MONTREAL, April 28, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Cirque du Soleil presented last night in Montreal the world premiere of its latest production, VOLTA. The show will be playing under the Big Top in Montreal's Old Port until July 23rd and at the Zibi site in Gatineau starting August 3rd. With this new creation, Quebec's entertainment leader is once again pushing the boundaries of circus arts by integrating several action sports disciplines that are presented for the first time on a Cirque du Soleil stage, including BMX acts, Parkour and BMX Flatland.
There to celebrate the premiere with the entire VOLTA team, Jean-François Bouchard, Creative Guide and Chief Creative Officer of Cirque du Soleil, said: "We are pleased to pursue our tradition to present our most recent creation to the Montreal public first. With VOLTA, we wanted to continue to reinvent ourselves and surprise our audience and our fans. The marriage of disciplines in the purest Cirque du Soleil tradition with contemporary dance and action sports makes this show really fresh and current. We hope that the public will have as much fun discovering VOLTA as we had creating it."
Several personalities from the political, cultural and sporting world marched on the red carpet of VOLTA: Luc Fortin, Quebec Minister for Culture and Communications; Jean-François Lisée, Leader of the Quebec Opposition and of the Parti québécois and the Honorable Mélanie Joly, Minister for Canadian Heritage; artists Antoine Bertrand, Alex Perron, Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge, Émily Bégin, Isabel Richer, Mirianne Brûlé, Jason Roy-Léveillé , Jonathan Roy, Joey Scarpellino, Catherine Brunet, Thomas Beaudoin, Mitsou, Robert Charlebois, Radio Radio, Kevin Bazinet, Alicia Moffet, Pascal Morissette, Julie Ringuette, Geneviève Boivin-Roussy, Jonas, Jérôme Couture and Valérie Carpentier ; as well as athletes Mikaël Kingsbury, Alexandre Bilodeau, Jean-Luc Brassard, Dufour-Lapointe sisters, Érik Guay, Charles Hamelin, Marianne St-Gelais, Émilie Heymans and Montreal Impact players Patrice Bernier, Hassoun Camara and Wandrille Lefèbre.
The critics reserved a warm welcome to VOLTA, as seen here in a quote from Jim Burke from The Gazette: "Cirque du Soleil's Volta pulls out all stops in a spectacular blend of New Age esthetics and extreme sports."
The name
The name VOLTA refers to a sudden about-face, a change in emotion or idea. It also speaks to the jolt of energy delivered through the show.
The show
VOLTA tells a spellbinding story about the freedom to choose and the thrill of blazing your own trail. Inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of action sports, the show weaves acrobatics into a visually striking world driven by a stirring melodic score.
VOLTA is a story of transformation. It is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one's true potential, and the power of the group to make that possible. It celebrates freedom as a movement.
WAZ, a popular gameshow host, has lost touch with his inner self in the pursuit of fame. But as doubt sets in, WAZ is enlightened by childhood memories as he encounters FREE SPIRITS who open doors to his inner soul he has long kept shut. On his high-voltage search for meaning, will WAZ find the courage to relinquish his fame, reconnect with his true self, and shine bright?
The creative team
VOLTA's creative team comprises 15 creators under the artistic guidance of Jean-François Bouchard:
Bastien Alexandre |
Writer and Director |
Jean Guibert |
Creation Director |
Anthony Gonzalez from the band M83 |
Composer and Musical Director |
Bruce Rodgers |
Set Designer |
Zaldy |
Costume Designer |
Julie Perron |
Choreographer |
Martin Labrecque |
Lighting Designer |
Thibaut Duverneix |
Video Content and Interactive Designer |
Jean-Michel Caron |
Sound Designer |
Anne-Séguin Poirier |
Props Designer |
Rob Bollinger |
Acrobatic Performance Designer |
Philippe Aubertin |
Acrobatic Performance Designer |
Jaque Paquin |
Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer |
Eleni Uranis |
Make up Designer |
Manon Beaudoin |
Character guide |
Tickets Information
VOLTA is presented under the Big Top in Montreal's Old Port until July 23rd, 2017 and at the Zibi site in Gatineau starting August 3rd. Tickets can be purchased for these performances online at www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta
Discover our VIP package – a cocktail reception with open bar and hors d'oeuvres inspired by the show, access to the best seats for greater comfort, a complimentary Valet Parking Service, and more!
Official Show and Red Carpet Photos
Link: https://ftp.cdscosa.com/public/folder/wWGhWDoLo0u3h-w-nIFS4w/VOLTA_Photos
Photo credit : Patrice Lamoureux / Costumes: Zaldy Goco / 2016 Cirque du Soleil
Official Promo-Roll
Link: https://app.frame.io/f/MKvpJeXN
Partner
Sun Life Global Investments is the Presenting Partner of VOLTA.
Facebook: facebook.com/VOLTA
Twitter: @Cirque #VOLTA
Instagram: @cirquedusoleil #VOLTA
Cirque du Soleil
VOLTA is Cirque du Soleil's 41st original production since 1984, and its 18th show presented under the Big Top. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 180 million spectators in more than 400 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.
For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com
SOURCE Cirque du Soleil Canada inc.
Media contact: Martine Laforce, Roy & Turner Communications, 514-844-9678, ext. 202, [email protected]
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