Burnside home to regions first circus troupe

When Anäis Güimond first opened her circus arts school Atlantic Cirque on Ilsley Avenue, she was already sure she would one day start Atlantic Canadas first professional circus troupe, just not right away. That was a long-term goal. Now, just over a year later, she finds her timetable has been moved up considerably.



Out of the 15 to 20 advanced students here at the school, four of the best are going to university in the fall and they are considering going to Montreal (home of Cirque de Soliel) and I would like to keep them here, Güimond explains as her main motivation for starting Cirque Siana now. These students are also instructors for the younger students, so theyre great role models. I couldnt see starting the troupe without them.



Even with that deadline in mind, she was still originally thinking about getting the company up and running by sometime in the summer. Now she has to have it ready for its first show by February.



When I called to book a date in a local theatre, February was the only available weekend slot unless I wanted to wait till 2008, so I took it, Güimond says.



Meeting such a short deadline wouldnt be possible except for the fact Güimond has been working on the show for more than two years already.



In the spring of 2004 I started working on a script for a show, but I didnt want to tell anyone because I didnt want to put the pressure on myself of everyone asking when it would be finished and when was going to form the troupe, she says.



As well her students have already performed at a variety of private functions in the city over the past few years, just not as a group. That performance experience is now crucial to the troupes ability to have the show ready to go for its debut.



Right now Güimond says almost every hour of the day is filled arranging aspects of the coming show. There are rehearsals, finishing the script, overseeing the design of sets and costumes and developing a marketing strategy for Cirque Siana.



None of it would be possible without the team I have supporting me, she says. Katrina Perks is my assistant director, Stephanie McNair is in charge of equipment and décor, Tonja Antoniak is our production manager and Stephen Bourque is our light designer. We have a tight budget just $20,000 and none of the staff or performers are getting paid this first year.



Certain shortcuts had to be taken this first time around in order to meet the February curtain call. Güimond originally planned to hold auditions to choose her performers, but there simple wasnt time to go through that process.



We had to go with students who had the background and technique that made them able to be ready to go by February 23, she says.



Cirque Sianas initial line up includes Leigh Sadler, 17; Kelsey Ivory, 16; Thomas Rizzuto, 9; Caitlan Anthony, 16; Jessie Trueman, 15; Sara Greenburg, 15; Chelsea Longaphy, 15; Andrea Ouellette, 15; Tess Conley, 15; Jennifer Vansickle, 17; Stan Sokolenko, 18; and Jocelyn Stairs, 17.



At just nine-years-old, Rizzuto is by far the youngest of the troupe, and will play the central figure in the first show a small boy who invites the audience into the world of his imagination and guides them to each performance. Acts include handbalancing, rope, trapeze, an aerial diamond, contortion and the finale aerial silk.



Only the middle act of the show isnt fixed yet and Güimond intends to still hold auditions for that position.



The middle act is the only one not from the school. It will be a guest performer from the community, maybe juggling or magic or even dance it isnt settled yet, she says.



However, Güimond says her biggest challenge right now lies not on the performing side, but in marketing.



We are looking for sponsors to help us make the show a reality. Were trying to get a title sponsor and are looking for companies that fit the family focus of our show. We are finishing off our sponsor proposal now and will then contact companies to see if they are interested before we send them a package. Then we can follow up with a personal visit to convince them to sign on, Güimond says.



Cirque Siana debuts at the Alderney Landing Theatre with three shows: Friday, February 23 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 24 at noon and 8 p.m. Adult tickets are $24 and children 14 and under are $14 (prices include tax). Call the box office at 461-8401 for further details.