======================================================================= ______ _ __ _ __ / ____/___ ___________(_)___ ____ _/ /_(_)___ ____ / / / /_ / __ `/ ___/ ___/ / __ \/ __ `/ __/ / __ \/ __ \/ / / __/ / /_/ (__ ) /__ / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/ /_/ \__,_/____/\___/_/_/ /_/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_(_) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.CirqueFascination.com ------------------------------------------------------------ ======================================================================= VOLUME 14, NUMBER 10 October 2014 ISSUE #129 ======================================================================= Welcome to the latest edition of Fascination, the Unofficial Cirque du Soleil Newsletter. In most of North America now the fall season is now upon us, which of course means Pumpkin Spice(TM) everything. While we take part in this "new" fall-time tradition, do you know what's missing about this particular Autumn? a ramp-up to Cirque Week 2014 in Las Vegas! Although there doesn't appear to be a Cirque Week this year, there's still a number of exciting Cirque-y events going on this season: First, as part of its 30th anniversary, and for the first time in its history, Cirque du Soleil will present a truly unique, exclusive music event celebrating 30 years of music. Presented by Xerox, this concert will run for two weeks only, from December 13 to 28, at the Saint-Jean- Baptiste Church in Montréal. The 75-minute concert will pay tribute to the music of Cirque du Soleil and will feature a choir of 70 voices and 6 soloists accompanied by 28 musicians. The audience will hear signers Audrey Brisson-Jutras, Dominic Dagenais, Mathieu Lavoie, Anna Liani, Francine Poitras and Roxanne Potvin interpreting some of the songs that have defined the music of Cirque du Soleil shows of the past 30 years. It's unfortunate that Fascination can't be there; it sounds like a great show! The main Montréal celebration of Cirque du Soleil’s 30th anniversary was the opening night of Kurios in April. It was followed by a big party for employees in June. One other Montreal event will be held next month; however: the launching of a 30th-anniversary book. Gilles Ste-Croix described it as "really picture-driven." The book will consist mainly of backstage photos taken of all the shows, by one photographer, since 1987. The book, whatever it may be called, sounds like an update to "Wings: Backstage with Cirque du Soleil", published in 1999 and featuring the photography of Veronique Vial. In either case, I guess Cirque better hurry up and get their online Boutique running again, because that's not all that's coming! Cirque recently announced that a new CD will be joining its catalog: the KURIOS soundtrack! Fans in the United States and Canada will be able to get it in stores, online, and digitally (via iTunes, no doubt) beginning December 9th. In addition to the CD, there've been rumors of a DVD offering in the works as well, so we'll have to see. In the meantime we can perhaps fulfill our need for new Cirque content with "SPARKED: An Interaction Between Humans and Quadcopters". Cirque du Soleil, ETH Zurich, and Verity Studios have partnered to develop a short film featuring 10 quadcopters in a flying dance performance. The collaboration resulted in a unique, interactive choreography where humans and drones move in sync. Inside you'll find a link to the video, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at how they made it all come together. It's quite interesting! Inside the issue this month we hear from Keith Johnson who analyzes what Cirque is doing to save money on tour (cutting back on hours!), and also, a couple of months ago, our friends over at The Chapiteau had the opportunity to speak with the Moon Goddess of Amaluna - Marie- Michelle Faber - and they've graciously allowed us to reprint their fantastic interview with her for you! As always we've got the latest news items posted to Fascination! Web, the posts made to CirqueClub's pages and Cirque's Facebook links, and, of course, updates to Cirque's tour 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 > - Ricky "Richasi" Russo =========== CONTENTS =========== o) Cirque Buzz -- News, Rumours & Sightings 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 * Didyaknow? -- Facts About Cirque * Networking -- Posts on Facebook, G+, & YouTube o) Fascination! Features * "Fiddling Around the Edges" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) * INTERVIEW /// "Marie-Michelle Faber" Special From: The Chapiteau, www.thechapiteau.com o) Subscription Information o) Copyright & Disclaimer ======================================================================= CIRQUE BUZZ -- NEWS, RUMOURS & SIGHTINGS ======================================================================= Cirque to Present "Allavita!" at Expo Milano 2015 {OYEZ, OYEZ!} ----------------------------------------------------- Expo 2015 has selected the Cirque du Soleil Group, Events and Special Projects, to create an engaging and unique show concept to be presented during the Universal Expo taking place in Milan, Italy from May 1 to October 31, 2015. The colourful artistic circus will employ their graceful, acrobatic dancers to delve into the deep and complex ties between food and human existence at Expo's request. The theme of the Universal Exposition that runs from May to October next year is "Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life," exploring nutrition, food security, sustainable practices and celebrating global cuisines. More than 50 Italian and international artists will perform in the Allavita! (To life!) in the Open Air Theatre, which goes on stage from May 6 to August 23, 2015. The 2015 Exhibition theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” embraces culture, tradition, technology, innovation and their relationship with food. The Cirque du Soleil event production will celebrate these elements through the creation of a fascinating tale, interwoven with music and dance with the main inspiration stemming from the deep union between Food and Life. Allavita! is the evocative title of this new exclusive production that will be presented during the Expo and will include the participation of over 50 Italian and international artists. This performance for the Universal Exposition of Milan 2015 will be set in a spectacular open air theatre from May 6 to August 23, 2015. The title Allavita! refers to the awareness of the winds that nourish us and the roots that bring our international family together. It is a call to feed our lives with pleasure, spice and passion. “We are proud of our choice of Cirque du Soleil to represent the universality of the public that will attend Expo Milano 2015. As one of the most renowned international companies of artistic performance, Cirque du Soleil constantly wishes to evoke the unreal, to invoke the senses and provoke the emotions in people from all over the world, using universal languages enjoyed by all,” said Giuseppe Sala, Commissioner of the Government of Italy for Expo Milano 2015 and CEO of Expo 2015 Company. “We are extremely excited to bring Cirque du Soleil’s creativity to this significant event for Italy and the world,” said Yasmine Khalil, President, Events and Special Projects for The Cirque du Soleil Group. “Allavita! will be a never-before-seen production that will reflect the Expo Milano 2015 theme in an innovative, entertaining and thought-provoking style.” Cirque du Soleil will collaborate with experts in Italy to create Allavita!, which will include Italian performers who will attend invited audition sessions in Milan. Specialty technical and logistical experts from Italy will be a crucial part of the show’s production team and local providers and suppliers will also assist in diverse areas. “The high-quality expertise available in Italy will be a great benefit to the Cirque du Soleil team,” added Khalil. Allavita! will allow audiences to "discover the winds that sustain us, and the roots that unite our international family. An invitation to nourish our lives with pleasure, enthusiasm and passion," said Yasmine Khalil, event and special projects president for Cirque du Soleil. "Allavita! will be a never before seen production that will re- propose the Milan Expo 2015 theme in an innovative, entertaining and stimulating way". Art and food will also co-mingle for Expo in Milano al Bacio (Milan at the kiss), announced this week - a series of initiatives surrounding the celebrated Italian romantic painting, and symbol of the 19th century risorgimento movement that led to national unity, The Kiss, by Francesco Hayez. The painting represents a dashing young couple from the middle ages in the act of a passionate kiss, using colours and a presentation that made the painting a symbolic, political celebration of the alliance between the Italian patriotic movement and France. Pastry lessons, but also the creation of 20 different versions of the famous painting by as many art students at the Milanese art school Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera - home to the celebrated masterpiece - will be part of the initiative as will a photographs of people posing like the protagonists of The Kiss. The students' paintings will be exhibited during the month of October and then, at the end of Expo, auctioned off to benefit Father Virginio Colmegna's Charity House Foundation, which supports troubled people in their effort to acquire autonomy. Milano al Bacio is curated by Flavio Maestrini, a journalist at the Rima publishing house and Pietro Pedroni of the advertising agency Temantica. * * * Expo Milano 2015 introduces a new model for Universal Expositions in the 21st century through an innovative thematic approach that pervades every aspect of Expo and proposes to tackle the problem of nutrition for humankind, respecting the earth on which we live and from which we draw its exhaustible vital resources. The success of Expo 2015 will depend on the committed engagement of all the participants and their willingness to share their contributions to the theme across a platform that gives a voice to all the players involved. Six months of work, meetings and seminars will help bring out all the know-how needed to optimize the food chain with new perspectives on waste reduction, food security and a greater recovery of the nutritional value of the food. The Cirque du Soleil Events and Special Projects team is dedicated to designing and producing unique and exquisite experiences that remain etched in the minds of the audience. They have presented exclusive creative content for prestigious international events such as The Super Bowl, FIFA & FiBA, Academy Awards, Eurovision, as well as unforgettable corporate and private celebrations and high-end brand launches. { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil } VIDEO /// Sneak Peek of the Music to JOYÀ! {Sep.11.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Listen to an excerpt from the JOYÀ soundtrack as music composers Bob & Bill play the song in exclusivity! LINK /// < http://youtu.be/ZmoBiy9b4Ho > { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil } MJ IMMORTAL Tour Outsold Michael Jackson Tours {Sep.14.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, the Cirque du Soleil show celebrating the legacy of the King of Pop, ended its run on August 31 after playing 501 shows in 157 different venues over three years. Mounted in cooperation with the Jackson family, the tour highlighted the music of Jackson in a rock concert atmosphere. Over the three years, 3,369,207 people saw the show, according to Billboard, and the show grossed $360 million making it the eighth biggest tour of all time. Written and directed by Jamie King, the show opened on October 2, 2011 in Montreal and toured North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. Along with the music, performers and acrobats filled the stage with visuals and dance which were choreographed by ten different experts, including those that worked with Jackson himself. The top ten tours of all-time according to Billboard: U2 – 360° (2009-11) – $736 million The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang (2005-07) – $558 million Roger Waters – The Wall Live (2010-13) – $459 million AC/DC – Black Ice (2008-10) – $441 million Madonna – Sticky & Sweet (2008-09) – $408 million U2 – Vertigo (2005-07) – $389 million The Police – Reunion (2007-08) – $362 million Michael Jackson – Immortal (2011-14) – $360 million Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball (2012-13) – $347 million The Rolling Stones – Voodoo Lounge (1994-95) – $320 million { SOURCE: VVN Music | http://goo.gl/wt2Dyl } A Concert For Cirque du Soleil’s 30th Anniversary! {Sep.15.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil would like to invite you to its 30th Anniversary Concert, an ephemeral musical event taking place from December 13 to 28, at the heart of Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Montreal! As part of its 30th anniversary, and for the first time in its history, Cirque du Soleil will present a truly unique, exclusive music event celebrating 30 years of music. Presented by Xerox, this concert will run for two weeks only, from December 13 to 28, at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Montreal. Over the course of three decades, twenty-odd composers wrote and arranged the music for the 35 shows created by Cirque du Soleil since 1984. Drawing their inspiration from world music, rock, jazz or contemporary sounds, the composers have added their own personal signature to each of the 35 productions. The 75-minute concert will pay tribute to the music of Cirque du Soleil and will feature a choir of 70 voices (trained by Grégory Charles) and 6 soloists accompanied by 28 musicians. The audience will hear signers Audrey Brisson-Jutras, Dominic Dagenais, Mathieu Lavoie, Anna Liani, Francine Poitras and Roxanne Potvin interpreting some of the songs that have defined the music of Cirque du Soleil shows of the past 30 years. Ste-Croix worked with Alain Vinet, a DJ, musical producer and Cirque’s in-house musical director, to create this event. Vinet has worked on several other Cirque shows, including Amaluna and Totem, in various musical roles. “He’s done a wonderful job over the years,” Ste-Croix said. “So we offered him this possibility of gathering together all the music that covers the 30 years of Cirque du Soleil and putting the whole concept of music and chorus and singers into a format of a concert which will be played live.” Although the venue was chosen for its wonderful acoustics as well as its spectacular architecture, the concert will not be recorded. Soundtracks of all the shows are already available on CD. And there won’t be any acrobatic numbers, but 40 costumed Cirque characters will be present. One musical excerpt has been chosen from each of the 35 Cirque shows produced since the company’s inception in 1984. These include a Beatles song from the Las Vegas show LOVE and a Michael Jackson number from Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, as well as original music composed for the shows by René Dupéré, Benoît Jutras and others. Two to four musical minutes will be allotted for each show. # # # Q. What was the original idea for this project? “This idea was born during a creative summit about music. It was held in St-Jean Baptiste church five years ago. An organ and voice performance has been presented and it provoked a strong emotion. Since then, the idea of presenting Cirque du Soleil music is in the air.” […] “For the 30th, we wanted to offer something different. This idea naturally came back” Q. What’s the inspirations? “We wanted to put music to the fore. Cirque du Soleil music is extremely rich but is always supporting acrobatics acts. This time, music is the star of the evening. This will be a totally new way to experience those musical works” Q. How did you choose the music? “We wanted to follow Cirque du Soleil evolution. We are then presenting the song on a chronological basis. All our shows will be represented. We chose the pieces based on the effect they will produce in the church and on the effect our hundred participants, singers and musicians, will produce.” Q. What is the show universe? “We chose to illustrate the Cirque du Soleil evolution by comparing with the stage of life. Our dear Zoé will be the connection during this whole story. We will see her at different stage of her life and feel the variety of emotion that comes with such a journey.” # # # The main Montreal celebration of Cirque du Soleil’s 30th anniversary was the opening night of Kurios in April. It was followed by a big party for employees in June. Other celebrations were held elsewhere in connection with the 18 Cirque shows currently playing around the world. THE TEAM – 45DEGREES Events, a company of Cirque du Soleil: CREATIVE TEAM Guy Laliberté – Artistic Guide Jean-François Bouchard – Artistic Guide Gilles Ste-Croix – 30th Ambassador Véronique Dussault – Event Designer Alain Vinet – Musical Director Thierry ANgers – Assistant Musical Director Frédéric Chiasson – Arranger, Orchestrator & Band Leader Gregory Charles – Artistic Director Choir Claude Chaput – Pre-Concert Arranger Clara Antoun – Musical Coordinator Benoît Groulx – Music Consultant Mathieu Parisien – Sound Designer Bruno Rafie – Lighting Designer PRODUCTION TEAM Yasmine Khalil – Executive Producer Patrice Poulin – Operations Director Denyse Ostiguy – Delegate Producer Geneviève Lussier – Production Manager Serge Poupart – Technical Director Find out more information here: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/C5WSqe > { SOURCE: CirqueClub } ‘O’ swimmer inspired to splash into broadcasting {Sep.18.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- They say that “if you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life.” Such is the life of Henderson resident Christina Jones. Through her love for swimming, her career in broadcast journalism blossomed. “I competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing for synchronized swimming, and I just remember being fascinated with watching the reporters interview competitors,” Jones said. “I was interested in the process and how the cameras worked. I always knew I wanted to go to (college), so I decided to go for broadcast journalism.” The 26-year-old was recently named one of 14 recipients of the Tony and Linda Bonnici Broadcast/Communications Scholarship administered by the Nevada Broadcast Association. This is her second year receiving the scholarship, according to scholarship founder Linda Bonnici. “Here she is, an older student with a full-time job, and she’s still pursuing her passion and going to school,” Bonnici said. “She doesn’t let anything stop her. She’s adamant about getting her education.” Born near San Francisco, Jones said she can’t remember what it was like not to swim. “I remember when my mom took me to Disneyland when I was young, and she couldn’t keep me out of the hotel pool,” she said. “I didn’t want to go to Disneyland. I wanted to stay in the pool.” At 6, Jones combined her love for the water with performing and joined a synchronized swimming team. “I used to choreograph dances with my friends and perform them for our parents, so it was a no-brainer to join synchronized swimming,” Jones said. “I mean, I’ve always felt more comfortable in the water than I do on land.” After joining a national team in 2005, Jones qualified to compete in synchronized swimming in the 2008 Olympics. She placed fifth in the duet and team meets. “We trained six days a week for 10 to 12 hours a day, with at least eight hours in the water and land drilling,” Jones said. “It was intense. You have no time or energy for anything else. It’s a complete sacrifice.” After the Olympics, Jones moved to Las Vegas in 2009 to perform as a synchronized swimmer in Cirque du Soleil’s “O.” She currently performs in the show’s Nage act. She also recently accepted a publicist position with Water Beauties, a synchronized swimming production company. “I’ve been balancing the sport with school my whole life, so it comes naturally to me,” Jones said. “Water Beauties is the perfect opportunity. The ability to apply my new skills with something I’m already comfortable with is God-sent for sure.” In four years, Bonnici and her husband, Tony, have offered full- ride scholarships and advice to 33 recipients. Bonnici serves as the vice president of sales at KLAS-TV, and Tony is the vice president and general manager of Lotus Broadcasting. “We didn’t want to be just a financial resource. We want to be their mentors and make it personal,” Bonnici said. “We look at these students as our own kids. Whenever they’re struggling, we want them to feel free to call on us for guidance.” With the help of the association and Bonnici family, Jones plans to hone her broadcast skills before graduating in December. “I didn’t have any idea what I was applying for at first, but it is so much more than a scholarship,” Jones said. “The Bonnici family really cares about the recipients. They support us and give us advice, and it’s the biggest blessing I’ve had here in Las Vegas.” { SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal | http://goo.gl/N3mHhr } Alexandra Tomlinson for Fashion Magazine {Sep.18.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Check out this amazing photo shoot with FASHION Magazine and KURIOS by Cirque du Soleil! LINK /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=5032 > Credits: Photo: Chris Nicholls Model: Alexandra Tomlinson Styling: Zeina Esmail Hair & Makeup: Genevieve Lenneville Retouching: Lorca Moore { SOURCE: Inspiration by Color, http://goo.gl/siZisZ } Interview: Cirque du Soleil’s Craig Paul Smith {Sep.20.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Check out this great interview The Broadway Blog did with Craig Paul Smith, a “Comet” in Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at Bellagio: # # # “I’m an athlete,” says Craig Paul Smith, 41, who has performed in O, the groundbreaking—uhh…water breaking?—Cirque du Soleil spectacle at the Bellagio in Las Vegas since it opened 16 years ago. “I tumbled competitively for Great Britain on the national team from the time I was a teenager.” “But tumbling is not an Olympic sport, there’s not prize money or sponsorship money at stake. I was doing it to compete and represent my country.” For an athlete in a non-professional sport like tumbling, says Smith, Cirque du Soleil offers “the job of a lifetime.” “While I was competing, I was doing any kind of odd job that would let me continue to train and travel to competitions. I answered phones, waited tables, anything that would help generate a little cash. But ultimately, when you’re a high-level amateur athlete, you’re probably going to have to retire and learn how to do something very different than what’s been the biggest focus of your life.” When he was 23, at the suggestion of his coach, Smith went for an open Cirque audition in London. A year later, while at a competition in Russia, he got a phone call from his parents back in Birmingham, letting him know that he’d been invited to fly to Cirque du Soleil headquarters in Montreal to participate in the creation of the show that ultimately became O. And so, Craig Paul Smith ran off to join the circus. “There was a real transition I had to go through,” recalls Smith, “in order to learn how to perform for the audience, not just for myself and my team. Competing as an athlete uses a very inward type of energy. I had to learn to project out and engage the audience in what I’m doing.” Smith says this is a common challenge for gymnasts, swimmers, and other members of the Cirque corps who come from the world of athletics rather than having been trained in dance or circus arts. They also tend to discover a dramatic shift in life’s rhythms. “As an athlete, you get very used to the idea of building up toward a competition over a length of time. You train and train and train, you peak at the competition, and then there’s a rest period. In Cirque, I have to peak ten times a week. Mentally, that’s tough.” Another challenge for Smith was the fact that, even though his acrobatic routines in O take place on dry land and mid-air, he had to train and be certified in scuba diving along with the rest of the cast. “I’d never been much of a swimmer,” he admits. “The whole idea of putting myself underwater was a bit uncomfortable.” The things one does for the job of a lifetime. The third—and perhaps the least challenging—transition Smith made after joining Cirque was coming out as gay. He’d kept his sexuality secret from his parents and all but a few friends and teammates back in England. But the crucible of training seemed to boil everyone down to his or her core being. “When I went into the creation process in Montreal, we worked extremely hard for ten to twelve hours a day. Many different languages are being spoken, but you become a very tight family very quickly. You’re all very dependent upon each other no matter how different you are, and you just don’t have the extra energy to be anyone but yourself.” { SOURCE: The Broadway Blog | http://goo.gl/TA7txb } Saban Talks Cirque Partnership {Sep.22.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Saban Brands has set up a new global content-sales unit to represent its expanding slate of properties, marking the company’s foray back to the TV-distribution space. The newly formed unit will be headed by Frederic Soulie, senior VP of global distribution, and will arrive at MIPCOM with a slate that includes Power Rangers, Julius Jr. and Digimon Fusion, plus Emojiville, Popples and a property co-developed with Cirque du Soleil Media. Since its formation in 2010, Saban Brands has been working with MarVista Entertainment on the representation of its titles, and will continue to do so in Latin America. In an interview with World Screen, Elie Dekel, the president of Saban Brands, tells World Screen about the plans or the new business. In the interview, there’s a brief mention of the Saban/Cirque du Soleil Partnership... WS: How has the partnership with Cirque du Soleil Média been in bringing elements of that brand to a new TV series? DEKEL: It’s been a wonderful experience. Their creative approach is inherently very collaborative. Within the Cirque universe they collaborate and create continuously and arrive at magical results. So the ability to engage with them on not just a business level but also on a creative level and on a strategy and branding level has been a wonderful and very fruitful partnership so far. In the case of this project, it’s original IP that we are creating that is inspired by the Cirque universe, the Cirque spirit, and the DNA of the Cirque brand. We’re using that as ingredients and core attributes that are now embedded into an original children’s show that will be entirely fresh. It’s not as if we are bringing cameras to the Cirque tent and shooting their performance. It’s not that at all. It’s a story- driven, character-driven series that will inspire imagination and creativity in kids, which is core to the Cirque brand. { SOURCE: World Screen | http://goo.gl/r2fhsj } Aquatics At LDI2014 {Sep.22.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Las Vegas is home to two spectacular productions that take place in high-tech swimming pools and LDI has training sessions to take you under the water to learn all about the challenges of underwater technology. For those who are scuba-certified, the pool in the Aqua Theatre at The Wynn Resort is the place to be on Wednesday, November 19, for Underwater Logistics At Le Reve (course L39 in the LDInstitute): Dive into the 1.1 million gallon pool at Le Reve—The Dream, the fabulous water show at The Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. An exclusive training session for backstage divers: get into the water and have an underwater tour with Le Reve’s scuba team to see how the show works from this very unique aqueous perspective. The pool is filled with cutting-edge technology from underwater lighting to breathing apparatus, lifts, scenery, fountains, and more.? Led by Christine Drumm-Coombs, Aquatics, head of department for Le Reve-The Dream. Limit 12 people: must be scuba certified, paperwork required: medical certificate and diving certification must be presented on-site. Participants must be 21 years of age or older. For those who do not want to actually get wet but learn all about the underwater technology at Cirque du Soleil’s O at Bellagio—perhaps the most spectacular of all the Cirque du Soleil shows— don’t miss the 90-minute session, Aquatics: The Underwater Stagehand, on Friday, November 21, 2014? (11:00am- 12:30pm as part of the LDInnovation & Technology Conference/Production Techniques): An in-depth look at the challenges of being an underwater stagehand at Cirque du Soleil’s aquatic production of O at Bellagio, led by experts from Cirque do Soleil’s aquatics technical team. The session covers training, performing cues on scuba, equipment selection, and the effect water has on every facet of the performance. Check out these sessions and all of the professional training opportunities at www.ldishow.com And as they say, last one in the pool… Underwater Logistics At Le Reve: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GQfpld > Aquatics: The Underwater Stagehand: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/yVGQiV > LDInnovation & Technology Conference/Production Techniques: LINK /// < http://goo.gl/AhuWFs > { SOURCE: Live Design | http://goo.gl/RxMTwG } SPARKED: An Interaction Between Humans & Quadcopters {Sep.23.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Cirque du Soleil, ETH Zurich, and Verity Studios have partnered to develop a short film featuring 10 quadcopters in a flying dance performance. The collaboration resulted in a unique, interactive choreography where humans and drones move in sync. Precise computer control allows for a large performance and movement vocabulary of the quadcopters and opens the door to many more applications in the future. SPARKED PERFORMANCE LINK /// < http://youtu.be/6C8OJsHfmpI > Get an exclusive look at the story behind the short film SPARKED: a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, ETH Zurich, and Verity Studios. SPARKED demonstrates how state of-the-art technology can be used to combine human actors and quadcopters in a symbiotic, choreographed performance. This collaboration has opened a new door to the future of technology in the world of live entertainment. SPARKED BEHIND-THE-SCENES LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/embed/7YqUocVcyrE > ETH Zurich: http://www.idsc.ethz.ch/Research_DAndrea Verity Studios: http://www.veritystudios.com/ { SOURCE: Gawker, Cirque du Soleil } KURIOS About Music? New CD Dec 9th! {Sep.29.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Are you KURIOS ABOUT MUSIC? If music is your passion, join us for this one-night-only themed evening in San Francisco on December 10th (includes regular show + off-stage KURIOS band performance + after-party and more!) to celebrate the launch of the KURIOS album release. It's a rare opportunity to meet the musicians and see them perform up close! For more information about the event: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/1vpH1ij > Reserve your tickets now: LINK /// < http://cirk.me/1xudBSs > The KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities album will officially be in stores across the USA and Canada, and digitally worldwide as of December 9th, 2014. In the meantime, check out "Clouds" - a single from the album! LINK /// < http://youtu.be/5tx9qhlo6nA > { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil } VIDEO /// Miron Rafajlovic – KOOZA Musician {Sep.30.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- As our friends over at The Chapiteau said: “Here’s a different perspective we don’t see often!” – and they’re right! Meet Miron Rafajlovic, who toured three continents with KOOZA from 2007-2014 playing trumpet and both acoustic and electrical guitar. He also served as a backup for both drums and percussion! See his unique perspective in the two videos below! LINK /// [Part 1]: < http://youtu.be/pAaNW31gRc4 > LINK /// [Part 2]: < http://youtu.be/CQ1Wj1rJfM0 > { SOURCE: The Chapiteau } VIDEO /// Alessandra González’s Typical Day on Tour {Sep.30.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Wonder what a typical day on tour is for a Cirque du Soleil singer? If so, follow Alessandra González (singer for Quidam) as she gives us a peek into her daily routine! LINK /// < http://youtu.be/j9lhD_mLOB0 > { SOURCE: The Chapiteau } THE BEATLES LOVE to Team with Las Vegas Phil at Life is Beautiful Festival {Sep.30.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- Life is Beautiful festival-goers seeking a never-before-seen production will experience a special collaboration between the internationally acclaimed show, The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage, and members of Southern Nevada’s premier professional symphony, The Las Vegas Philharmonic. On the closing afternoon of the festival’s three-day celebration of music, food, art and learning, the two organizations will come together in a one-of-a-kind showcase of artistic creativity and expression. “Unexpected stage presentations like these are what sets Life is Beautiful apart from all other festivals around the country,” states founder Rehan Choudhry. “We’re always looking for exceptional ways to highlight the incredible artists who reside in our own backyard, while offering our patrons a highly distinctive and purposeful entertainment experience.” Members of The Las Vegas Philharmonic will perform a 40-minute tribute to The Beatles, playing original scores adapted specifically for Life is Beautiful under the guidance of The Beatles LOVE Music Director Giles Martin. The set will include a captivating performance from LOVE featuring more than 50 dancers and aerialists from its resident production at The Mirage in Las Vegas. “Combining live music from The Las Vegas Philharmonic and celebrating the legacy of The Beatles, all in a high-energy setting and different performance space at the Festival creates a unique performance opportunity for us,” said LOVE Head Coach Dan Niehaus. “We have customized our choreography and scenic elements specifically for an outdoor venue to recreate favorite moments from our show.” “This collaboration and partnership represents an artistic vision and a unique and wonderful opportunity to work with incredible artists in the community. We have come to a point of intersection, the sweet spot that will tell the story, as the three organizations combine talents, dreams, and vision”, says Jeri Crawford, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil will perform with members of The Las Vegas Philharmonic at Life is Beautiful on Sunday, Oct. 26. For continued updates on Life is Beautiful and for the most current lineups, visit LifeIsBeautiful.com. { SOURCE: Broadway World | http://goo.gl/s3UvB0 } Las Vegas Designates Cirque du Soleil Boulevard {Sep.30.2014} ----------------------------------------------------- In honor of Cirque du Soleil’s 21 years in Las Vegas, the city unveiled a special street sign. Clark Avenue, in front of the City Hall building, is now designated as Cirque du Soleil Boulevard. Mayor Carolyn Goodman presided over the unveiling ceremony saying, “Today is all about the generosity of this wonderful organization.” Check out the picture here: LINK /// < http://www.cirquefascination.com/?p=5086 > { SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil } ======================================================================= ITINÉRAIRE -- TOUR/SHOW INFORMATION ======================================================================= o) BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau {Amaluna, Corteo, Koozå, OVO, Totem & Kurios} o) ARENA - In Stadium-like venues {Quidam, Dralion & Varekai} 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/ >. ------------------------------------ BIGTOP - Under the Grand Chapiteau ------------------------------------ Amaluna: Atlanta, GA -- Oct 3, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 Miami, FL -- Dec 11, 2014 to Jan 25, 2015 Houston, TX -- Feb 12, 2015 to Mar 22, 2015 Madrid, ES -- May 7, 2015 to Jun 21, 2015 Corteo: Santiago, CL -- Aug 19, 2014 to Oct 5, 2014 Lima, PE -- Oct 25, 2014 to Nov 9, 2014 Koozå: Warsaw, PL -- Sep 17, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Düsseldorf, DE -- Nov 6, 2014 to Dec 14, 2014 London, UK -- Jan 7, 2015 to Feb 8, 2015 Bern, CH -- Mar 1, 2015 to Mar 15, 2015 Kurios: Toronto, ON -- Aug 28, 2014 to Oct 26, 2014 San Francisco, CA -- Nov 14, 2014 to Jan 18, 2015 Seattle, WA -- Jan 29, 2015 to Feb 22, 2015 Denver, CO -- TBA Calgary, AB -- TBA Ovo: Osaka, JP -- Jul 17, 2014 to Nov 2, 2014 Nagoya, JP -- Nov 20, 2014 to Feb 1, 2015 Fukuoka, JP -- Feb 20, 2015 to Apr 5, 2015 Sendai, JP -- Apr 23, 2015 to Jun 7, 2015 Totem: Syndey, AU -- Oct 28, 2014 to Jan 4, 2015 Melbourne, AU -- Jan 21, 2015 to Feb 15, 2015 Brisbane, AU -- Apr 10, 2015 to Apr 26, 2015 Adelaide, AU -- Jun 11, 2015 to Jul 5, 2015 Perth, AU -- Jul 31, 2015 to Aug 16, 2015 ----------------------------------- ARENA - In Stadium-Like Venues ------------------------------------ Quidam: Thessaloniki, GR -- Sep 30, 2014 to Oct 5, 2014 Zurich, CH -- Oct 15, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Rome, IT -- Oct 22, 2014 to Oct 26, 2014 Bologna, IT -- Oct 30, 2014 to Nov 2, 2014 Florence, IT -- Nov 5, 2014 to Nov 9, 2014 Pesaro, IT -- Nov 14, 2014 to Nov 16, 2014 Milan, IT -- Nov 19, 2014 to Nov 23, 2014 Turin, IT -- Nov 27, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 Paris, FR -- Dec 2, 2014 to Dec 7, 2014 Lille, FR -- Dec 10, 2014 to Dec 14, 2014 Lisbon, PT -- Dec 18, 2014 to Dec 28, 2014 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, ES -- Jan 3, 2015 to Jan 11, 2015 Bratislava, SK -- Feb 5, 2015 to Feb 8, 2015 Budapest, HU -- Feb 13, 2015 to Feb 15, 2015 Copenhagen, DK -- Feb 18, 2015 to Feb 22, 2015 Vilnius, LT -- Mar 19, 2015 to Mar 21, 2015 Minsk, BY -- Mar 26, 2015 to Mar 29, 2015 Tel Aviv, IL -- Jul 2, 2015 to Jul 16, 2015 Dralion: Albany, NY -- Oct 2, 2014 to Oct 5, 2014 State Collge, PA -- Oct 8, 2014 to Oct 12, 2014 Wilkes-Barre, PA -- Oct 15, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Charlottesville, VA -- Oct 22, 2014 to Oct 26, 2014 Sault Ste. Marie, ON -- Oct 29, 2014 to Nov 2, 2014 Fort Wayne, IN -- Nov 5, 2014 to Nov 9, 2014 Bloomington, IL -- Nov 12, 2014 to Nov 16, 2014 Cedar Rapids, IA -- Nov 19, 2014 to Nov 23, 2014 Duluth, MN -- Nov 26, 2014 to Nov 30, 2014 Kearney, NE -- Dec 3, 2014 to Dec 7, 2014 Regina, SK -- Dec 10, 2014 to Dec 14, 2014 Lethbridge, AB -- Dec 17, 2014 to Dec 21, 2014 Kamloops, BC -- Dec 24, 2014 to Dec 28, 2014 Prince George, BC -- Dec 31, 2014 to Jan 4, 2015 Fairbanks, AK -- Jan 8, 2015 to Jan 11, 2015 Anchorage, AK -- Jan 14, 2015 to Jan 18, 2015 ** Closing, Anchorage, AK - Jan 18, 2015 ** Varekai: Highland Heights, KY -- Oct 16, 2014 to Oct 19, 2014 Roanoke, VA -- Oct 22, 2014 to Oct 26, 2014 Hershey, PA -- Oct 29, 2014 to Nov 2, 2014 Columbia, SC -- Nov 5, 2014 to Nov 9, 2014 Hampton, VA -- Nov 12, 2014 to Nov 16, 2014 New Orleans, LA -- Nov 19, 2014 to Nov 23, 2014 Sioux Falls, SD -- Dec 11, 2014 to Dec 14, 2014 Milwaukee, WI -- Dec 18, 2014 to Dec 21, 2014 Minneapolis, MN -- Dec 23, 2014 to Dec 28, 2014 Colorado Springs, CO -- Dec 31, 2014 to Jan 4, 2015 St. Louis, MO -- Jan 7, 2015 to Jan 11, 2015 Wichita, KS -- Jan 14, 2015 to Jan 18, 2015 Tulsa, OK -- Jan 21, 2015 to Jan 25, 2015 Oklahoma City, OK -- Jan 28, 2015 to Feb 1, 2015 San Antonio, TX -- Feb 4, 2015 to Feb 8, 2015 Phoenix, AZ -- Feb 18, 2015 to Feb 22, 2015 San Diego, CA -- Feb 25, 2015 to Mar 1, 2015 El Paso, TX -- Mar 18, 2015 to Mar 22, 2015 --------------------------------- 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 2014 Dark Dates: o November 5 - 7 Added performances in 2014: o December 26 "O": Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Wednesday through Sunday, Dark: Monday/Tuesday Two shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o October 5 o December 1 - 16 Added performances in 2014: o December 29 La Nouba: Location: Walt Disney World, Orlando (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark: Sunday/Monday Two shows Nightly - 6:00pm and 9:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o November 2 - 5 o December 7 - 9 Zumanity: Location: New York-New York, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:30pm and 10:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o October 21 o December 10-18 KÀ: Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Tuesday through Saturday, Dark Sunday/Monday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: o December 2 Added performances in 2014: o December 28 LOVE: Location: Mirage, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Thursday through Monday, Dark: Tuesday/Wednesday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: o October 2 o December 2 - 17 Added performances in 2014: o December 31 BELIEVE: Location: Luxor, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 10:00pm NOTE: Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of five are not permitted into the theater. 2014 Dark Dates: o November 9 - 17 ZARKANA: Location: Aria, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Friday through Tuesday, Dark: Wednesday/Thursday Two Shows Nightly - 7:00pm and 9:30pm 2014 Dark Dates: o September 3 - 11 o November 4 MICHAEL JACKSON ONE: Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas (USA) Performs: Saturday through Wednesday, Dark: Thursday/Friday Two Shows Nightly: 7:00pm and 10:00pm 2014 Dark Dates: o November 13 - 28 Added performances in 2014: o December 26 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) Premiere will be held on Saturday, November 8th at 9:00pm Prices: o) VIP Show Dinner & Champagne [RED] — $MXN 2,970.00 o) Show Dinner and Champagne [BLUE] — $MXN 2,178.00 o) Show and Champagne [GREEN] — $MXN 1,452.00 o) Show Only [ORANGE] — $MXN $1,056 o) High Stools (Show Only) [PURPLE] — $MXN 858.000 ======================================================================= OUTREACH - UPDATES FROM CIRQUE's SOCIAL WIDGETS ======================================================================= --------------------------------------------------- NETWORKING: Cirque on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter --------------------------------------------------- {Compiled by Keith Johnson} ---[ AMALUNA ]--- {Sep.08} Check out this gorgeous behind-the-scenes video of our Washington Life Magazine fashion editorial! LINK /// < http://vimeo.com/105182768 > {Sep.10} Ever wondered what a contortionist's hardest moves are? Check out Washington Post's captivating break-down of Iuliia Mykhailova's tricks! LINK /// < http://wapo.st/YI16Ed > {Sep.20} Happy National Gymnastics Day! Yes, it is officially the Day of the Gymnast here in the US, so what better way to celebrate than with a visit to Amaluna - Cirque du Soleil?! How many gymnasts do you think are in our show? LINK /// < http://goo.gl/AFHSRe > {Sep.30} Join our friends at Lobby Bar & Bistro at Atlantic Station for a special pre-show menu while Amaluna is in town! Enjoy 3 courses for $29 or 2 courses for $25 from 5:30-7:30pm, Tuesday-Saturday. Chef Justin Kurtz will feature a variety of locally sourced, seasonally inspired items. Offer is valid Oct 3 thru Nov 30, and excludes alcohol, tax and gratuity. To make a reservation and find out more, call (404) 961-7370. To view current menu options, visit www.lobbyattwelve.com. Valet Parking is included and subject to availability (please show valet your stamped same day dining receipt). ---[ CIRQUE ]--- {Sep.30} It’s time for the beautiful October’s wallpaper! LINK /// < http://cirk.me/1me4nRt > ---[ CORTEO ]--- {Sep.10} Ayer disfrutamos de un atardecer formando parte de Expo Cebra 961, una colaboración mágica con artistas chilenos aquí, en Ciudad Empresarial! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ccixZd > {Sep.20} Otro atardecer que nos roba el aliento sobre la Gran Carpa en Santiago! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ymRAvG > {Sep.21} El grupo de danza Rapa Nui nos trajo una dosis de energía extraordinaria para estas dos últimas semanas en Chile!!! Ven y déjanos compartirla contigo! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/gKcUcr > {Sep.24} Chile es increible! Al Igual que la comida, cortesía del equipo de cocina de Corteo!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/MfgRpk > {Sep.26} Los musicos de Coteo al aire a traves de Futuro, la radio del rock! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/QjjEKL > ---[ DRALION ]--- {Sep.06} The Tour Management team handles many services on tour such as Immigration, Accounting, IT, Travel & Lodging and PR and more. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/zBSBny > {Sep.09} Last Sunday, we had to say goodbye to our dear friends: Courtenay, Pablo, Melody, Kevin, our lovely Catering team, Josue and Duan. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/9IB8jN > {Sep.11} Our House troupe celebrating their one year anniversary with Dralion in 2011. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/6CbPCf > {Sep.16} Guess who we found rehearsing on stage? ... The clowns! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FYvenc > {Sep.20} When she is not in the air, Aza a takes selfies! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/VDplc7 > ---[ KOOZA ]--- {Sep.05} Last night KOOZA Hoops & Contortion artists had the great opportunity to perform at Elton John's Woodside Party benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/KZuExM > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Z3uFkZ > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/IiB4li > {Sep.22} You can't miss the Big Top in Warsaw! We love this photo showing off our home and Warsaw's National Stadium. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Nncp3M > {Sep.24} Hey Warsaw! KOOZA has taken over one of the trams. Keep a look out for our street team and if you miss us today we’ll be back with another take over on Friday! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/CdTCeJ > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/y2mKq9 > {Sep.25} Checkout TVN's in depth behind the scenes look at KOOZA! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/sV3Tlx > {Sep.28} It's a beautiful day for a KOOZA branded bus and we're hitting the streets of Warsaw! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/lBSWyB > {Sep.30} KOOZA - autobus w Warszawie! (57 photos) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/v2iq84 > ---[ KURIOS ]--- {Sep.03} Didn't get the chance to join us for our Premiere in Toronto last week? We've got you covered! Here is a glimpse of our celebration! LINK /// < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcyaJnJr9nw& > {Sep.04} CP24 Breakfast was LIVE at KURIOS this morning! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/H8yiMs > {Sep.08} KURIOS characters just about to walk on the field for the Toronto Blue Jays first pitch! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GPebM2 > {Sep.15} The director and members of KURIOS creative team came to visit us in Toronto and wished us good luck for the years to come, touring around North America. Merci! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4A9E43 > {Sep.17} It was a great morning at KURIOS with the Breakfast Television (BT Toronto) crew onsite to try out some stunts and meet with artists. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/x469Do > ---[ OVO ]--- {Sep.03} Here's a rare picture of our Scarabs rehearsing the biggest flying act in the world during the creation of OVO in 2009. Can you guess how many of those artists are still part of the act? (Answer: All of them!) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/bXulHI > {Sep.16} We are almost at the end of today's show and our crickets are warming up for the final act... "The Wall" LINK /// < http://goo.gl/vmU2la > {Sep.17} Here's a rare picture of our original Ants creating their act. As you can see, the Kiwis were not Kiwis yet... LINK /// < http://goo.gl/ySI17P > {Sep.20} Our Ladybug is getting some rest before the 2nd act… LINK /// < http://goo.gl/31PiIH > ---[ QUIDAM ]--- {Sep.04} Fun Fact: Have you ever noticed that the costumes of the Banquine troupe in the first and second part of the show have the same design but different colours? Guess why! (Answer: Nice try, guys! :) In fact, in the first half of their performance, they are more colourful, representing characters in a real world. In the second half, the colours of the costumes are muted, representing life after war and tragedy.) LINK /// < http://goo.gl/mm8ZIX > {Sep.10} After a summer off the Quidam Cast & Crew is thrilled to be back on the road! Today is all about loading in the show, monitoring performer's health and catching up on emails. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Mf7ikd > {Sep.12} TOMORROW Sat Sept 13th between 12PM and 1PM the Quidam Banquine Team will be performing Syntagma Square and interacting with the crowd. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/M8dcsf > {Sep.13} If you missed our Banquine In The Streets Performance today at Syntagma Square here are a few images of the acrobats and their fans! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/077TxB > {Sep.30} This just happened! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/1xOfWA > ---[ TOTEM ]--- {Sep.01} We are getting ready for our 9am performance on Good Morning! Catch Eric Hernandez and his Hoops Dance this morning in New Zealand! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/7Yyysa > {Sep.01} Ever wondered what it feels to be a Russian Bars porter? We cannot get you any closer than this! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/kwyn5q > {Sep.02} Crystal Ladies training their handstands in the Big Top this afternoon! Jaw-dropping! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/pLNVAk > {Sep.06} TOTEM is saying goodbye today to its Company Manager of the past 3 years, Jeff Lund. Good luck with your new adventures Jeff!!! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/FPNPi5 > {Sep.11} Meet TOTEM Maori chef Charles Berghan and discover his story with this TV story by Marae in New Zealand! LINK /// < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL71najeUV8 > {Sep.17} Backstage photo from our performance at the New Zealand Fashion Week last month with our Unicycles team! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/OmU6C0 > {Sep.18} Yoga session in the Artistic Tent! Some artists stay on site after the show to stretch and cool down their muscles/bodies to be consistent on stage up to 10 times a week. Aside of being incredible stage performers, they are dedicated athletes who listen carefully to their bodies to give the best of themselves at each performance! Simply inspiring! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/fbX2rU > {Sep.20} Richard Wilkins from TODAY on Channel 9 in Australia visited TOTEM in New Zealand yesterday to record a preview story that will air in October prior to our Sydney Opening Night! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/fLVsy2 > {Sep.22} TOTEM brings together a collection of scenes inspired by the story of evolution. Pavel Saprykin's Hand Balancing act evokes the individual quest for inner strength to overcome life's challenges. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/VYctcJ > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/M9oJon > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/cYHRF5 > {Sep.23} Photoshoot with Anatoli, Nikolai and Zhan from Russian Bars this morning! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/l9RRjg > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/GWzIc3 > LINK /// < http://goo.gl/4TP0Z5 > {Sep.27} Goodbye Auckland, it was a pleasure performing for you!! We wish the best of luck to a few TOTEMites who are now moving on to new adventures: Mikhail Usov, Thom Wall, Riki Fujimaki, Alexandr Laschenko and Alexander Mikhaylov! Thank you for your incredible talent, passion and energy! ---[ VAREKAI ]--- {Sep.11} Tribute to our non-traditional clown, Steven Bishop, who has been chasing the spotlight for 10 years now!! Congrats Steven! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/Hoqu0k > {Sep.18} Hello Orlando! Varekai is getting great reviews! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/5sGHhl > {Sep.29} Did you know that there are approximately 3,000 SWAROVSKI crystals on The Promise's costume? We need to replace the few that fall off at least once per week! ---[ ZARKANA ]--- {Sep.01} Did you know: there are 65 to 80 foam balls velcroed to each of the Jovian costumes. LINK /// < http://goo.gl/aYWqtn > (Which led to this reply from the Atherton Twins) .. and we love each and every one of them! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/oLS69O > (... and this picture from a fan) Was Awesome! LINK /// < http://goo.gl/09jHSv > ======================================================================= FASCINATION! FEATURES ======================================================================= o) "Fiddling Around the Edges" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) o) INTERVIEW /// "Marie-Michelle Faber" By: The Chapiteau, www.thechapiteau.com ---------------------------------------------------------- "Fiddling Around the Edges" By: Keith Johnson - Seattle, Washington (USA) ---------------------------------------------------------- We’ve heard and written about in these pages some of the difficult decisions Cirque du Soleil has had to make to get in line with the current economic “reset.” Layoffs at Cirque IHQ and eliminating on- tour schooling are just two examples. In addition, two subtler changes have taken place which, on their face, might not be considered hugely money-saving or revenue- generating. But when considered in the larger perspective they are certainly significant. SHIFT CHANGE – Until recently, a “workday” at a Cirque Big Top tour for a two-show day was set up to emulate the common 8-hour workday many of us work. The shift would start at 2:30pm with the crew clocking in, stocking up the tent and getting the popcorn popping (department leads would start 15 minutes earlier). The Concessions tent opens at 3pm for the first selling period of one hour. The Grand Chapiteau opens at 3:30pm for a 30-minute seating period for the Matinee. At 4pm Act One of the Matinee begins. It would end at 5pm and break for a 30 minute intermission. Act Two of the Matinee would start at 5:30pm and run until 6:30pm. The Matinee crowd is then given 30 minutes to make last-minute purchases and vacate the site. At 7pm the cycle repeats for the Evening show. Concessions tent opens at 7pm, Grand Chapiteau opens for seating at 7:30pm. Act One of the Evening show starts at 8pm and ends at 9pm for the Intermission. Act Two starts at 9:30pm and runs until 10:30pm. The crowd gets 30 minutes to leave, and at (or just before) 11:00pm the Grand Chapiteau as well as the Concessions Tent closes. Merchandise tills are counted and emptied and the crew is released for the night. This leaves the majority of local temporary workers working the show with a full 8- hour shift. (Actually 8.5 hours with a half-hour lunch and two 10- minute breaks.) That’s how it USED to be. Now subtle tweaks have been made to the schedule. Instead of starting at 2:30pm, the local crew now begins at 3:15pm, 45 minutes later. (Leads also start 45 minutes later, at 3pm instead of 2:15pm.) The Concessions tent now opens for the Matinee at 3:45pm, cutting in half the time between when the Concessions tent opens and the Grand Chapiteau opens. Instead of a full-hour selling period, the Concessions tent now gets 45 minutes. The Grand Chapiteau opens for seating at 4pm with a 30 minute seating period. The Matinee now starts at 4:30pm, a half-hour later than it used to. In addition, each act of each Big Top show has been carefully trimmed to be no more than 55 minutes end to end – including introductory bits, safety warnings, and curtain calls. In some cases trims have been made to transitions between acts, sometimes a trick has been taken out of an act, in others (such as Totem’s Perches act) the act has been cut entirely (which naturally reduces some payroll costs). How they get there is up to the Artistic Director but the mandate is clear, 55 minutes per act maximum. Now the Matinee First Act ends at 5:25pm, with the intermission staying the same at 30 minutes. The Second Act begins at 5:55pm and is the same length as the First Act, 55 minutes. The Matinee now ends at 6:45pm, which is later then under the old system – but remember the Matinee started a full half-hour later. A final selling period of 30 minutes lets the Matinee crowd leave the site. Again, the cycle repeats for the Evening show, and with the same trims. The site opens at 7:15pm, and the Grand Chapiteau opens for seating at 7:30pm. The Evening First Act starts at 8pm and goes for 55 minutes until 8:55pm. A 30 minute intermission follows until the Second Act begins at 9:25pm. 55 minutes later, at 9:25pm, the Second Act finishes with a half-hour to sell and clean up until the site closes at 10:45pm, 15 minutes later. That’s not sa bad. A little trim here, a little cut there, nothing too earth shaking. But look at the shift times. What used to be an 8.5 hour shift is now a 7.5 hour shift – a full one hour less per day, a 12% reduction! Still, that’s not too much. But now, multiply that by the cost of all your hourly workers: food, merchandise, box office, ushers, custodial, security. You’ve just reduced your local labor costs for that day by 12%, not insignificant! Here’s another way to look at it, side-by-side. Item OLD WAY NEW WAY Leads start 2:15 3:00 Rest of Crew start 2:30 3:15 Open site for show 1 3:00 3:45 Open tent for seating 3:30 4:00 1st act start 4:00 4:30 1st act end 5:00 5:25 (Intermission :30) 2nd act start 5:30 5:55 2nd act end / reset 6:30 6:45 (Sell to those leaving) Open site for show 2 7:00 7:15 Open tent for seating 7:30 7:30 1st act start 8:00 8:00 1st act end 9:00 8:55 (Intermission :30) 2nd act start 9:30 9:25 2nd act end 10:30 10:15 (Sell to those leaving) Tent close 11:00 10:45 Total shift length 8.5h 7.5h IN DEMAND – Another change Cirque has made is to the way they price and group tickets through their ticketing interface. It used to be that all the seats in a Price Level inside a Grand Chapiteau were the same price. All the Price Level 1 seats were the same price for all seats so designated, regardless of the time of purchase. The same applied to “Premium” seats as well as all the other tiers. In addition, it used to be that all the seats in one section of seats were the same category. They changed that some time back when they upgraded the rows in Section 200 in front of the sound board to “Premium” seats, from what was formerly Price Level 1. Now these assumptions are no longer true. They have adopted “demand pricing” which takes into account how popular seats are as well as what Price Level they are and the time they are purchased. The next time you look at Cirque tickets on the Cirque website, click around at various performance dates and times and watch the price of tickets. Each show and time could show a slight variance to some sections, no longer are all the seats the same price across all performances. And sometimes they might divide up the seats in a section into different Price Levels, just for that performance! Seats for Price Level 1 for a Wednesday evening show, if they are closer to being all sold out in that Price Level, can now go higher in price at a moments notice, reflecting in their pricing the demand for tickets (and for that price level of ticket) to that performance. And it could very well be different on a Tuesday night or a Thursday night, to say nothing of weekend shows. So now it pays to look at a number of dates one might be interested in, even the same weekday in different weeks. Just like with airfares, it pays do research and be flexible! ---------------------------------------------------------- INTERVIEW /// "Marie-Michelle Faber" Special Reprint: The Chapiteau, www.thechapiteau.com ---------------------------------------------------------- A couple of months ago, our friends over at The Chapiteau had the opportunity to speak with the Moon Goddess of Amaluna - Marie-Michelle Faber - and they've graciously allowed us to reprint their fantastic interview with her for you! # # # Tell us a little bit about yourself. My full name is Marie-Michelle Faber, I’m 35 years old and I’m born in Quebec City on October 1st 1978! I have one brother who is with Cirque du Soleil too. His name is Jean-François Faber. He did Wintuk in NY (from the creation and until the last presentation of the show). He performed Trial Bike and also did the back up act of the show with a cube act. And those 2 disciplines are just a fine part of what he’s capable of doing. He’s very talented, energetic and fearless but all in control. Tell us about your acrobatic and music background. How did you get started? I started as a gymnast at the age of 5. My parents said I was always trying to imitate my older cousin who did gymnastics, so they decided to enroll me in gymnastics. It was definitely the right sport for me because I was very ACTIVE! hahaha! I needed to climb, jump, have my head upside down, etc… I did 12 years of gymnastics on a high performance level. My parents didn’t have so much money and gymnastics was getting more expensive as I was getting older because the coaches were suggesting my parents to come to the gym more often, but that meant more money too… Which they couldn’t… So it stayed like this… until the gymnastic club decided to give me the opportunity to come more often without my parents to pay more. All those things I learned later… haha. Even though I did more hours in gymnastics I always went to normal school. I didn’t go to a sport-study program thing. I had a very normal and happy childhood. I was NEVER pushed into my sport. All the coaches I had in my career as a gymnast were the BEST one I could have. They made me ADORE my sport from the beginning ’til the end. At the age of 17 I hurt both of my ankles pretty bad AT THE SAME TIME! I twisted my ankles to a 3rd degree injury. I remember the picture of my ankles snapping in front of my eyes. And the only thought I had in my head was… ”This is the end of my gymnastic career”, which it was… But this didn’t stop me from staying active in sport. I then switched to high diving. That was something!!! When you do acrobatics in the air and learn to land feet first… and now HEAD first! Mamamiaaa! This was a hard task for spatial orientation! hahaha! After many & Many & MANY flats, I finally got it! I was able to do tricks on 1m, 3m, 5m, 7m & 10 meter. Oof! On another note, I started to coach gymnastics at the age of 15, then became a judge for competitions too. Then one day the owner of the circus school of Québec asked me if I was interested in teaching at his circus school (The gym & the circus school were in the same building). I said yes! And this is where my world completely CHANGED! This is while I was into high diving (I was 17). What a beautiful year it was for me! So many discoveries. So I taught kids acrobatics gymnastics skills and in my time off I would play around on different apparatuses. I tried many aerial stuff! That was definitely what I preferred. Hahaha! Flying Trapeze, Korean Cradle (like Paradis of Corteo), Aerial Cradle (like the boat of ”O”) Silks, Cerceau, even Russian Bar! Music! Well my parents met through music. My mom was a singer and my dad a guitarist and percussionist. They toured as a trio (with one brother of my mom) and they decided to stop to have a family. So I was immersed into music in the womb! Bed stories were songs and my spoon was a musical instrument. It was great! At the age of 10 I started piano lessons! That was super fun. I did it for until I was about 15. But vocally, I only started to explore my voice at 18! Actually, when I started on Quidam. I bought my first Guitar in a toy shop in NY! hahaha! And from learning guitar it led me to sing songs. Then, I started to compose my own songs, and this is where two musicians of Quidam (Sebastien Savard & Jim Bevan) were interested in my stuff. We would play together in the hotel room after the shows. We created our band named ”QI” and played in venues with my original songs & covers. What a NICE time it was! What is your voice type (Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, etc.)? Hmmm… For me, it doesn’t matter what ”type” of voice we have. I’ve been told many different things about my voices. So, I can’t say what ”type” of voice I have… What I can say is that I sing from my heart and my guts! I sang naturally and with instinct at first, then when I started to sing on Corteo, I started to have some vocal lessons. This is where I started to be confused and scared! I had to go through that path to understand stuff, but I still feel that the BEST lesson is your own instincts! This is where you stay true to your own voice. When and how did you audition for Cirque du Soleil? I auditioned as an acrobat in November 1997 in Montreal. We were 72 candidates from all over the world, and at the end of the day, only 4 of us were kept… BUT only 2 of us got a job! Crazzzzyyyy! Hey, it’s all about fitting the profile they’re looking for at the TIME! How long did it take to receive a call back from Cirque? What was your reaction? They called me on December 1997 for a quick specific 3 day evaluation. I had to go back to Montreal and this time they tested me on Cerceau. Mamamia!!! Those 3 days were torture! Bruises, scratches, blister & blister, dizziness, new sore muscles and even though I was an acrobat and was used to twisting and being in the air, NOTHING can compare to be on a Steel RING over 20-30 feet up! It’s an adaptation and a new trust to build within you and the equipment. After those 3 days, they asked me if I was interested in pursuing Cerceau with them for a replacement on Quidam. They even told me that if I was not interested in Cerceau, they would find something else I would like to do! But I wanted to start with them NOW! haha! So I said YES! I wanted to do Cerceau, but inside Oof! I was not sure at first because of ALL the PAIN I had from those 3 days. hahaha! So I started my specific training on Cerceau on January 5th, 1998. I was suppose to be in formation for 6 months, but after 2 and a half months, I was ready to go on tour with Quidam (My first show was the PREMIERE IN NY 1998). I worked HARD! I worked my ass off! hahaha! I didn’t enjoy every moment of it because of the above list of PAIN, but today, I HAVE NO REGRETS from all the dedication I gave and new passion I developed at that time. It was worth it for sure. How many different Cirque du Soleil shows have you performed in? 3 touring shows in total: Quidam from 1998 until 2001, 2003-04 (5 years in total), Corteo from 2004 – 2011 (With the creation), and Amaluna from 2011-13 (With creation) And just to name a few special event with CDS: The Grand Opening of the Venetian Casino of Macau 2007, The ”Quebec 400” show from Cirque du Soleil in 2008 and The world entrepreneur of the year in Monaco, Salle des Étoiles, 2011 Beside CDS, I worked with 2 other circus companies: Cirque ÉOS, production Imaginaire and Cirque Éloize, production Orchestra How is it that as an acrobat, you also became a singer in Corteo and Amaluna? This was really an unexpected road… haha! Maybe it was my destiny!? Singing & playing guitar was my passion on tour. :0) I was ALWAYS with my guitar and was ALWAYS singing!!! Unstoppable haha! Young and no fear of judgements… I was loud, free & happy hahaha! I was hired for the creation of Corteo as a Chandelier artist, but during the creation we had some vocal exploration sessions, and this is where the 2 main composers (Philippe Leduc & Maria Bonzanigo) saw potential in me. They liked my voice. They asked me if I was interested in singing in the show at few places… I said YESSSS!!!!! Of course! So it started like this. But the mix of blending aerial with vocal was in my head since the early 2000. So quite a long time ago! But I ONLY had the chance with Corteo to merge and create my first Vocal Aerial Silk act as a backup act for the show in 2008. Thanks to my senior Artistic Director at the time, Alison Crawford, who believed in my idea & potential! Are you the first artists to do this, meaning, perform an act while singing? I know few people who mix singing with acrobatics. But it’s Cabaret style. One is a contortionist… Excellent act! Fun to watch! And another who did Silk & singing… again more as a cabaret style with low sealing… But she did her skills separate from her singing. When she was singing, she mostly sat in the silk. It was good, but just a different approach. Singing or being an acrobat, which do you enjoy better? THE question! hahaha! I don’t prefer one or the other, but I prefer BOTH together! hahaha! Sometimes I do enjoy just the movement or just singing. I’m so clear hey! hahaha! Did you decide to go to Amaluna from Corteo? First you need to show your interest in changing shows or to do a new show to your Artistic Director. This gives you the opportunity to have your profile ”available” to casting. This is to make sure NO confusion happens between shows, casting and artists, which I did. Casting first approached me for a Cerceau act on Amaluna… I said No. I was definitely not interested in JUST doing a cerceau act. On Corteo, I had the best job ever; Chandelier act – Singer & my Vocal aerial Silk act. It was hard to get something better than this. I told them if they were interested in a Vocal Aerial Hoop, then I would be interested. They contacted Diane Paulus, Director of Amaluna, and she said, “What a great Idea! This is what I want!” Then that was it! I signed my contract more than a year before starting with Amaluna! Even thought I do miss Corteo sometimes, especially the spirit of the show & my friends, I knew I had to challenge myself again. Do you enjoy the touring life? I do for sure! Otherwise I wouldn’t have done 15 years of it! First it’s an adaptation like everything, then you can’t wait to discover a new country or city! It becomes addictive. Explain your day to day activity/routine. Well one thing I love about this life style of touring is the fact that I have pretty much ALL of my mornings. I like to take my mornings without a rush, take a good breakfast, sometimes 2! haha! Listen to some music, then when it’s time to go to work, I usually come 2 and a half hours before the show, sometimes 3. I eat again. haha! Because the food at the kitchen is so good! I start my makeup which it takes for EVER! My makeup on Amaluna is sooooooo Looooong! I don’t mind it most of the times, but sometimes… Awe! I miss my quick makeup I had on Corteo! Then It’s warm up time AT LEAST 1 hour before the show. I will warm up with a sun salutation (Yoga), making sure my breath is open and grounded and have an intention for my show. We can’t perform always the same way. This is what makes you an artist and not an executant. It’s all about taking the OCCASION and the present moment and feel what is the reality of your body, mind and spirit at this exact moment of the day. It’s a time of true and living connection in time in this very busy world. You can’t be somewhere else in your head, this is where things can be dangerous. It takes a lot of mental power to achieve a balance every day in a normal life. Same thing here on stage. From the countries that you’ve visited while touring, which have you enjoyed the most? That’s a HARD question! It ALL depends on where we live, where the site (Big Top) is and the time of the year. All the places I went have a special memories attached to them. But what I enjoy the most from one country to another are not to be a tourist but to explore the city just by walking around and seeing life and the energy of the place. Then you meet great people. Explain the feeling when a friend or family member is in the audience seeing you perform. Definitely more nervous! haha! You want to make sure that everything will go perfect, no technical problems, ect, not only for my performance, but for the entire show. You wish that the show they see is the best of the best! hahaha. This excitement unfortunately makes you be more unstable!!! I’ve learn with time to let go (with the help of Yoga). If you could be anything besides an acrobat or singer, what would you like to be? Hmmm… Well well… I think life really brought me to the right route for sure. I have no regrets in my path, but I definitely have a passion with the human body, so probably something in Research & Biology. There’s also the stars and the universe; I’m really attracted and intrigued to this. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was young. I guess something was already attracting me to be in the AIR! hahaha! Or should I say in space? What are some of your hobbies? I make jewelry and I draw! I have a lot of artist painters on both sides of my family. I guess I have this in my blood too. It’s a type of mediation in some ways. Are you still with Cirque du Soleil? Technically I’m still with Cirque du Soleil, but I’m not back on the show yet! My little one is amazing and growing so fast! She’s now 6 months old! I will be off from Amaluna for a long time because as a Canadian, I’m allowed off at least a year after birth due to maternity leave. My partner is on tour with Amaluna too; he’s a sound-man. We worked on Corteo together too for many years. So this life changing experience will lead us to a new route. Which one? Don’t know yet… I’ve been taking some intensive teacher training formations in Yoga since 2011. I went to India for my first formation in Ashtanga with Guru Dr. Senthil Kumar PhD. Then, I followed a different style with Bernie Clark in Vancouver, YIN YOGA, which was a true REVELATION for me! Recently, I had the chance to do my Prenatal Yoga Teacher training with Clare Newman. With this knowledge and teaching Yoga to few people on tour, it keeps me growing. I recently co-founded a new company called AIR YOGALTES with Genevieve Berube. We merged our expertise, knowledge and passion to create a new AERIAL YOGA & PILATES style. Our website is www.airyogalates.com. We have a FB page too. Check it out! So, this being said, maybe doing 8 to 10 shows a week is FINITO for me, but doing special events for cirque is a possibility. We will see, I don’t have to choose now, I still have time to think about if I go back or not. As for now I’m spending some great time as a family. Check out this interview on The Chapiteau's Website... < http://www.thechapiteau.com/interviews/marie-michelle-faber/ > ======================================================================= COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER ======================================================================= Fascination! Newsletter Volume 14, Number 10 (Issue #129) - October 2014 "Fascination! Newsletter" is a concept by Ricky Russo. Copyright (c) 2001-2014 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 are registered trademarks (TM) of Cirque du Soleil, Inc., and Créations Méandres, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No copyright infringement intended. { Oct.08.2014 } =======================================================================