Celebrity trivia
Can you imagine flying from a cannon or performing aerial routines every day?
Well, that's what happens in the circus! Here's some trivia about a famous circus that travels the world.
1984
Cirque du Soleil is born with the assistance of the Quebec government, as part of the celebrations surrounding the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier’s arrival in Canada. Cirque is based on a totally new concept: a striking, dramatic mix of the circus arts and street entertainment, featuring wild, outrageous costumes, staged under magical lighting and set to original music. And there’s not a single animal in the ring!
Show
A touring Cirque du Soleil show has up to 60 artists and takes about two years to develop. Another 100 people travel with the show to look after wardrobe, sound, lighting, health care and food preparation. There are also performance coaches and school tutors.
Props
A typical props person needs to be a jack of all trades. In the Cirque du Soleil workshop, props construction is truly a team effort. The members of the team have to know how to sculpt, weld, paint, mould, sew and saw. They need a good understanding of mechanics, electronics and plumbing, be able to demonstrate a degree of ingenuity, and, above all, approach everything with an artistic eye.
Make up
To create the make-up for a show, the make up artists draw on inspiration from the costume designs, set designs, music and lighting. When creating a new make-up design they work closely with the performers. They need to understand the character. Sometimes performers don’t recognize themselves with the make-up on! It is important that the performer likes what they see in the mirror and believes in the make-up they will wear.
Costumes
The artisans of Cirque du Soleil’s costume workshop work for over three months making all of the costumes, hats, wigs and footwear required for a show to the specifications of the Costume Designer.
The fabrics come from regions around the globe, including China, United States, Italy, France, England and Canada. Materials that might be considered somewhat unusual are used in accessories and to add finishing touches to costumes, for example horse hair, raffia, metal, window screen, emu feathers, crystal, styrofoam, plastic, fun fur, springs and even hardware!
Sometimes performers set and beat records for being the fastest, strongest and greatest at what they do.
Here are just a few of the circus world records that have been achieved.
Youngest
Eight year old Jorge Erich (Spain) is the world's youngest lion tamer and has been learning his trade since the age of five. He most recently performed in this capacity for the Circus Paris in El Ejido near Almeria, Spain in January 2008.
First double-back somersault
Eddie Silborn (UK) achieved the first double-back somersault on the flying return trapeze at the Paris Hippodrome, France in 1879.
Human arrow
Tony Zedoras (USA), billed as “Alar”, performed the first human arrow trick at the Barnum & Baily Circus in the USA in 1896.
Human cannonball
The first human cannonball was “Zazel” who was shot a distance of about 6.1 m (20ft) at Westminster Aquarium, London, UK in 1877.
Three ring circus
The world’s first three ring circus was presented by “Lord” George Sanger (UK) in 1860.
Highest
The loftiest shallow dive took place from an altitude of 10.7 m (35ft 2 inches) and was achieved by Darren Taylor (USA) on the set of the TV show Kiteretsu Superman Award 2007 in Tokyo, Japan on 25 July 2007.
Greatest
The greatest number of hula hoops caught and spun in one minute is 236, achieved by Liu Rongrong (China) on the set of Zheng Da Zong Yi – Guinness World Records Special in Bejing, China on 17 September 2007.
For more amazing facts and world records, check out the Guinness World Records book at your local public library.
