Cirque du Soleil: An Idea That Sparked A Phenomenon

From humble beginnings come the most marvelous stories

You know a company has become a phenomenon when the name is familiar, even when not having a constant foothold in the place it’s recognized in. This is the exact case with Cirque du Soleil in the Philippines. We’re all familiar with the brand despite only catching maybe a show or two before. However, this is all likely to change with the Asian debut of TORUK – The First Flight on June 23 in Manila.

Cirque’s humble beginnings

In the 1980’s, a troupe of performers founded by Gilles Ste-Croix put on a show in the streets of Baie-Saint-Paul. The group, called Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul (the Baie-SaintPaul Stiltwalkers) brought fun and entertainment to the locals as they juggled, danced, played music and breathed fire.

 In 1984, Guy Laliberté saw an opportunity to take the troupe on a province-wide tour during Quebec’s 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier’s discovery of Canada. He presented a proposal for a show with a hypnotizing mix of wild costumes, street performances, original music and circus arts.

It was dubbed Cirque du Soleil, meaning Circus of the Sun in French.

Its inevitable rise

By 1987, the company had reached the shores of the United States, performing at the Los Angeles Art Festival before moving to San Diego and Santa Monica. Audiences were thrilled at the unique set designs, acts and audience involvement. Then in 1990, Cirque du Soleil entered Europe with performances in Paris and London.

1993 marked its first permanent show, entitled Mystère. In a Las Vegas theater that was built to its specifications, Cirque du Soleil found its home in performing a show that is still running strong. 

Keeping an eye on the future

The goal of Cirque has always been to push the limits of imagination and provoke all senses of its audience. That has not changed, but the company has pushed even itself with its latest production, TORUK— The First Flight. Inspired by James Cameron’s Avatar, TORUK gives audiences a new immersive experience into the world of Pandora.

Don’t miss out on your chance to catch TORUK—The First Flight live in Manila. Playing June 23 – July 2 at the Mall Of Asia Arena. Click here to get your tickets.