Photo by James Holt
Experience the thrill of Cirque Noir, a symphonic performance that plays tribute to the film noir era. Featuring the acrobatic talents of Troupe Vertigo and set to a jazzy score and stunning visuals, Cirque Noir will awe audiences as aerial acrobats, dancers and contortionists perform alongside the Seattle Symphony.
Founded in 2009 by Aloysia Gavre (Cirque du Soleil) and her husband, film and theater producer Rex Camphuis, Troupe Vertigo delivers an eclectic and refreshing mix of circus-dance-theater works that ignite the imagination with mentally and physically spellbinding performances.
I had a chance to chat with Gavre through zoom recently, here are the highlights.
All About Film Noir:
The show is broadly divided into two parts or suites. Act One revolves around a fantasy dance world, featuring iconic images of beauty and grace. The second act presents back-to-back Cirque Noir, where we tell an impressionistic story of these iconic characters: gangsters, detectives, vixens, and femme fatales. The music selections for both acts help dictate the impressions and stories we convey. I believe that both acts complement each other nicely; sometimes, you just want to sit back, appreciate beauty, and be wrapped up in that joyous experience. In contrast, Act Two is ferocious, comedic, and silly, but we hope it will also inspire the audience to dress up. The inspiration for that act comes from Raymond Chandler novels and Edward Hopper paintings, both rich in description and color. And, of course, it falls squarely within the realm of film noir, especially for anyone who watches Turner Classic Movies (TCM).
Aloysia’s Background:
At Cirque du Soleil, I was an artist—an aerialist who performed throughout Europe, America, and Las Vegas. I was part of a show called “Kà” and traveled extensively with it. I’m 50 now, but I did that in my 20s. Kà was a tent show, and then I was also in O, the water show in Las Vegas.
Flying Above Benaroya Hall Stage:
We prepare meticulously with the production staff to ensure that everyone understands the rigging layout. The challenge is how to install the rigging to allow artists to fly safely up and down—not only for the artists, which is paramount, but also for the musicians. The proximity can be quite stimulating and exhilarating, and we want to ensure the musicians stay focused on their performance without being too distracted. We’ve been doing this for quite some time, and I would say we have everything in our back pocket. We never push the limits of safety.
The marriage of these two art forms is unique. Generally, the musicians have the entire stage to themselves, with the conductor positioned in a full crescent moon formation around them. When we join them, it requires a compromise; we tighten the space to give us room downstage. Unlike a traditional ballet performance where the orchestra is in the pit and only the conductor can see everything, this setup is special because we work together closely. We follow the musicians and the conductor’s tempo, timing, and rhythm, as there are fewer of us—just eight performers compared to over 50 musicians. We meet eye to eye, appreciating each other’s athleticism, creating a beautiful synergy between the two art forms.
Who is in the Troupe:
Our troupe is made up of talented individuals from across the country. We have a foot juggler originally from Ethiopia who now lives in San Diego and is the mother of a cute five-year-old who just started kindergarten. We learn many things about each other while traveling together. She is part of our Act One Cirque Dances program, performing three Latin dances that are very rhythmic. Imagine juggling with your feet—it’s no small feat! There’s a lot of rhythm and percussive elements in what she does while juggling various items with her feet, creating a distinct sound.
We also feature aerial fabric (or aerial silks), which is always a fan favorite, and Rola Bola, where an artist stacks cylinders and boards and balances on them—this is Irving, from the Baltimore area. Then there’s Junru, a hand-balancing specialist now based in Los Angeles but originally from China, known for her incredible one-arm handstand, for which she holds a Guinness World Record. Additionally, we have two artists who perform hair hang, hanging truthfully from their hair—no gimmicks involved.
The Score:
The music is almost entirely composed and arranged by our conductor, Jeff, and it’s an original piece. I found it captivating; when I heard it, I felt like it was created just for us—an automatic pairing, for sure.
Please join Troupe Vertigo and the Seattle Symphony as part of the Seattle Pops series on October 11-13 at 8:00p and at 2:00p on Sunday the 13th at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall. Click HERE for Info and Tickets.
DID YOU KNOW Cirque Noir is part of our Family Connections program? That means kids and teens ages 8–18 can attend FREE with the purchase of an adult ticket. Call the Ticket Office at 206.215.4747 to get your Family Connections passes.
