At the center of the creative energy found in every
Cirque du Soleil production are acrobats, dancers, singers, musicians, clowns and actors at the pinnacle of their art:
Cirque du Soleil performers. These men and women possess a burning passion to challenge the limits of their skills.
Anyone who has watched a
"Cirque" performance knows that they are unlike anything else. It
seems that each act is more mesmerizing than the last. Gymnasts especially
appreciate the strength, skill and sweat involved. (Many performers are former
gymnasts.) You will find that these videos become the most watched videos
in the house (or gym)!
Cirque Du Soleil - Corteo
- Fans of the fantastic Cirque du Soleil
know that a DVD of a performance can only approximate the sensory
experience of being there, but Corteo nonetheless will hold fans
spellbound. The loose thread of theme is of a clown who dreams he's
dead, and is at his own funeral--so Fellini-esque processionals of
angels, jesters, animals, musicians, cannibals, and other-worldly
sprites seem perfectly appropriate. The most breathtaking segments
include, as always, the sheer athletic prowess and fearlessness of the
acrobats and gymnasts. One early scene shows fairies literally swinging
from giant chandeliers--then tossing them about and gyrating within them
so that at any minute they seem likely to spin into the audience,
Phantom of the Opera-style. Other performers take simple hoops and turn
them into Olympic-level endurance sport-equipment, by spinning inside,
outside, around, and on top of them. Another highlight includes a dream
sequence of every kid's fantasy: jumping on a bed that somehow magically
becomes a trampoline--and the jumping "kids" incorporate
spins, dives, even leaping across the stage onto the other bed and back.
There's wily Cirque humor, too: one funereal procession includes four
pairs of empty shoes, walking perfectly believably in synch behind shoes
occupied by human mourners. The extras are, if anything, even more
gripping, including Through the Curtain, a making-of documentary that
includes interviews with first-time Cirque director Daniele Finza-Pasca,
and some of the early choreography and practice sessions while routines
are crafted and honed. Advice the director gives to one of the hoop
gymnasts: "Talk to the ring ... hold it like you would the horns of
a bull!" And let the magic begin. April 2006
Cirque du Soleil's
Anniversary Collection 1984-2005
A 12-disc retrospective of the Canadian troupe's distinctive brand of
performance, involving the fantastic feats of acrobatics and
athleticism, balance and contortion; the single-ring techno circus; the
multicolored lights and costumes; the abstract story lines of fantasy
and self-discovery; the music that fuses rock, New Age, and various
world influences; and the madcap clowns that prey on their live
audiences. The programs included are La Magie Continue (1986); Cirque
Reinvente (1989); Nouvelle Experience (1991); Saltimbanco
(1994), the 1994 documentary retrospective A Baroque Odyssey; the
Amsterdam-set Quidam (1999); Allegria (1999), the live
Sydney show; the Chinese-influenced Dralion (2000), in its
standard, non-Superbit release; the relatively short IMAX film Journey
of Man (2002); Varekai (2002), from Toronto; La Nouba
(2003), from Walt Disney World; and Midnight Sun, strikingly
staged outdoors at the 2004 Montreal International Jazz Festival.
That's a lot of aerial feats, tricks, and tumbling,
but the set is not designed to absorb in one sitting. Rather, viewers
can sample both the simpler early shows and the stunning later
performances that, with their 5.1 sound and widescreen pictures, are
perfectly suited to home theaters. Compiling 12 previously released DVDs
in space-saving Thinpaks at an economical price, the Anniversary
Collection is nearly all the Cirque du Soleil you could ever want,
but completists should note that the set does not include the feature
film Allegria: An Enchanting Fable, the bonus disc of Varekai,
the reality-TV show Fires Within, and the 13-part variety series Solstrom.
Cirque
Du Soleil 3-Pack
When Cirque du Soleil first ventured beyond Canada's borders, its
powerful, singularly ambitious "reinvention of the circus"
seemed quixotic. Inspired by European precedents, this was a big top
downsized to a more intimate, single ring, as the French Canadian troupe
jettisoned animals and the usual fright-wigged clowns, and focused on
acrobats, contortionists, and illusionists. Conventional wisdom would
have held that such esoterica was doomed, but anyone lucky enough to
catch that initial Cirque production (or any subsequent offerings) knows
just how wrong conventional wisdom can be. Each is totally unique and
out of this world! A Great buy!
La
Nouba
- Cirque du Soleil Spectacle-makers Cirque du
Soleil push the sheer abundance of eye-candy to the maximum in La Nouba.
While some astonishing physical feat is underway, a host of colorful
clown characters dart in and out at the fringes of the stage. For some
viewers, this will only enhance the experience--others will find them an
annoying distraction, particularly the lackluster quartet of white-faced
clowns who almost never go away. This, combined with some overly busy
camerawork, threatens to undermine the show; but the acrobatics are
topnotch as ever. The German Wheel, phenomenal bicyclists, trapeze acts,
flying straps, tightrope walkers (including a sequence in which a woman
does a hand-stand on top of a tightrope walker's head), chair-balancing,
and a particularly impressive extended trampoline routine will make La
Nouba satisfying. (Nov. 2004)
Varekai - Cirque du Soleil
Even by the high standards of Cirque du Soleil, Varekai
is outstanding. While this artsy circus often aspires to weave a narrative through its spectacular events, in Varekai
that story (about a winged boy who falls to earth and falls in love with a caterpillar girl) is as delightful
and engaging as the acrobatic feats--which is saying a lot, because these feats will leave you agog. Acrobats
juggle each others' bodies with their legs; identical twins spin on aerial straps; a contortionist twists into
uncanny pretzel shapes; and much, much more. The elaborate costumes truly do evoke an otherworldly
place--one of the clown characters looks like a man's torso emerging from the mouth of a carnivorous plant.
Exceptionally well-filmed, and featuring a wealth of extra features about the making of the show, Varekai
is Cirque du Soleil at the peak of its powers: Dizzy, dazzling, and sexy. (2003)
Dralion - Cirque du Soleil
The Chinese consider the lion a symbol of good luck, so it's a half-dragon,
half-lion--a dralion--that is the symbol of the East-meets-West fusion
of this Cirque du Soleil show, in which 36 Chinese acrobats join the
renowned Canadian troupe. Celebrating the four elements as represented
in four colors-- blue (air), green (water), red (fire), and ochre
(earth)--Dralion combines ancient Chinese circus traditions with Cirque
du Soleil's usual stunning elements: the techno-oriented single ring;
the multicolored lights and costumes; the music that mixes rock, New Age, and various world influences (though not
Chinese); and the madcap clowns that pull a victim out of the audience
(he turns out to be a terrific sport). But of course the main reason to watch a Cirque du Soleil show is the
acrobatic stunts, those eye-popping displays of agility, balance, and
strength. You'll see an acrobat balancing on one hand, a brawny juggler,
a high-flying teeterboard act, a double trapeze, contortionists, a
parasol turned and tossed atop a foot, furiously synchronized hoop-diving, unbelievable rope-skipping, and more. While nothing can
match the experience of seeing this troupe live, the video does offer
some choice close-ups that you would never get from your seat, and you
can't ask the live performers to repeat your favorite stunts over and
over again. And you'll want to see them over and over because Dralion is a dazzler. (1999)
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La Magie Continue
- Cirque du Soleil Acclaimed by an audience of
over 30 million worldwide, with numerous prizes and distinctions to its
credit, Cirque du Soleil is a unique organization that has reinvented
and revolutionized the circus arts. Since its beginnings in 1984, Cirque
du Soleil has been pleasing the public with a novel show concept that is
as original as it is non-traditional; an astonishing, theatrical blend
of circus arts and street performance, wrapped up in spectacular
costumes and fairyland sets and staged to spellbinding music and magical
lighting. There are no animals in Cirque du Soleil productions, only
sheer human energy is put to work! (2001) 50 minutes
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Journey of Man -
Cirque du Soleil
Like all Cirque du Soleil productions, Journey of Man
is a showcase for transcendent beauty and astonishing physical
achievement. Originally produced as a 3-D IMAX presentation, this
39-minute film remains impressive on smaller screens, although its
guiding theme (the evolution of humankind through the power of dreams,
faith, and love) is sweetly contrived. It's the way this theme is
expressed that matters: elements of Cirque du Soleil's awe-inspiring
stage act are performed amidst wondrous settings, accompanied by Benoît
Jutras's inspiring score, and metaphorically representing the birth,
growth, and maturity of "the Universal Child." The journey of
man comes full circle to the sustaining belief that all things are
possible. It's this point that is best expressed by the remarkable feats
of Cirque du Soleil's lavishly costumed performers, including a uniquely
graceful underwater ballet, swooping bungee- cord choreography, two
precisely balanced human "statues" in perfect synchronicity,
and other wonders that must be seen to be believed. (2000)
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Saltimbanco - Cirque du Soleil
Saltimbanco is a celebration of life in which an international troupe of more than
fifty performers ranging from 8 to 45 years of age defy gravity and
dazzle with their artistry. A panoply of acts in which top-notch
acrobatics are executed with masterly beauty, hand-balancing, double
trapeze, double tightrope, Chinese poles, the Russian swing, bangees,
jugglers, and clowns. Created in 1994 as an antidote to the violence and
despair typical of the 20th century, this phantasmagorical show proposes
a new vision of urbanity, overflowing with optimism and happiness. Saltimbanco
is not linear; rather, it is a kaleidoscope, an adventure in which
anything can happen. Saltimbanco has its own language, a soul
expressed through the voice, the body and music. (1994) 78 minutes.
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Quidam
-
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque's creative brain trust,
including "guide" Guy Laliberte and director Franco Dragone,
have crafted each production as an extended performance piece framed by
recurrent characters, unified production design, and underlying themes.
Already mesmerizing visual tableaux and astonishing illusions are given
an added poignancy (and, occasionally, true gravity) by the productions'
underlying comments about society, conformity, beauty, and emotion; even
without such conscious motifs, however, Cirque's sheer artistry is never
less than riveting.
Quidam revolves around an Everychild, living with self-absorbed (and
deliberately archetypal) parents, who's whisked away to a vividly
surreal world where Cirque's remarkable acrobats and artists take
literal flight. Their tools are often prosaic--oversized flying rings,
an open steel wheel large enough for a single inhabitant, skateboards,
ropes--yet the resulting images are stunning. Injecting further drama
and atmosphere is the score (here by musical director Benoit Jutras),
which is as far removed from traditional circus music as Cirque's
"acts" are from Barnum & Bailey. Performed with
synthesizers, electric guitar, solo reed instruments, percussion, and
voice (often singing in a kind of Esperanto that's tantalizing yet
foreign), Cirque's music can be dismissed as New Age only until heard in
its intended context. (1999)
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Alegria
- Cirque du Soleil
A film event inspired by Cirque
du Soleil. Alegria is the touching story of Frac (Rene Bazinet), a
street mime who has lost all love for his art and life, deciding to end
it all by lying in front of an oncoming train. When his 11-year-old
friend Momo (Clipper Miano) insists on joining the suicide attempt, Frac
must save them both. The train carries a traveling circus, and when it
stops, Frac catches sight of Giulietta (Julie Cox), the troupe's
beautiful lead singer and performer. Frac falls instantly and
rapturously in love, but to pursue Giulietta, he must overcome her
father, Fleur (Frank Langella), the circus leader who disapproves of
Frac. When Giulietta abandons the troupe to be with Frac and help save
Momo from an abusive taskmaster who forces young children to sell
flowers on the street, the wonderful cirque falls apart. Realizing that
Giulietta must return, she and Frac help Fleur understand that the
mission of the cirque is to console a suffering world. The show, like
life, must go on. 93 minutes. (1999)
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A Baroque Odyssey - Cirque du Soleil A unique and inspiring look into
the heart of the Cirque du Soleil universe. This 10-year anniversary
retrospective made in 1994 highlights the essence of Cirque du Soleil,
the amazing energy and spirit that gave birth to the phenomenon and the
breathtaking artistry that has captivated and delighted audiences around
the world. (1994), 56 minutes. Average Customer Review:
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Nouvelle Experience - Cirque du Soleil The brilliant artistry of Cirque
du Soleil has transformed the circus into an exciting, novel performance
experience. Nouvelle Experience celebrates the magic of their innovative
techniques and the genius of one of the most visionary groups of artists
in the world. Included in the show that toured for 19 months in
1990-1991, performing to over 1.3 million people: Contortion, Korean
Plank, Solo Trapeze, Tightrope, Aerial Straps, Acrobatics, Trampoline
and Balancing on Chairs. (1991) 85 minutes.
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Cirque
Reinvente - Cirque du Soleil
"Ladies and gentlemen, dear
children, once upon a time..." The allure of the circus has always
been magical. But Cirque du Soleil has redefined the meaning of the word
and has taken it to the next level, performance art without boundaries,
ballet without gravity. And their intoxicating mixture of costume,
music, stage design and showmanship has dazzled millions. Emmy award
winning Cirque Reinvente captures the extraordinary tour
performed by Cirque du Soleil to sold-out audiences in 1987. Included
are breathtaking feats of handbalancing, tightrope, acrobatic cycling,
chair balancing, contortion, clowns and aerial acrobatics. "With
our fieriness and our youthfulness, we wanted to reinvent the
circus." (1987) 56 minutes. Average Customer Review: Usually ships in 24 hours DVD
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Fire
Within (TV Series) - Cirque du Soleil This addictive, Emmy Award-winning series has
all the human turmoil of reality television, but the subjects have
actual talent--it's a 13-part documentary about the young acrobats of
Cirque du Soleil, watching them struggle with the physical rigors and
emotional demands of creating a new show (the acclaimed Varekai). Fire
Within focuses on eight performers, among them Gareth, a temperamental
Brit whose sculpted physique features multiple tattoos; Stella, a young
African American trapeze artist who's a bit of a diva; Oleg, a
35-year-old Russian circus professional trying to shift his talents to
dance; Olga, a Cirque veteran as a contortionist, being given a starring
role in this new show. Skillfully edited, Fire Within follows the
performers along the stressful path from auditions to opening. The show
gains surprisingly intimate access into their lives, capturing the
strength and vulnerability of people whose bodies are their art--and not
everyone rises to the challenges they face. The process of making a show
like Varekai isn't always pretty or gentle; if an act isn't
working--such as when Gareth and his acrobatic partner Ashley have
trouble finding their balance for a piece called the Icarian Games--the
act will simply be cut, and the performer fired. Fire Within is a
remarkable warts-and-all document of frustration and ingenuity. After
each episode, you'll eagerly jump to the next one to learn what happens next.