes it.

Then he comes with the bicycle and when he can he puts himself inside the balloon to make turns. I like to see how he does it, “says Godoy as he smiles. He takes it with such passion that he is already teaching his son of six years this particular art. “It’s crazy about that. She sees it and she likes it. Then he comes with the bicycle and when he can he puts himself inside the balloon to make turns. I like to see how he does it, “says Godoy as he smiles.

ARTISTS BEHIND THE FOCUS

On the other side of the stage, there are also several stories related to the Cirque du Soleil, with a high degree of responsibility. They are those of the technicians who assist and collaborate closely with the actors, dancers and specialists so that everything works correctly. Peculiarly, they can not always see the show. “The show? I have not seen it. You know a little about what is cooking and where it is going, but we have to be careful that everything goes well, “said Basque Iñaki Allorbe, who is responsible for the part of the assembly and the care of the acrobatic devices that are used to the show.

Others, however, are forced to have their eyes set directly on the stage from beginning to end, as is the case with Tapia, who coordinates the artistic section with the technician or in other words, gives foot to everyone to know that it’s your turn. A job that sounds stressful and “it’s, a bit,” it ironically. “What strikes me is that it is circus and, therefore, any mistake you have may cause someone to hurt”, points out in a more serious tone. The councilor is from Mexico and only works with Cirque du Soleil in the show of the Principality, which has been involved since 2016. “Here is a very good contract professionally,” he says. The rest of the year is freelance in events around the world.

It is a very different situation to that of other workers behind the stage, such as Allorbe. He has worked for 15 years with the Cirque, an opportunity that came to him as a result of some contacts he made when he lived in England at the time. “It’s the fourth year I come here and I’m very happy. The best part is that normally when you go there you go to large cities and there is facility to maintain contact with nature. I like to go bicycle and in Andorra I never get bored, “he explains.

Also Valencian Isabel Ruiz Piti, in charge of costumes, has been working for a long time in the summer show of the Principality, specifically six, and emphasizes that “a few weeks before they ask me if it is good for me to come by what places, but I always try to book- I give you the dates because here is a project that I really like. ”

ANDORRAN STAMP

Among so much nationality that is part of the Cirque du Soleil, there is no Andorran. Nico Bordes is the only worker in the Principality in the production of Rebel, a situation he likes because, he says, “I have the feeling of traveling at home” and adds that “it’s a luck and a privilege.” He is in charge of mounting the scenery of the stage, but also has other “extracurricular” tasks as the only Andorran. “One of the jobs that I also find important within this group of Cirque du Soleil in Andorra is that I make them a bit of a mountain and gastronomic guide,” says Bordes. This year, and after four summers dedicated to the shows of the Canadian company, it has been able to collaborate on shows from outside the Principality, in Saudi Arabia, between mid-August and September. “It is the first time that they suggest leaving with them to another place and I take it as an open door in this world,” says Andorran, who has a varied professional route and in winter he is a ski monitor in Pal Arinsal . “I’m really looking forward to it,” he adds.

And this is one of the most prominent parts of the profession: an endless journey, especially for those who are fully engaged. Tapia comments that “this year I think I have been three weeks in Mexico”. Others, however, also see this as a negative point, since it does not allow them to be with the family what they would like and assemble to be able to stay longer at home. Allorbe, for example, points out that “he is going for seasons, but I am the one who is most at home, at least I try”, although he has come to live for a year in Japan and has traveled around South America, Asia, Canada, the United States and Europe working with the Cirque. It is a situation similar to that of Ruiz, which explains that “I am more at home because I am only in events and I can choose what I do and what I do not”.

For artists, the side of being able to be with the family is also important. Yoherlandy points out that “I have found a balance and I try not to be long separated from my family.” Jefferson Godoy, however, finds himself more complicated at times and indicates that “it is not always easy to be away from home. My parents are in Brazil and I have not been there for a long time. ” However, he points out that “my wife and son live in France and it is easier to see them.” He is the one who has the life of the circus, one of the oldest professions and that has always been characterized by the difficulty of maintaining a certain degree of stability. The best that compensates for this aspect of work is love for the profession, as the great majority of those who work there coincide. “I am a lover of it, it’s my passion and I love my job,” concludes Godoy.

{ SOURCE: Diari d’Andorra }