Cirque du Soleil falls in love with Gran Canaria with its big European premiere

Surrounded by thousands of people, the grand premiere of Bazzar reminded once again why Cirque du Soleil is always welcome on the island, which demonstrated that it loves Canadian circus and that it excited once again with a long-awaited arrival. After the cancellation of its tour to the Canaries due to the pandemic, the circus entity settles its debt to the island, which embraced it with all its warmth in a premiere full of emotions.

Around 60 containers contain magic Bazaarand they traveled across the Atlantic to create in just one week a vibrant and unique universe, where their large tent stands out, which until January will be part of the Maspalomas skyline. A coming and going of motorcycles, scooters and electric bikes filled this living space into which the artists and staff full of energy arrive, who have had a new home in the south of the island for a year. large family of 28 countries different. This was explained to ABC by the head of costumes, Carla Poblete, originally from Chile, who started out painting and specialized in costumes, until her childhood dream hit home. door. When Cirque du Soleil came to her town, they hired her as a local to help with sewing tasks. Today, he has been part of his “big international family” for more than a year and a half.

Surrounded by fabrics, wigs, threads and sewing machines, Carla designs jewelry, has her own brand and leads the team that dresses Bazzar. Everything is measured and programmed, but despite this, their sewing machines never stop. “Working with them was my childhood dream, and without expecting it, it came true,” she rejoices.

Carla smiles at Martina Trombetta, from Italy, who is doing her makeup. Each artist learns how to do it at the head office in Montreal, even if all the material is found in the most curious cupboards of Cirque du Soleilwhere there is no shortage of colors, shine and decorations of all kinds to characterize each of the characters. Martina worked as a flight attendant in an airline and, although she continues to say that her home is in Dubai, she has been living the dream for over a year. “All of us here are working, but look at the work,” he jokes, pointing to those he already considers his “brothers,” “this particular show, where there are fewer of us, gives the impression of ‘to be at home, in family. She, a hair suspension acrobat, hangs several meters from the ground to take the breath away of thousands of people. “I always wanted to dedicate myself to pole, but if they had told me that I was going to end up as an artist at Cirque du Soleil… I wouldn’t have believed them.”

From the washing machines to the bathrooms, to the gym, to the training tent… Cirque du Soleil is its own world on and off stage, with 35 artists and a team of more than 80 people of 28 nationalities. “Cooking for so many different countries and cultures is not easy, but there are things that everyone likes,” jokes Arturo Hernández, from Mexico, as he prepares Cuban cuisine, which he says is a success guaranteed. Bazzar’s cuisine adapts to a somewhat special and very international family, with vegetarian and vegan options, respectful of customs and always varied. Everyone buys the products on the island and the locals join the Cirque team to bring the Canarian flavor to an unusual “restaurant”.

With us, we take care not only of the team, but also of the visitor. Henrique Santana is in charge of the customer experience, which is different depending on each destination. “Gran Canaria lends itself to the outdoors, to the enjoyment of open spaces, and that is why we organized a totally different experience for Bazaar. Terraces, shared tables and a facility designed to enjoy the eternal summer of Maspalomas, he assures, while declaring himself delighted to be on the island, with a climate and atmosphere that makes him fall in love .

Lester Paredes, from Venezuela, had been to the island before. This versatile Cirque du Soleil musician has been part of this group for seven years, surprising audiences on stage by playing everything from saxophone to Spanish guitar, flute, electric guitar… Accompanied by his other two companions and a singer, they They are the music, and those who are responsible for giving the show a unparalleled atmosphere. “The music, with the staging or the artists, are three parts that must go hand in hand and which do not go without one.” For Lester, music is “like a clock which adjusts to the millimeter and perfectly to the movements”, because they are accompanists but also give rhythm, and undoubtedly one of the characteristics of the Circus where all the music is original and strictly direct.

The “return” to the origins

Franck Hanselman is the Bazzar tour director and he admits to being delighted with this European landing of the production, the second time that the now emblematic Cirque du Soleil tent has visited the island. For Franck it is a very specialCirque du Soleil meets 40 years and celebrates it by returning to its origins, to these beginnings of the circus in its most urban and purest aspect, where the acrobat is the center of all attention.

Bazzar is a eclectic laboratory of infinite creativitywhere “a joyful troupe of acrobats, dancers and musicians create a truly inspiring spectacle”. This show is colorful, it is a simple and lively setting, which gets closer than ever to the viewer to integrate it into a production full of the artistic and acrobatic magic with which Cirque du Soleil was born 4 decades ago.

Swing, acrobatic bike, trapeze, fire acrobatics, slackline, hair suspension… the show also presents a representation of Mallakhamb, a traditional Indian sport, which combines aerial yoga and gymnastics and which, for the first timeto see on a Cirque du Soleil stage, to which are added breathtaking numbers, elegance, purity and the innovative proposal of a dozen proposals.