Quebec and circus art
The Cirque du Soleil is now internationally famous (eleven millions tickets sold all over the world). The reason for its immense success is undoubtedly the way it has combined different genres and its upcoming show, paying tribute to Elvis Presley, will surely be a blockbuster. It has not only broken the geographical boundaries by its performances, it has also done so by the stars and performers they hire. Yet it is still very much attached to its origins: Quebec and Quebecois are proud of it and have, once more, expressed their pride this year during the performances given by the company that will be celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary in 2009.
Along the same lines, the Cirque Eloise is also doing well both locally and internationally. Created in 1993, it will be performing in Quebec City from the 2dn to the 4th of January. Their Nebbia has already been presented 350 times in various countries.
It is interesting to note that both of these companies have been created in Quebec, and although they hire performers from other countries - the contortionist from Paraguay now with the Cirque Eloise, is the most recent example - many come from the Ecole du Cirque de Quebec, a non profit organisation created in 1981 and whose mission is to promote circus art and to foster the mergence of a new generation of artists. And in deed they have done so. In Quebec, it is now common to see ballet companies hire circus performers and circuses seek stage actors and contemporary dancers and choreographers.
With all of that in mind, wouldn't it be fair to say that Quebec has reinvented the circus?