ZAIA

(Cirque Du Soleil “ZAIA” photos – click bottom three for full size image)

Information here released publicly on May 29, 2008 by Cirque Du Soleil with live performance excerpts at their new theater in Macau, China at the Sands Venetian.

ZAIA (“Zai-Yah”)is the name of our new Cirque Du Soleil show in Macau, China. Former working titles included “Macao 2008”, “Macao One” and “Cosmos”.

• See the first Cirque Du Soleil ZAIA Trailer and Official Zaia Page
• Visit the Official Cirque Du Soleil China Page
• Send a Card of your picture with a ZAIA performer

There are several preview videos on YouTube.com of the CIRQUE ZAIA press conference and previews.

ZAIA is Cirque Du Soleil’s first resident (non-touring) show outside the United States. This will be followed quickly by a show in Tokyo, a second show in Macau and a show in Dubai.

Kind of a trip seeing the greeting card feature (link above) on the ZAIA page. Those are my friends, and here they look so awesome and are so talented. Just strange to know them, that’s all.

“The creators of the most stunnign shows -Acclaimed by millions around the world – Cirque Du Soleil presents – the most dazzling spectacle ever staged in Asia – Discover the Power that Unites us All – Zaia.

The word ZAIA is said to mean “Life”, although I cannot find confirmation of this in any language. It is also a morph of the Greek word “Gaia”, the ancient Greek goddess of the earth. The name was also chosen because it is easy for Asian people to pronounce.

05/30/08 – My friend Racheal sends me this about the name:

” Ζωή (zoi) is the Greek word for life. I guess the idea is that Γαία (Gaia) and zoi are morphed into the one word in an intuitive way that isn’t really supposed to make linguistic sense, but sounds good, is easy to say, and memorable.”

The name of the show has been a long awaited announcement, and although many artists knew the name through the grapevine I wouldn’t let them tell me because I wanted to be surprised. Our directors have had a fun time teasing us, many times pretending to slip and announce the name – but they fooled us every time. All in fun.

I apologize that I cannot tell you details about the show that have not been publicly released. But I did want to tell you how much fun it was to be backstage in costume for the preview and watch the acts. It was one of the first times we got to see each other in full costume and makeup. And we were always complimenting each other on the outfits because it was a surprise for all to see. The musician costumes got a lot of good comments from the ladies, but you’ll just have to wait to see what those costumes are!

I have done a pretty good amount of live shows and theater productions. But to be backstage at a custom built resident Cirque Du Soleil theater – that’s really something beyond words. These people I work with – they are overall pretty normal (ok, pretty normal for people that work in a circus devoting their whole lives to doing peculiar things). We have spent so many months having meals and bus rides together. The occasional party and after hours crazy stuff. And it’s like we are all part of a college dorm. Then you see these people take their place in costume and do their specialty – well, it’s absolutely amazing. I can’t believe I know them. And then they come to the musicians and often say the same thing, how amazing it is.

I will tell you I have cried many times while watching rehearsals. And that’s common. Many techs start weeping during moments of incredible emotion. That’s part of the magic of Cirque. I have seen some of these acts dozens, and dozens and dozens of times. But Cirque still gets me with the “WOW” factor. I can only imagine what the experience will be to a first time viewer.

I’m also pretty jazzed because this is the first time in quite a while I’ve been able to talk about the show a little bit. Their won’t be many more details, if any, until after the show opens.

Enough of my ramblings, here’s more official Cirque news.

From the Official Cirque Du Soleil Website – Zaia Macau Sands Venetian
Web link: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/World/en/cn/shows/macau2008.asp

ZAIA is the dream of a young girl who journeys into space on a strange, yet familiar voyage of self-discovery. As she travels, she encounters the beauty of humanity and eventually brings it back with her to share with the inhabitants of earth.

ZAIA presents a young girl’s perception of the stars and planets, space and infinity, all populated by a panoply of fantastic, literally out-of-this-world creatures. The title, ZAIA, comes from a Greek name meaning “life” and is also reminiscent of “Gaia,” the living, self-aware, spirit of earth.

ZAIA is a show that highlights dance, movement and aerial acrobatics, soaring to the farthest reaches of space and human beauty.

ZAIA SHOW CREATORS
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/zaia/en/show/creators.asp
(Visit link for more detailed information on the Creation Team for ZAIA)

• Guy Laliberté – Guide – “Cirque du Soleil began with a very simple dream. A group of young entertainers got together to amuse audiences, see the world, and have fun doing it.”
• Gilles Ste-Croix – Senior Vice President, Creative Content
• Neilson Vignola – Director of Creation – “My role is to bring people to the creative challenge and go beyond it. I love what I do. I don’t think the job exists anywhere but Cirque.”
• Gilles Maheu – Writer and Director – “We have to rediscover the art of troubling, of overwhelming. I believe in a theatre of the emotions of the body. The stage is the centre of fire, of a hurricane, of a storm where forces alive and dangerous confront each other.”
• Guillaume Lord – Set and Props Designer and Theater Concept – “I don’t really have any regular visual signature. It’s always the show that drives my designs.”
• Dominique Lemieux – Costume Designer – “ I have a penchant for noble fabrics and natural materials, such as linen and silk, that accentuate the natural beauty of the artists.”
• Violaine Corradi – Composer and Musical Director – “In circus, the music envelops the audience. It makes the audience feel the difficulties, the danger, the lightness or dizziness, and, sometimes, it can even reassure.”
• Martino Müller – Choreographer – “ Dance is simply about people expressing themselves, moving and revealing their emotional energy. And it is this energy that connects the dancers to the acrobats. In turn this energy also connects with the audience, linking human emotions in an inspiring way.”
• Jeff Hall – Acrobatic Choreographer – “Circus choreography is very physical theatre centered around the artists’ skills while driven by the emotions of theme.”
• Rob Bollinger – Acrobatic Performance Designer – “A little fear is good because it keeps you alert. You don’t want to be careless when you’re diving 100 feet. That’s something I stress with the acrobats.”
• Guy Lemire – Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer – ”In acrobatics we have the artists’ lives in our hands so their safety is our primary concern.”
• Axel Morgenthaler – Lighting Designer – “Beyond revealing the magic of the artist’s expression, light has the power to make us believe we are elsewhere and transport the audience outside of the physical performance space into the realm of imagination.”
• Jimmy Lakatos and Raymond Saint-Jean – Projections Designers – “Given the expressive power and narrative complexity of the images that are used by artistic creations today, designers are employing video to tell stories rather than simply create textures or make backdrops for the stage.”
• Steven Dubuc – Sound Designer – “Sound design is one of the places where technology meets art. And with a Cirque du Soleil production, when you first walk into the lobby you’re already in the show, thanks to the sound environment.”
• Nathalie Gagné – Make-up Designer – “Makeup is a reflection of the character’s soul. It’s also a magic wand that sweeps away inhibitions.”
• Leonid Leykin – Clown acts Designer – “I can stand on the stage and do nothing, and everybody understands what I want to say.”

ZAIA NEWS RELEASE

“MACAU: Cirque du Soleil on Thursday unveiled its first permanent show in Asia at the Venetian Macao, as casino operators bring Las Vegas-style entertainment to this southern Chinese gambling enclave and the Canadian circus group tries to tap a fast-growing market.”

Artists performed excerpts from the US$150 million (€96 million) space-themed “Zaia” program at a press preview in a 1,800-seat purpose-built theater.

The 90-minute show — about a young girl’s space journey — features an astronaut cycling in air and other performers biking while suspended upside down from the 80-foot (24-meter) high stage. Dancers in colorful clothes roller-blade and skateboard between lantern-like buildings scenery.

In another scene, two acrobats perform a duet, twirling and soaring through the air with the help of elastic ropes tied to the stage ceiling.

With a past more noted for its massage parlor-cum-brothels and smoke-filled casino rooms, Macau has tried to reinvent itself in recent years with gleaming new casinos built by foreign investors like the Venetian Macao, the Wynn Macau and MGM Grand Macau.

Venetian Macao stages concerts by both Chinese pop singers and foreign acts like Black Eyed Peas and Celine Dion, but there are few long-term engagements like Dion’s and Elton John’s in Las Vegas. “Zaia,” from a Greek name meaning life, is the first major permanent entertainment act in Macau. Cirque du Soleil has six permanent shows in Las Vegas.

“Entertainment was a very key part of our strategy,” said Brad Stone, Executive Vice President at Las Vegas Sands Corp., which runs the Venetian Macao and Sands Macao.

Cirque du Soleil Chief Executive Daniel Lamarre said the Montreal-based group had been a key factor in making Las Vegas attractive to a broader market. He said data showed that 5 percent of tourists now visited Las Vegas just to watch a Cirque du Soleil show.

“We hope to do the same thing here — that people will come to Macau only to see our shows,” he said.

But it’s unclear if the circus group will appeal to mainland Chinese tourists who flock to Macau. Ticket prices for “Zaia” are steep, ranging from 388 Macau patacas (US$50; €32) to 1,288 patacas (US$165; €110).

While Cirque du Soleil has toured Hong Kong, Taiwan and is popular in Japan — where it plans to launch a second permanent Asian show — the group has had limited exposure in China. It took the touring show “Quidam” to Shanghai last year.

“One of our challenges here is to explain to the Chinese public that the kind of shows we are developing are very inspired by the long tradition of Chinese circus that we do respect a lot, but that we are bringing the flavor of 42 nationalities,” Lamarre said, referring to Cirque du Soleil’s international team.

He said the group will “do a lot of marketing efforts.” He said the name “Zaia” was chosen partly because it is Chinese-sounding.

Lamarre said he believed Cirque du Soleil’s future was in Asia.

Asian ticket sales currently account for 10 percent of total sales, but Lamarre said he wanted the figure go up to 30 percent in three to five years.

The group plans to add a second show at the Four Seasons Macao in 2009 and hopes to launch permanent shows in Shanghai and Beijing, he said.

“Zaia” will officially open on Aug. 28, the first anniversary of the Venetian Macao, with preview shows starting July 26.