The Rise of the Cirque du Soleil: From Travelling Performers to Jesters of Entertainment

July 13, 2010 - PRLog -- What would say if a bunch of travelling street performers, the kind you'd seen performing around your local town centre, become the biggest entertainment troupe in the world today?  Well that's what happened with a couple of Quebecians...

Cirque du Soleil is a world famous entertainment company that by their own admission is a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment."  The company was founded by former street performers Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier  in 1984, in Baie-Saint-Paul -  a small town near Quebec, Canada.  Cirque du Soleil is French for “Circus of the sun” the production creates their own original music, special effects, costumes and unlike other various circus's don't have any animal acts in their performances.

The company began as a group of street performers mainly stilt walkers named Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul in the early 1980s.  The performers would exchange ideas and find ways to develop new and exciting productions.  They initially had financial hardship but was helped out when they got a government grant.  For the first year of establishment they were a success which lead to them getting another grant the following year.

The shows are said to be various takes on different circus styles from all over the world, but each show has it own distinct theme and setting.  The performances draw the audience in with performers and music rather than stage hands, this way it makes the audience feel like they are a part of the show.

In 1990 Nouvelle Experience became Cirque du Soleil's most popular show at that point, it was so popular that its tour was extended and finished in 1993 (the official tour was only meant to last 19 months).  For one of those years it was performed at the Mirage Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas.  Over 1.3 million people saw the production during its three year run and thanks to this production Cirque become profitable again and were able to prepare a new show.

This was the beginning of the rapid expansion that Cirque went through over the next two decades.  They went from doing one show to regularly performing 19 shows in over 271 cities on most continents.  There are around 4,000 people who are employed by Cirque.

One of the key Cirque shows is in Florida it is La Nouba and is located in Disneyland.  La Nouba  is derived form a French phrase faire La Nouba that means “to party” or “to live it up”.  It's 70 or so performers hail from 10 different countries such as Russia, China, Canada, Brazil and Poland.  The location of La Nouba is on the west side of Downtown Disney in a giant white tent in between The House of Blues and Disney Quest.  

The show was specially made for the location.  The theme of La Nouba is that La Nouba is an urban world where dreams and reality collide.  The music of the show is a blend of Jazz, Hip – hop, Klezmer and opera.  The musics goal is to captivate the audience and give them a sense of mystery, exhilaration and sorrow.  The show has been running for over 10 years and it doesn't look like it is going to end any time soon. It is a big hit with locals and tourists who come from countries all over but not only for the show.  Especially as Disney is one of the most sought after places to visit.  Many go as they feel it is part of a great vacation in which they are destined to go to.  Some just go by as they pass through the state of Florida.

Other Cirque shows are touring all over America.  These are shows such as Algeria and Kooza so if you are really into it you could make a trip of following the shows around.

Cirque are one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world, their shows are always highly rated - especially the one in Disneyland.  When visiting Disneyland, or a show elsewhere, a private vacation rental can make a great alternative to staying at a hotel.

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