Cirque du Soleil is a universe of waking dreams, each one a world where people walk on air, where hummingbird girls float on wings of song, where the borders between the real and imagined melt away. To step into this realm is to live emotion in motion, to witness the everyday elevated, to partake in a celebration of wonder that will change the way you see the world.
Cirque du Soleil has redefined how the world views the circus; from small town talent to a household name. Discover how a troupe of canadian street performers reinvented the circus.
History
Embryonic Beginnings
At the dawn of the 1980’s, a troupe of performers founded by Gilles Ste-Croix took their talent to the streets of Baie-Saint-Paul, a charming village on the shores of the St. Laurent River near Quebec City, Canada. Known to the public as Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul (The Stiltwalkers of Baie-Saint-Paul), this group would form the core of what would grow into Cirque du Soleil.
The Birth of Artistic Revolution
After years of honing their craft, Guy Laliberté, a member of Les Échassiers, decided that the show they had developed was ready to delight fans outside of their home town. In 1984, to mark the 450th anniversary of the discovery of Canada by Jacque Cartier, Laliberté decided to take the show on a province-wide tour, giving people a glimpse of the future of the circus arts while reflecting on the history of their storied nation.
The sun rises
The traveling show offered a unique take on the circus arts: Animal free, striking, dramatic, beautiful, and reflective. Street performances featured outrageous costumes, magical lighting, and original music. Laliberté dubbed this new mobile troupe Cirque du Soleil because, in his own words, “The sun symbolizes youth, energy, and strength”. A fitting name; As Cirque du Soleil’s sun rose for the first time, a new dawn broke in the world of circus arts.
Expansion of an Idea
Cirque du Soleil made waves in the international scene for the first time in 1987 upon their first tour of the US. We Reinvent the Circus stunned Los Angeles Festival fans and media alike with its unique approach to the circus. After sell out shows in San Diego and Santa Monica, We Reinvent the Circus spearheaded Cirque du Soleil’s first overseas tour of Europe in 1990.
Laying roots in the Desert
1993’s Mystere became the first permanent Cirque du Soleil show. Performed in a theatre custom built to accommodate the complexities of the show, Mystere lit up the Las Vegas strip and became a required stop on any Vegas trip. Cirque du Soleil was here to stay, and in the following years expanded to conquer Asia, Europe, and South America with a series of new shows that tour the world, filling large arenas with modern circus fans.
A new chapter begins: Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ
Even after four decades of captivating audiences around the world, Cirque du Soleil remains true to its creative vision – ever curious, ever bold, always pushing the boundaries of live performance. With Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ, this journey reaches a new milestone: a poetic and magical resident show in the heart of Berlin, where acrobatics, Magie Nouvelle, and immersive visual storytelling merge into a groundbreaking stage experience – heralding the next era of Cirque du Soleil.
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Headquarters Québec
Cirque du Soleil’s International Headquarters features state of the art facilities that allow our team of dreamers to create stunning shows that push the limit of the imagination.
“My dream has always been to attract the best talent the world has to offer to Cirque, and that dream is still alive. I hope that the studio continues to become a home to creative people all over the world. Each of them is essential to what we do. They deserve all the credit in the world.”
Guy Laliberté, Founder of Cirque du Soleil.
Performance Studios
This isn’t your typical office: At Cirque du Soleil’s International Headquarters, artists train in acrobatic rooms, a dance studio, and a studio-theater before joining a show. Here, performers prepare for the stage while engineers, trainers, and riggers develop new techniques, equipment, and acts. The performance studio is a creative lab where innovation and artistry merge to shape the future of live entertainment.
International Headquarters
Though Cirque du Soleil now puts on shows across the globe, we have not forgotten our Quebec roots! Our International Headquarters is located in Montreal; a laboratory of imagination filled with the world’s best creative minds, craftspeople, and experts in all fields related to the arts. This unique creative environment allows artists and creators to collaborate and experiment, birthing new acts that will ignite imaginations around the world.
Here you can find your desired date for Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ.
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Secure your seat now! Don´t miss the spectacular world premiere of Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ. Breathtaking show moments await you! Don’t wait too long – choose your preferred date now and let yourself be enchanted.
Creativity
Creativity at the core
Every Cirque du Soleil show begins with a creative vision: A team of directors, choreographers, designers, and artists develops innovative concepts that blend emotion, movement, and music. More than 1,300 artists from over 55 countries contribute their talents in sports, circus arts, dance, and theater – their diversity is what makes each show truly one of a kind.
Music, Costumes and Technology
Original compositions, performed live, create atmosphere and energy on stage. Costumes are crafted in an in-house atelier, where over 6.5 kilometers of fabric are used each year—often incorporating surprising materials and techniques from fields as diverse as aerospace and dentistry. Set design and technical equipment are also developed internally and undergo rigorous safety testing.
Space for Dreams and Innovation
At the headquarters in Montreal, around 400 specialists work to bring creative visions to life. From the initial idea through rehearsals to the premiere, every step of the process is designed to push boundaries and create entirely new artistic worlds. This is how each dream transforms into an unforgettable live experience for audiences around the globe.
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