Being a Performer for Cirque Du Soleil on the Front Line

Having an incredible aura and stage presence helps for an audition in just about anything. Being a part of the Cirque du Soleil means having impeccable style, excellent manners and stage presence, as well as being in near-perfect physical condition. Learning how to move every muscle and part of your body is very important. Knowing how to move, when to move, where the other performers on-stage are is also important.

Of course, having a basic knowledge of the French language, Russian language as well as the Spanish language may also be necessary. Most of the performers are extremely polite, if possible be polite also. We're not asking you to be a tatami mat, and have people walking all over you, unless that is a part of your act, just be polite and friendly to people around you.

Thinking positively, being positive, breathing positive, beaming and shining out good vibrations, being part of the Cirque du Soleil is, of course, absolutely all of this - however, as a performer, a person is expected to move with grace, speed, precision and perfection as part of the troupe.

While you are preparing for your new job endeavor, maintaining a good sense of balance and sense of purpose is important. The prime directive is to keep yourself maintained and in excellent shape. You may need to take dance, aerobics, a form of martial arts, and a self-defense class all during the course of a day, and you might need to get a job at the local health spa or fitness center in order to be able to afford all the lessons you will need to be taking. Books that teach martial arts such as judo are available in a number of languages such as Spanish, French and English; as are books and videos on dance routines and aerobics. Mime and sign language are actually the most international ways of communication, and if you have a chance, learn at least a little bit of mime.

Don't worry about the costume just yet, worry about your routine, worry about choreography. Worry about learning the moves and having enough money to get you through the first month of work when you get there. If you are "in", the employer will provide you with your costumes, all you, as a performer, need to do is to keep your own catsuit, unitard, or bodysuit collection and one or two outfits of clothes plus vitamins for the season.

One never knows what the choreographer will throw at the performers when the routine is set - this routine could be based on the Waltz, a hip-hop dance, an Olympic dance routine, a movie scene, it is best for the prospective performer to learn a little bit about the routine.

Another thing to learn that is important is geography. The Cirque du Soleil is a traveling performance outfit, and it is good to know the world geography.

Finally, have your vaccines done. You will need to have current vaccination papers, for Meningitis, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, Flu, Hepatitis A B C and D, Tetanus, and perhaps a few others. Some of this the on-site doctors will be willing to help you with, if you are hired, however, not all of the shots will be provided for you. If your paperwork has been taken and your vaccines have been done more than seven years ago, and you cannot find the lab or doctor who took care of them, have them done again. If you know who the doctor is or what clinic took care of the vaccinations, just have another set of paperwork sent over for you.

The Cirque du Soleil is a bit like the Golden Dragon Circus in the way the team functions during the performances. A lot of gentle tai chi movements, a lot of gentle techniques of dance and dance movements, maybe some slow savate and a few tap dance lessons to round out your exercise preludes to being a professional, and you will be there.

Also, you should bring at least three letters of reference from verifiable sources, and thank you notes to the rehearsal, as well as a change of clothing, and your passport, as well as a lock and chain for your gym bag so that it does not wander while you are rehearsing.

Excuse me, there are books on "How to be a Dancer", "How to be an Acrobat", "My Experiences with Ringling Brothers", for children that will be for sale wherever you go. Be sure to bring along your personal hygiene goods, and you might want to bring a few tiny books in the English language with you, or at least a Eurorail map and travel guide in English with you, and a tiny Berlitz book in your second or third language. If you are "in", there probably will not be time for you to go home, pack your bags, and take care of everything.

Honestly, I'd start out from the bottom and learn about the Cirque du Soleil ticketing program, not having a sponsor or a backer. Having a few people to be at least acquainted with prior to being part of the inner circle would be the best thing to do. People like the ticket seller and talk to the person in the booth. This is entirely a different class of worker than being part of the refreshment stand would be. The ticket seller has a shot at actually getting there, and being part of the Cirque du Soleil, while the popcorn vendor has more of a chance of managing a carnival act or an arena. Being a ticket seller can be a lot of fun, and there are a lot of opportunities to practise your mime routine.

Contact: Cirque du Soleil