The atmosphere the afternoon before opening night was surprisingly relaxed. As when I entered the tent, a group of about 20 of artists involved with KOOZA, were all casually sitting on the floor chatting, laughing and joking around. The scene seemed similar to what you might find at any college dorm or student center with young people just hanging out and talking.

But all that changed a few minutes later when the practice session started. The acrobats and gymnasts got into “serious mode” as they started practicing human pyramids, perching on giant balls and bouncing on the trampoline.  The blanket toss reached heights unlike any bikini beach movie from the 1950s.  Double and triple flips were common, and seemed almost effortless. Three-person shoulder stands happened without much effort as well. Yet still, a couple of the guys clowned around when they saw me filming, by taking a Charles Atlas pose after catching one of the artists who dismounted from the shoulders of a man standing on a a rolling ball.

Before the practice, I was also able to chat with one of the ground and ball performers, Corine Latreille, a gymnast who calls Montreal home.

She’s been with Cirque du Soleil for just 2 years, but seemed to be much more experienced in her ability to also act as an ideal press ambassador for Cirque. 

Her background included 10 years as a world-class competitive gymnast, then a stint at the National Circus School in Montreal. There, she honed her skills at the renowned circus training school, that limits enrolment to just 100 gifted students. 

Corine is typical of the traveling Cirque performers, fit, fearless and in her 20s. The average age of an artist in KOOZA is 26.  Yet the youngest performer in the Washington, DC production of KOOZA is a mere 11 years old, while one of the clowns is in his 50s. 

The troupe is also a virtual United Nations with 16 languages being spoken by the 53 artists.

Corine gave me a brief look inside what it’s like to be a member of the one of the most respected circuses in the world today. Here’s just a couple of her more interesting answers.

READ MORE AND WATCH THE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO —> CLICK MORE…..

Question: How do people react when they learn you work in the circus?
Corine: Their first question is always, so…you do that high wire thingy?”

As we chatted, I learned about life on the road with Cirque du Soleil.  Performers are housed in 4-star hotels or upscale condos, and they travel with professional chefs that prepare their meals (after all they are high-energy athletes).  Besides 5-star food, performers are kept in top condition with two full time massage therapists and a sports medicine doctor available in each city. 

The circus also provides a traveling grammar school for performers with younger children.

Since several of the artists are married or are couples, dating and romance is not lost on the road.

She mentioned the toughest thing about touring was an occasional lack of personal time, as the performers are always around each other.  And with a competitive spirit, paired with undoubtedly some high levels of testosterone, one must assume that, like any work group, personality strong emotions can occur, especially if someone is responsible to catch you after a frightening 30 foot vault off of a teeterboard. But she described the KOOZA team as very positive and professional, like a family. 

The artists get just one day off a week. Corine mentioned that this was her first visit to Washington, DC, and that she had already visited the National Mall and the White House. She expressed that she loved visiting and experiencing new cities.

Question: Where do you see yourself in say, 10 years?
Corine: I plan to stay with Cirque du Soleil, still performing, but I hope to be performing at one of the permanent shows, such as Las Vegas, because… I really want to have a cat.”

I guess circus artists want the same things out of life as most of us, including ….the little things.

Before the production opened, I also chatted with KOOZA’s writer and producer, David Shiner. Read the post here. And if you missed my review of KOOZA, please check it out here.

KOOZA has been extended through December 14, 2008.

And a special thanks to the artists of KOOZA, for welcoming me to their practice session.

Images and video -  from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Fast forward 18 years later and he’s directing Cirque du Soleil’s latest production to visit Washington, DC, KOOZA.  He also wrote and created the production, which opens October 30th, 2008 at the new Nation Harbor.

I had a chance recently to chat with David about the upcoming production of KOOZA.

Besides winning a Tony "Live Theatrical Presentation" Award in 1999 for Silent Tongue, David launched the role of the Cat in the Hat, in the Broadway musical Seussica, a musical based on the books by Dr. Seuss. He has also appeared in several movies, including Lorenzo’s Oil and on The Tonight Show.

KOOZA uses the classic Jungian theme, the duality of man — the good and the bad — the light and the dark. The show’s main character, a loner, seeks his place in the world, by exploring a wide range of emotions of the human condition. From power to fear, through solitude to laughter, the characters show us how we are all the same in our hopes, joys and fears.

When asked how long the production took from concept to stage, he related that the show’s concept is based on some of his European clowning and circus experiences, which he described as more classic in their technique and approach. But the show adds in a familiar America style of humor – slapstick, in the forms of the Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy.

The first six months of development of KOOZA were dedicated to the creation of the concept, followed by another 18 months of production development with his team of over a dozen creative associates. During that period, all aspects of the show were developed, including the music – a key element of the show, as well as the costumes, sets and each performance. But he reminded me that it doesn’t include the years and years performers invest to make any Cirque show look effortless as they seem to defy gravity and much of natural law.

“It the first show where the clown’s performances were created specifically for the show in the studio,” he said. “And KOOZA is one of the most physical Cirque du Soleil shows in years.” A comment such as that is hard to comprehend, as all of the shows I’ve experienced have been exceptionally physical and seemed to push the performances to the limits of physical strength, agility, balance and control.

When asked if he is creating another Cirque show in the future, he hesitated and replied somewhat coyly, “Yes…one for production in 2010”.  Based on his somewhat reluctant answer, it seems he’s like so many other creative types, preferring to hold their work close to the chest until it’s ready for public consumption. 

I asked him what Washington DC audiences should look for, he replied that the audience should leave the performance with a feeling of inspiration and hope. “Hopefully feeling like a kid again.”

Something I suspect we could all use a bit more of these days.

For more details on performances and tickets, check out my original announcement on the KOOZA on The DC Traveler.  The scheduled performance run has been extended another two weeks, now ending on December 14, 2008.

Images – All courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, © Cirque du Soleil 2007 – headshot – by Olivier Samson-Arcand – C2007 Cirque du Soleil Inc.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Opening October 30th, 2008, for a one month run at the National Harbor in Washington, DC, Cirque Du Soleil combines some of the best acrobatic performers in the world, with the art of clowning to create mystifying stories that delights audiences.

Tickets for Cirque’s Middle Eastern inspired show, KOOZA, just went on sale. The show includes high-flying acrobats, amazing gymnastics and dance, high wire and trapeze artists, bicyclists, jugglers, and, as always, a good dose of humor and memorizing live music.  

Cirque du Soleil has reinvented circus performing and taken it to amazing new heights.  That’s why over 80 million people worldwide have seen the magic of Cirque. 

I’ve seen three of their shows and each performance was spectacular and totally entertaining.  After attending any show, there’s always a few acts that leave me asking  “just how did they do that?”

Tickets are now on sale and should go fast, so order soon.

Cirque Du Soleil – KOOZA
Under the Grand Chapiteau at the Plateau
201 Harborview Avenue
National Harbor, MD 20745  (map it)

Dates and Times – October 30 – November 30, 2008, Daily, except Mondays. 

Tickets – Adults – $55.00 – $215.00, kids 2-12 -  $38.50 – $150.50, Weekday Senior and student discounts available for some shows – $49.50 – $112.50. Tickets are on sale now and available online or by phone at 800-674-5440.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Branch Avenue – Green line, then a 20-minute bus ride (NH-1 Metrobus).

Parking – Harbor parking is normally $1.00 per hour ($10 max.), but event parking may be charged.

Images – All courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, © Cirque du Soleil 2007 – Skeleton Dance – photo by Olivier Samson Arcand & costume by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt.

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Post from: The DC Traveler