Cirque Du Soleil: 20 Years under the Sun, an Authorized History
- Book Review,
by Tony Babinski
From Publishers Weekly
In 1984, native Quebecois Guy Laliberté decided to turn his annual street performance festival into a traveling troupe. Though the troupe originally planned to perform for only one year as part of the 450th anniversary celebration of French explorer Jacques Cartier’s discovery of Canada, it took on a life of its own and has since drawn crowds in major cities all over the world. It’s hard to imagine that a company known for its amazing acrobatics and pyrotechnics started out as a loose band of stilt-walkers and fire-breathers, but this elaborate retrospective has the pictures to prove it, as well as interviews offering insight into the exotic world under the big top. The book traces Cirque du Soleil’s history in almost excessive detail; the first section, in particular, is an exhaustive record of all the work it took to get the project going. The chapters that follow describe, largely in the words of company members, each show Cirque du Soleil has produced, from the concepts that inspired them to the props used in their realization. In a chapter on the production of "Quidam," for instance, director Franco Dragone talks about how he wanted "to move away from the more fantastic textures of Cirque’s previous shows... and get back to the feeling of uncertainty and danger" that once motivated the troupe, and costume designer Dominque Lemieux discusses the influence that artists Delveaux and Magritte had on her designs. The photos are brilliant, capturing both the inner-workings of the various troupes and the grandeur and mystique of the performances themselves. Though still pictures and text will never match the magic of a live show, this is a fascinating look at a group that has captured imaginations around the world.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Cirque du Soleil is based on a paradox. Today, Cirque du Soleil is an international entertainment corporation, albeit a nonprofit one, with 11 shows currently running around the world, and a team of what the Disney folks call imagineers working in a huge headquarters in Montreal. Yet its roots couldn't be more countercultural. The circus was founded in the early 1980s in a provincial corner of Canada by former itinerant street performer Guy Laliberte and a ragtag group of performers and circus artists, all of whom believed in following their bliss in a very hippieish, anarchistic way. This gorgeous, well-designed, well-executed book chronicles the history of this phenomenal circus, starting with its precursors--Guy Caron's National Circus School in Montreal and the various creative events and happenings staged in the 1970s by Laliberte and others--and following the rise of the circus from its shaky start (and near demise) to its current international prominence. Printed on heavyweight, glossy paper, and packed with beautiful color photographs. Jack Helbig
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
Cirque du Soleil has become an international theatrical sensation, having thrilled the imaginations of more than 40 million people with its innovative circus experience. In 20 years, Cirque du Soleil skyrocketed from a troupe on the streets of Montreal known as "The High Heels Club" to a circus extravaganza involving 2,400 employees worldwide and some 500 artists performing in more than 130 cities around the globe in active productions that are both on tour and permanently on view in Las Vegas and Orlando.
With unprecedented access to Cirque du Soleil members in the telling of their story-including its founder, Guy Laliberté-Cirque du Soleil: 20 Years Under the Sun is the first retrospective to chart the history of this extraordinary cultural phenomenon from its humble origins to its remarkable international success. With 300-plus full-color illustrations that feature all of the company's dazzling productions-among them Saltimbanco, Mystère, Varekai, and "O"-this exceptional volume captures Cirque's magic on the printed page with the visual brio for which the company is widely renowned. The release of this book is set to coincide with Cirque du Soleil's 20th anniversary. AUTHOR BIO: Tony Babinski is a writer, filmmaker, and musician based in Montreal. From 1994 to 2000 he coproduced, cowrote, and scored a series of award-winning experimental films. Kristian Manchester, also based in Montreal, is an art director with the Diesel design firm.
About the Author
Tony Babinski is a writer, filmmaker, and musician based in Montreal. From 1994 to 2000 he coproduced, cowrote, and scored a series of award-winning experimental films. Kristian Manchester, also based in Montreal, is an art director with the Diesel design firm.
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