Cirque du Soleil auditioning for martial artists

[GeneChing]

I've been contacted by Cirque Du Soliel about an opening in their show Dralion for the part of Yao. It's a martial role.
We covered Dralion five years ago when it premiered. (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=265)
For more Dralion itself, click here (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/spectaculera/dralion/dralion_home.htm)

Yao’s features:
-Gender: Male
-Age: 25-35
-Height 5’7’’ and up

Requirements:
-Must be extremely physically fit
-Must have Martial arts skills
-Experience in the manipulation of Oriental arms an asset (ex. Trident)
-Experience in modern, jazz or ballet dancing—good mover
-Movement improvisation skills
-Artistic openness
-Touring experience an asset

If you think you might be interested, email me at gene@kungfumagazine.com, and I can give you more details. Note that the audition process for Cirque is quite rigorous.

[Shaolinlueb]

i dont see anything in there about being extremely sexy and good looking. aka a bit of a beer belly. oh well, guess that counts me out. :(

[YuanZhideDiZhen]

will this be staged at the canada location or in sin city?

is this for the original Dralion or the updated format?

[GeneChing]

YuanZhideDiZhen: Dralion is and always has been a touring show. Like all of Cirque, it's also a live show, which means that it evolves depending on the artists in that particular production. Also, for any lead role in Cirque, it is a worldwide search.

Shaolinlueb: If you can make it to the epilogue of Shaolin Trips Episode 4 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=595), you'll see my last Cirque adventure and notice that the only beer belly there is mine. That's why I hold my hands in the traditional Zen pose - it covers my beer belly.

[Shaolinlueb]

Gene

I dont this CDS could handle the Lueb! :D

[GeneChing]

I've been contacted by Cirque again, this time for the coveted lead role of the twins in KA, currently being played by wushu champions Cheri and Jennifer Haight (see my last Shaolin Trips piece (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=595) or our coverage in our July Aug 2005 issue (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=598).) KA is the most 'martial' of the Cirque shows so far. They are looking for a two year commitment and it's at the MGM in Las Vegas.

Here are the stats:
Character description:
• Sex: Male
• Height of character: Between 4’ 9” and 5”3’’ (1.45 and 1.63 metres)
• Weight of character: 132 lbs. (60 kg.) or less

Requirements:
• Mastery of one of the following disciplines: Wu Shu, Kung Fu, Pekin Opera;
• Mastery of the use of weapons such as the sabre, nunchakus, katana or other;
• Strong stage presence;
• Sense of movement and acting or experience in dance, an asset;
• Very good flexibility;
• Great upper body strength;
• Must be in excellent physical shape;
• Experience in trampoline, an asset;
• Ability to work in the air; the artist must not suffer from vertigo;
• Artistic open-mindedness and open to working in a group.

Submission instructions. Please send us your complete file including the following:
• A resume (including weight, height, date of birth, complete contact information, years and locations of training, and locations of professional experience);
• One or more photos.
• A video (obligatory) showing the following:
- Introduction to the camera (first and last name, age, background and career details);
- Flexibility (all splits; back and shoulders);
- Recent images of your specialty (in training, in competition and in performance);
- Acrobatic basics on the floor and on the trampoline (if possible);
- Other disciplines, if practiced;
- Dance improvisation.

For more on KA, click here. (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirquedusoleil/ka/)

When I posted the auditions for Yao (above) I only got a few responses, none of them professional enough for me to forward, except maybe Shaolinlueb's sports bra pic.... ;) Seriously, if you are interested and *serious*, you know where to reach me...

[Shaolinlueb]

5'3, 130lbs/. whoops not me how about 5'10 185 lbs? :D

jk jk

good luck to them.

[GeneChing]

Those extra pounds would probably snap your rigging line. No wire fu for you, SLL

[7th gen yang]

Wire! :eek: they would need chains for me! :D

[7th gen yang]

hey gene,

you sure you read that right this is vegas! should read

Small female big TATA'S :D

[Shaolinlueb]

are the haight sisters done already with that show?

[GeneChing]

I think the Haights are contracted for two years - that's a standard Cirque contract. Given that the show opened this year, they still have about a year and a half to go before they opt to renew. There are two understudies, of course, but Cirque is probably starting its search now since it takes a good year of training before anyone is ready to take the Cirque stage. So figure a half year to find some new talent, another year to train them up to par, and that's right when the Haights contract expires maybe. I'm not sure of the details, but the Haights are definitely still part of KA for a while to come.

[SPJ]

In response to the first post,

I missed it by 10 years older. I am 45.

:eek: :D

[GeneChing]

I'm not sure for which role. I think it might be for the lead warrior. Here is what they're looking for (very similar to the last call).

Character description:
• Sexe: Male
• Age: 18-35 years

Requirements:
• Mastery of one of the following disciplines: Wu Shu, Kung Fu, Pekin Opera, other martial arts,…
• Mastery of the use of weapons such as the sabre, nunchakus, katana or other;
• Strong stage presence;
• Sense of movement and acting or experience in dance, an asset;
• Very good flexibility;
• Great upper body strength;
• Must be in excellent physical shape;
• Experience in trampoline, an asset;
• Ability to work in the air; the artist must not suffer from vertigo;
• Artistic open-mindedness and open to working in a group.

Submission instructions. Please send us your complete file including the following:
• A resume (including weight, height, date of birth, complete contact information, years and locations of training, and locations of professional experience);
• One or more photos.
• A video (obligatory) showing the following:
- Introduction to the camera (first and last name, age, background and career details);
- Flexibility (all splits; back and shoulders);
- Recent images of your specialty (in training, in competition and in performance);
- Acrobatic basics on the floor and on the trampoline (if possible);
- Other disciplines, if practiced;
- Dance improvisation.

If you're interested, contact me at gene@kungfumagazine.com. Please, only serious inquiries need apply.

[Shaolinlueb]

still not looking for an overweight white guy who cant move to be the fat lazy bad guy?

[GeneChing]

...and all the overweight people probably take clown roles. They don't solicit me for clowns. Too bad, eh? I think I have more access to clowns than martial artists, at least around here...:p

[Shaolinlueb]

I think I have more access to clowns than martial artists, at least around here...:p


[looks to the left..... looks to the right] :D. at least we like our ninja's in pink uniforms smoothered with nacho cheese. :D

[GeneChing]

We are please to announce that a delegation of two acrobatic scouts from the Cirque du Soleil Casting team will be present at this year's event. The purpose of their visit is to promote the opportunities offered by Cirque du Soleil to the martial arts community. The goal of their trip is not to recruit athletes partway through their careers, but to inform the martial arts community about future career perspectives at Cirque du Soleil.

Cirque du Soleil is seeking new talent for its thirteen current productions and upcoming creations. We wish to inform you that Cirque du Soleil will be holding Martial Arts Auditions in Orlando, October 30, 2006.

Since 1984, Cirque du Soleil has carved out a special niche for itself in the world of performing arts. Through a mix of acrobatics, circus arts, dance, theatre, music, singing and street performance, Cirque du Soleil has given life to a magical new universe. With its original music and performances, Cirque du Soleil always tries to challenge the very limits of the human body and spirit.

Cirque du Soleil is specifically seeking athletes with a background in:

* Peking Opera - Wushu
* High level martial arts using weapons

For more information about Cirque du Soleil Martial Arts Auditions in Orlando, go to www.casting.cirquedusoleil.com/dmaf.

See the Disneyworld Sports (http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/martialarts/events/detail?name=MartialArtsFestival2006UpdatesDetailPa ge) website for more.

[GeneChing]

If you apply, mention you found out via KungFuMagazine.com (http://www.KungFuMagazine.com). We've had some success in the past placing performers in Cirque (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44703).

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ACROBATIC AND CIRCUS ARTS AUDITIONS IN 2007
London, Melbourne, Sydney, Montreal, Lille, Kiev, Minsk, Las Vegas, Mexico, Pretoria, Cape Town, Berlin, New York

March 9, 2007

Dear Colleagues,

Cirque du Soleil is seeking new talent for its thirteen current productions and upcoming creations. We wish to inform you that, in 2007, Cirque du Soleil will be holding acrobatics and circus arts auditions all around the world.

With the number of shows growing, you can easily imagine how many new artists we need to fill new roles, serve as permanent or temporary replacements, play back-up positions, etc.

The Cirque du Soleil Casting team is specifically seeking artists in the following disciplines:
Artistic, rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics, circus arts, trampoline, tumbling, diving, synchronized swimming, martial arts, stunts, extreme sports (BMX, rollerblading, etc.), urban acrobatic disciplines (b-boy/hip-hop, urban movement, acrobat-dancers, etc.).

Since 1984, Cirque du Soleil has carved out a special niche for itself in the world of performing arts. Through a mix of street performance, circus arts, dance, theatre, music and singing, Cirque du Soleil has given life to a magical new universe.

Do you know any talented individuals interested in joining Cirque du Soleil?

Feel free to tell them about us. We are always eager to discover new artists.

Contact us at any time for additional information; we'll be happy to answer your questions.

If you wish not to receive any other information regarding Cirque du Soleil auditions, please send us an e-mail at casting@cirquedusoleil.com.

Auditions based on video demo evaluation.

Details: www.casting.cirquedusoleil.com

Sincerely,
The Casting team
Cirque du Soleil