Groves, who grew up in Valencia, is the head of automation on “Volta.” From the Latin meaning “a sudden, quick change in emotion,” it is the 41st show and 18th big top by Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil.
Tuesday, March 03, 2020
Valencia High Alum helps Cirque du Soleil acrobats take flight
Groves, who grew up in Valencia, is the head of automation on “Volta.” From the Latin meaning “a sudden, quick change in emotion,” it is the 41st show and 18th big top by Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil.
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I really feel that I relate to Sean Groves in many ways. I come from California, and am currently studying here at Carnegie Mellon, likely pursuing Technical Direction. I have mentioned this in the past, but I really like seeing articles like this which share stories of alums who are now successful and employed after following a similar path to myself. It really does make me wonder where I myself will end up, but I try my best not to dwell on it because my inner pessimist often reveals itself when I do. That being said, seeing these alumni success stories gives me a morale boost, making me happier and happier to be pursuing what I am. More on the content of the article itself, I enjoyed learning a little bit about how Cirque du Soleil incorporates new acts into their shows. It is crazy, but definitely understandable, that any new act requires six months of preparation, with the actors requiring three whole months of training on the act before it is even placed in the show. It really goes to show how big of a priority safety is at Cirque, which is something that I believe is of utmost importance.
Cirque du Soleil is one of the most fascinating theatrical companies out there. The scope and ambition of their productions is astounding, and watching them constantly innovate and search for new ways to bring butts into seats is really interesting and makes for an ambitious and successful narrative. Automation is a beast to begin with, but Cirque integrates automation with human performance like no one else, and there are so many more facets to consider when humans travel with and interact with the controlled moving parts. I saw this show when it toured to Tampa, FL about 2 years ago, and I had no idea that it was still out there running around the world, especially since the fall & death of a performer that happened during the show a couple weeks after I saw it. Automation is a field of theatre that fascinates me, and especially the integration of it so closely with the human element of the show.
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