In the Circus Ring

How many times have you been to the circus in your life? Surely, at least once! For people who grew up in the former Soviet Union, the circus is closely associated with childhood, perhaps even being one of its most cherished symbols.

The Soviet circus school was built on long-standing, rich, and deeply rooted traditions. In cities that, for one reason or another, did not have a permanent circus building, a travelling circus known as a Chapiteau would arrive, bringing its own “building” along with it. The circus was so popular in the USSR that Central Television regularly broadcast a programme called In the Circus Ring.

I spent my childhood in Tula. Our city had its own permanent circus building, but travelling circuses still came to visit. The experience was so convincing that you felt as though you were in a permanent circus rather than under a tent. However, instead of a traditional circular ring, there was a raised performance stage.

Of course, back then the stage was not yet transformable, and its wooden floor did not consist of sections at different heights, many of which now rotate at specific moments during a performance. There were no extraordinary sets extending beyond the stage, either. But every performance was sold out!

Many years have passed since then. Life has changed, and so has the circus as an art form.

And Canada, our second homeland, gave birth to the world-famous Cirque du Soleil.

Founded in Quebec, Cirque du Soleil has grown into an international corporation headquartered in Montreal. This means that all production rehearsals for new shows take place in Montreal, which is also home to the headquarters of this entertainment giant, employing nearly 4,000 people worldwide.

Cirque du Soleil is often described as a leader in the global entertainment industry and the circus of the future, because it combines several art forms — circus, drama, and music — with elements of professional sports.

This giant has developed its own distinctive creative style. On the one hand, it has completely abandoned the use of trained animals. On the other, it has preserved the spectacular atmosphere and theatrical aesthetics that have always made the circus so captivating.

In Soviet circuses, a live orchestra always provided musical accompaniment for the acts. Today, each Cirque du Soleil production has its own specially composed musical score, while audiences enjoy songs performed live. This requires the participation of professional vocalists.

Professional dancers are also essential, as the unconventional choreography of these circus productions would be impossible without them.

Indeed, Cirque du Soleil's directors create complete theatrical productions with distinct storylines. Every character is a unique personality with a specific role to play on stage.

Today, Cirque du Soleil brings together some of the finest creative talents from around the world!

Acrobatic performances, alternating with humorous clown interludes, form the foundation of its modern productions.

The technical sophistication of the shows is equally impressive, as is the flawless work of the lighting designers, who create unforgettable patterns and trajectories of light.

The costumes also deserve the highest praise for their extraordinary originality. It is said that creating the costumes for just one production requires six and a half kilometres of fabric!

In short, there is certainly plenty to admire!

From September 10 to October 18, Cirque du Soleil is performing its show LUZIA in our very own Ottawa, on St. Laurent Boulevard.

Tickets are already on sale.

Marina Kochetova