BURST
More than two dozen girls watched as crew members for one of the largest circus producers in the world performed complex acrobatics, hanging from ropes and hurling and catching each other in a tent outside the Big Four building on Friday.
Then, the teenagers had a chance to emulate their moves.
They weren’t just any girls but elite gymnasts between ages 13 and 18 invited to explore a future as a performer with Canadian company Cirque du Soleil. The troupe hosts more than 350 shows a year across the globe and is performing in Calgary until Oct. 19 .
The meeting was arranged by the technical director for Alberta Gymnastics Federation, Darren Webster and head coach Cirque Lee McDermott, both of whom are also long-time friends.
“I thought it was a good opportunity for the girls to see what life as an artist is like on tour, and how they could transition as one of their options when they get to 17, 18 or 19 years old after a career in gymnastics,” Webster said.
Although several parallels exist between the two areas, transitioning from an athlete to an artist requires significant adjustments. For instance, an athlete, who is usually focused on a long-term goal, such as preparing for a competition, will have to direct their energy towards a show with higher stakes, Webster said.
However, being a performer comes with perks.
“This is a full-time job; they’re well taken care of,” Webster said. Artists have their accommodation and food taken care of during their tour while receiving hundreds of dollars for a show.
McDermott said meeting the performers is a first step for the gymnasts. They would then have to send their videos to the casting department, which will shortlist candidates as per the show’s needs. After basic training in Montreal, where the company is headquartered, the list would be further trimmed until an art director finds a suitable candidate.
Among those aspirants was Rebecca Lee, who is 16 and has competed in several national-level competitions.
“It’s a really cool opportunity to see what I can do later in life,” she said in an interview with Postmedia while continuously peeking at demonstrations from Cirque du Soleil artists.
