As some of you might remember, I wrote an article about martial arts and Cirque du Soleil back in Oct 2000. Well, I’m working with them again to help promote their worldwide casting call SPECIFICALLY FOR MARTIAL ARTISTS.
Here’s the scoop (and I’m quoting from their flyer now.)
"For our new production, beginning in the spring of 2004 in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil is looking for adult masters in wushu, kung fu, aikido or other martial arts, who are proficient in the use of weapons such as sabers, nunchakus, katana, etc. The candidates must have no fear of heights and must possess a strong stage presence. Experience in trampoline, gymnastics or other acrobatic disciplines is an asset.
Interested artists should send their resume, a photo and a video to the following address:
Cirque du Soleil
Casting - Martial Arts
8400 2nd Ave.
Montreal, Quebec Canada H1Z 4M6
Please note that only selected candidates will be invited to audition. For details regarding sumission instructions, visit our website at casting.cirquedusoleil.com"
I’ll add that the auditions are scheduled for Feb 2003 in Las Vegas and my understanding is that this is for another permanent installations in another casino like their show “O.” So how about it? I know you all like to sit on your butts and post here, but did you ever want to run off and join the circus? Now’s your chance. Let them know you heard it here and they might give you a second look. I would be so proud if one of our forum members made the cut (and I would expect that forum member to comp me into the show - plus drinks - next time I’m in Vegas! )
no fear of heights - CHECK
must possess a strong stage presence - CHECK
trampoline, gymnastics or other acrobatic disciplines is an asset - CHECK
adult masters in wushu, kung fu, aikido or other martial arts - Aw and it was looking so good.
Cirque du Soleil ad
[b]Requirements:
Gender: N/A
Age: N/A
Criteria:
Mastery of one of the following disciplines: Wu Shu, Kung Fu, Aikido or
other;
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.
Conditions:
Length of contract: Two years.
Show: Yet to be unveiled!
Auditions: By invitation
Deadline for Submission: Immediately.
Submission instructions:
We invite you to send your complete file, including specifically:
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). Here is what we must see in the video:
Presentation to the camera (last name, first name, age, background and
progress);
Flexibility (all splits + back + shoulders);
Recent images of your specialty (in training, competition and show);
Images of weapons work (if applicable);
Acrobatic basics on the floor;
Dance improvisation.
Please note that your application will not be considered if your file is
incomplete.[/b]
The bits I’ve put in red are the bits I fall short on…! But then, I reckon the word mastery is gonna lead to a fair bit of falling short… I have black belts coming out me ears (hey! That could be an act in itself!!! ) and plenty of experience with swords and sticks in MA and some in the circus, but I’m only a master of the ass-trumpet :eek: :o
Unfortunately most masters like Shi Yanming or Tu Jin-Sheng are too busy to join Cirque. Cirque needs the kind of talent that can commit to such a live show. They need talent that has a lot of time on their hands - like people who sit around and post on the forum. Of course, if you sit around and post on a forum, you probably don’t have the mad skills they require.:eek:
FWIW, I think live theater is the new true frontier for kungfu/wushu. Everybody wants to be Bruce, Jet or Jackie - the big movie star - but few have the courage to do live theater, no retakes, no editing. That’s where wushu can really shine. We’re seeing more of this sort of thing, not only with Cirque, but other circuses have added wushu, and then there’s the shows like Shaolin Wheel of Life. Actually it hails back to traditional CMA practice in opera and circus. Live performance - no Keenu/wirework/CGI stuff - that’s real kungfu. It’s a logical step. So lets get some CMAtist in Cirque, not some aikidoka (?) Surely you all must know someone with that kind of skill…
mst: Cool. You must let me know how it goes for him.
bkh: Not cirque - they do it all in the air. That’s why no fear of heights is important .
b: Live perfomance is always more real than recorded, no matter what the art form. In these digital days of CGI everything, I fear we forget that too often.
I Know a guy who is dreaming about working with soleil, he is a natural athlete, have been doing gruelling hard cirkus training since he could barely walk, he is skilled in so many diciplines…if i call him and tell him he have to do MA to get into soleil ill bet he will add a couple of hours of MA training to the 6-8 hours of training he does at his cirkusschool.
Probably would kill the guy…better not tell him..then again he prbably knows already.
You should hook your buddy up. Surely you can give him some private lessons and get him up to speed in two months :eek: . Nevertheless, if cirque is his dream, far be it for any of us to stand in his way. Tell him to mention he heard it here - maybe that would make his attempt to impersonate an MA master more convincing .
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.
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, 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.
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