Cirque performers prepare for kickoff show in Bossier City
I’ll just be waiting or staging, and all of a sudden, next to me, there’s just someone on a trapeze or in a onehanded handstand – just chilling out.
It reminds me that ‘Right, I’m in the circus,’” Cirque du Soleil puppeteer Rob Laqui said.
Laqui came to Shreveport-Bossier City almost two months ago as part of the cast and crew for “TORUK – First Flight.” The first-time Cirque performer is excited to be a part of an experience he calls “amazing.”
“TORUK” is inspired by James Cameron’s award-winning film “AVATAR.” An enormous undertaking, “TORUK” boasts a brilliant world beyond imagination that aims to dazzle show goers next month at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City.
Cirque du Soleil publicist Laura Silverman said there is no floor seating at the performances, because the show production takes up the entire arena floor.
“The scale of the show is quite massive,” she added. “It’s not just a stage in the center. We’ve built our own flooring on the arena floor and built stages on that.”
Production on the show began in Montreal, Canada, but was moved to the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City for completion, because the show’s substantial set did not fit in the Cirque du Soleil studios in Montreal.
The set is made of inflatable rubber and steel, to make it easier to transport to new show locations. The structure that borders the stage and the central island hides objects and plants that will appear later in the show. The costumes are hand made for a more realistic look.
The contemporary circus-style show depicts the planet Pandora, thousands of years before the events that take place in AVATAR and before humans ever visited the planet. The word “Toruk,” in the Na’vi language spoken by the planet natives, refers to the flying red and orange hued predator that rules the skies of Pandora. Toruk is both feared and honored by the Na’vi tribe. In the show, a member of the Na’vi clan will ride Toruk for the first time.
Toruk will be brought to life onstage as a large scale puppet, along with other Pandoran animals, including the Direhorse, Viperwolves and wood sprites.
Laqui, who has a background in music, theater, dance and largescale puppetry, portrays several different puppets throughout the production, and says the puppets embody the fauna of Pandora.
“I love the idea of puppeteering – using my full body to be able to make these things come alive,” he said.
Silverman said a total of 35 artists perform in the production and will remain on stage for much of the show.
Acrobat Jessica Ward is also performing with Cirque for the first time. She said working with the company has been a dream of hers for a long time.
“This has just been surreal,” she said. “I still walk down the hallways and can’t really believe that I’m here.”
In the show, Ward is a Na’vi acrobat and portrays the three different clans represented in the show. She said her typical day as a Cirque performer starts in makeup, which can take up to an hour and a half. Then she warms up, which includes stretching, flexibility work, some core conditioning and a lot of upper body strength work like rope climbs. Sometimes they also run parts of the show.
“It’s been a real challenge combining the character role with all the technical elements that we have to do,” Ward said. “Seeing all that come together is super rewarding.”
Laqui said life on the road as an artistic nomad can be a challenge, but one tour strategy is to ask local residents for the “can’t-miss” places in town. “You try to hit those up as soon as possible. You find a place to be comfortable,” he said.
So far, company members have seen a few movies at the Robinson Film Center, visited the Red River Revel and eaten at Strawn’s (and loved the “amazing pie”), Marilynn’s Place and Superior Grill. They’ve also been to Noble Savage several times.
“TORUK – The First Flight” is Cirque du Soleil’s 37th production since 1984. The company has performed in front of more than 155 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque also employs more than 4,000 people, including 1,300 artists from almost 50 countries. Laqui is originally from Minnesota and now calls New York his home base, while Ward hails from Australia and now resides in Las Vegas when she isn’t touring.
–Melissa Airhart
WANT TO GO?
Tickets for “TORUK – First Flight” may be purchased at www. cirquedusoleil.com/toruk. The show’s global tour will kick off with a soft opening in Bossier City at the CenturyLink Center. Shows are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12, 13 and 14. The world premiere of the show will take place Dec. 21 in Montreal.
