About Cirque Du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil (French for "Circus of the Sun,") is an entertainment company. Based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, it was founded in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier.

Each show is a synthesis of circus styles from around the world, with its own central theme and storyline. They draw the audience into the performance through continuous live music, with performers rather than stagehands changing the props, and by having no curtains. In the late 1980s Nouvelle Expérience was created – with the direction of Franco Dragone – which not only made Cirque profitable by 1990, but allowed it to create new shows. The multiple permanent Las Vegas shows alone play to more than 9,000 people a night, 5% of the city's visitors, adding to the 70+ million people who have experienced Cirque.

Cirque's creations have been awarded numerous prizes and distinctions, including Bambi, Rose d'Or, three Gemini Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2004, Interbrand's poll of brand names with the highest global impact ranked Cirque du Soleil as number 22.

A new touring show beginning in April (working title: Cirque 2009) is to be directed by renowned Brazilian choreographer/dancer Deborah Colker.