CMU School of Drama


Friday, July 15, 2016

Cirque du Soleil, Wowing the World

www.cirquefascination.com: Many of you will have witnessed the incredible acrobatics, death defying gymnastics and mind blowing circus and theatre that is Cirque du Soleil. The company which employs over 4,000 people from over 40 countries helps to bring aspects of our sport to a huge audience in numerous shows spanning the globe. Look closely the next time you watch a show and you could recognize some of the acts and support staff.

2 comments:

Emma Patterson said...

Reading the story of a person who has been welcomed in to an impossibly selective company opens my eyes to life beyond the Cirque stage. It is really cool to hear about the parallels between the pressures of elite competition and live performance. It goes to show that adaptability is crucial for technicians and performers alike in the field. It is incredible that we have the technology to make all of these stunts that are already complicated and put them in environments and adapt them to add to the spectacle, but to still ensure complete safety. Once again, the route from athlete to performer is a common theme that is misunderstood by so many people, but the demands made by the artist’s craft are overwhelming. The way Bowler spoke about filling different jobs in the company show that all positions face different constraints. People are bound by resources, time, money, and ability, and the most demanding parts of the job is getting around those constraints.

Jazzi said...

It is always so interesting to hear an inside interview. As someone who loves Cirque and would equally love to work with them this is eye opening and intriguing. I couldn't imagine how difficult it is to work 10 shows a week and travel so much. I am interested in the versatility in Marissa's experience. From being a gymnast to coach and then to live performance must have been a large jump that was understated in the interview. I would have loved to hear a more in depth description of what the change was like in the transfer of jobs. Coming from someone who also started out a theater career from gymnastics it is interesting to see someone else who moved into a more managerial position as I did as well. I also laud her ability to conform so quickly with the expectations of Cirque given the harsh nature of a fast paced and ever touring company as they are.