Cirque du Soleil, the groundbreaking circus company, is coming to South Africa for the first time. Cirque du Soleil will bring the spectacular Saltimbanco show to Johannesburg and Cape Town in 2011. Saltimbanco has stunned audiences around the world with the unsurpassed acrobatic skill of its international cast.
The first clown in space
Cirque du Soleil was founded by a pair of street performers in Quebec in Canada nearly thirty years ago. From its humble origins, the company has grown into a global entertainment giant. One of Cirque’s founders, Guy Laliberté, is now a billionaire professional poker player and space tourist! Wearing a red clown’s nose with his space suit, Laliberté became the first ’space clown’ when he hitched a ride on a Russian rocket to the International Space Station.
One of the many acts (image courtesy of Cirque du Soleil website)
Cirque du Soleil showcases amazing individual performances, with cast members specially selected for their outstanding skill and grace. But shows like Saltimbanco are also multi-sensory extravaganzas, with state-of-the-art stage design and lighting, stunning costumes and specially composed music.
Circus skills meets high technology
Part of the appeal of Cirque du Soleil is the fusion of traditional circus skills with the latest technology and stagecraft. Among its acts, Saltimbanco features acrobats, trapeze artists, gravity-defying Chinese poles and juggling like you’ve never seen before. Not to mention Cirque du Soleil’s famous clowns, who will enchant and amuse.
The exceptional cast, selected from twenty different countries, and innovative crew create a feast for the senses. No wonder Cirque du Soleil has kept Las Vegas captivated for years.
Clowning around for a good cause
The company has a social outreach programme, Cirque du Monde, which works with underprivileged youth around the world. Cirque du Monde is active in Cape Town, where they have partnered with the Zip Zap Circus to teach circus skills to disadvantaged young people.
Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco will be showing at the Grand Arena at GrandWest Casion in Cape Town from 23 to 27 March 2011. As always with a prestigious international show, it is advisable to book in advance to be sure of getting tickets. Tickets start from R272.
The Taj Cape Town is an excellent base from which to sample Cape Town’s culture and nightlife. The Taj Cape Town is conveniently situated in the heart of the city, close to many of Cape Town’s restaurants, theatres and galleries.
