INTERVIEW WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
We met with the experts Mariana Zarouba and Boris Verkhovsky from the Cirque du Soleil during the Sports Acrobatics World Championships in Liévin Moutier: juin 2004.
FIG: What ‘s make a difference between sports and a show ?
CIRQUE: The rules are one of the unique things which make the difference in sports. With rules you can compare people, you can identify based on certain standards established by the Code of Points, you can establish a rank, declare a champion. This gives a clear and direct notion of champion. It gives also the direction where one needs to train and it is a clear inspiration for young person to grow. In a show, this is not the case. In show business, it is just driven by an individual and free passion. In the Cirque du Soleil, we love to find people with a true motivation because we have a vision of a show. So we want to work together with a partner, not with a robot.
FIG: Could we say that people is watching the championships with the brain and Le Cirque du Soleil with the heart ?
CIRQUE: This is an interesting way to look at the situation ! The audience is probably closed to the same, but for the specialists for sure in a sport environment the rules are still the base.
FIG: Do you think that there is not enough space for the imagination ?
CIRQUE: (laugh!) Imagination is a very interesting notion. I did not see any world championships for a few years and I am actually amazed and impressed by the notion of artistry in some elements. I am very curious about the artistic elements and the artistic influence on the whole routine, not only when the gymnasts perform the elements but also when they present themselves on the podium. Now the gymnasts to enter and exit the podium artistically, that’s totally new for me at a world championships.
FIG: And the difference between a world champion and a Cirque du Soleil gymnast?
CIRQUE: It is not about difficulty. When it is done at a level of respectable difficulty, not the highest in the world, but done with virtuosity and with charisma, that’s what we are looking for. On the other hand, a gymnast competing may present a superficial artistic performance because of the judging constraints.