Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Watch Out Cirque du Soleil

This photo appeared in the "La Presse" newspaper on Sept. 24th.
Translation:
Verdun circus school: workshop to initiation and techniques of circus (acrobatics, balance, iron wire, juggling, aerial techniques and trampoline) For 5 years and over. Sunday: from 13.00 to 16.00h (1.00 to 4.00 pm) 514 768 5812
 
Guy
 

5 comments:

les__f MSN said...

Hello Guy ,.one of my old friends from Verdun ( Mike Pucci) just recently was on tour with Cirque de Soleil,.........he is quite an accomplished musician,.and has been doing a lot of TV & Studio work for many years in LaBelleProvince,....his whole family were / are very musicly inclined,... His brother Gerry plays in the Queen Elizabeth Hotel's  Piano bar ( or at least did for many years)..............  Thanks for this memory boost from the Cirque de Soleil...........................                                                                              HF&RV

les__f MSN said...

Sorry Guy ,I must have been getting ahead of myself,as I thought I had read something about the Cirque de Soleil,...........   my mistake ,......... HF&RV

guy5479 MSN said...

Les, While on the subject of the Cirque du Soleil, the 2 biggest acts in Las Vegas are Cirque du Soleil wich was founded by Guy Laliberté who started as a street entertainer wich we call "Amuseur Publique" and Céline Dion. 2 people from Québec so we are very proud of their success. Guy   

guy5479 MSN said...

Here is the fascinating beginnings of Guy Laliberté, the founder of the Cirque du Soleil:   At 14 years old, Guy Laliberté with his accordeon goes to discover Europe. His experience as public entertainer (Amuseur Publique) will  inspire him to create in 1984 the Cirque du Soleil wich now radiates to the 4 cornbers of the world. Born in 1960 at Saint Bruno, he lives his rythmic youth with family hollidays and music. This festive atmosphere and happy ssurrrounding gives him the desire and motivation to adventure. At the early age of 10, television and the images of people of the world inspires him. After his secondary schooling, he joins the folk group La Grand Gueule. At an early age, he leaves home to live the gypsy life in the streets of Beaubourg, Berlin and Marrakech. He is in turn, accordeonist, Stilt walker and fire eater. During his travelings, he learns how to give and receive, the basis of his philosophy. On his return to Quebec in 1980, he joins the group Échassiers de Baie Saint Paul (Stilt Walkers) wich then founded the group Club des Talons Hauts. This happy group transforms the fairground holliday of Baie Saint Paul into a magical event. That is where he meets Daniel Gauthier, the furture president of the Cirque du Soleil. In 1984, he proposes to the provincial government of Quebec an unusual spectacle for the 450th anniversary of the arrival of Jacques Cartier in America. The Cirque du Soleil is born and rapidly develops a technical expertise of the event. The traveling soul of Guy Laliberté, associated with his great businessman and salesmanship talents brings him in 1987 to Ontario, Vancouver and  Los Angelos. As the venture expands The Cirque becomes interested in Hollywood. Despite many offers of purchase, the cirque remains independent. The head office is established in the Saint Michel (Montreal) district in order to revitalise the second poorest sector in Canada. Most costumes and accessories of the Cirque are fabricated here. In 1993, the Cirque du Soleil is established in a new theatre created especially for it and situated in the entertainement  mecca, Las Vegas. It will create Ka, O, Zumanity and Love in  2006. The tours also follow and succeed: Saltimbanco, Alegria, Quidam, Dralion, Varekai, Corteo, Delirium. The revenus of the group, wich gives 4 permanent spectacles at Sun City, are evaluated at 550 million dollars. Some 3000 employes from 40 nationalities work with the Quebec enterprise, 1600 at the headquarters in Montreal.. More than 50 million persons saw the spectacles of the Cirque du Soleil since 1984. The Order of Canada was given to Guy Laliberté in 1984, and the same year he figured in the 100 most influential people of Time magazine. At 45 years old, his forture is estimated at $1.2 billion dollars by Forbes magasine.   Guy Translated from Plan챔te G챕n챕alogie internet site.    

joey-verdun MSN said...

Guy ....

Here is the name of another famous Verdun person.....
David Rigby.....I've included an URL to give his
metier....
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0726584/#self

Further to Cirque du Soleil.....
I seem to remember that they might have used the
old Corona Theater , on Notre Dame east of Atwater ,
in the early eighties as a rehearsal hall....that was before
the theater was renovated ...I could be wrong about this .
It might have been another group that used the facilities ...
Since you are in Quebec you may be better positioned
to research this detail .

I'm including an URL giving a bit more Cirque background.
They are a great example of positive thinking and focus .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque_du_Soleil