LI Idol Week 26 Moments of Devastating Beauty

[puppetmaker]

When I was at graduate school at Yale, I use to go into New York City to just get away from the drama at the Drama School. New York gave me a lot to do and a lot to look at that would usually distract me from my troubles and concerns. I would wander around the city to see what I could see. One time I went in and was wandering around towards the waterfront when I saw a tent set up. It was a large circus tent so I went to see what it was. There was a show about to start, they had tickets for students so I paid the price and went to see what I could see. And my world changed in an afternoon.

I saw something like I had never seen. The human body took on a whole new potential that I had never dreamed of. There were no animals. The focus was on what a human could do. The music and the performers told a glorious story. I walked out of there believing in the power of the human spirit. It uplifted me in a way I had not been uplifted in a long time. And I thanked Cirque Du Soleil for that. It changed my life.




A couple of years later I was stage-managing somewhere on the east coast. I would talk to my parents on Sunday. This was in a time before the internet, IM, and iChat. My father mentioned that there was an ad for this group called Cirque Du Soleil that was going to be appearing in Atlanta. I almost screamed in the phone that they should get tickets NOW. They must see this.

I happen to be back in Atlanta when Cirque came through so I went to see it with my parents. The first thing I noticed was the tent.



It was not a tent, it was a temple and within that temple was something that again just changed my life and renewed my spirit. The beauty within of the human form was revealed to me and it made me cry for joy. One of the acts especially spoke to me. It was a man who could fly with nothing more but some leather straps around his wrists. It was the soaring of the human spirit in physical form.



The next show was Saltimbanco which I was in town for and helped for half a day with the set up. This got me a free ticket to the show. And again my life was changed. I loved the costumes and the story. I collected all the music. I was again amazed by what the human body could do and how many pretty human bodies they had in one space. There was a family of acrobats that were used through out the show. It was a mother, father and son. They were from Russia and the parents had trained at the Moscow Circus. You could see the love for each other as they performed.



Since then I have seen every touring show that they have had when they wander through my hometown. I go and cry for happiness and joy as my spirit is renewed.

I have seen people soar without a net.



I have seen serious feats of strength



I have seen what happens when people work together in unity.



I have seen acts of devastating beauty and they have shaped my soul to its very core.

Comments

[1-rhiannon-1.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Cirque du Soleil but I hope to someday.

[wolfsavard.livejournal.com]

I WANT TO JOIN THE CIRCUS, TOO! Seriously, if someone asked me tomorrow, I'd pack up everything and go, no questions asked. I think I would probably have to be whatever the circus equivalent is to a water boy considering I can't even touch my toes, but I would do it.

OMG, I just saw KOOZA in Hartford and I fell in love with Cirque all over again. You *must* go see it when it comes to NYC in the Spring. Caroline will love it, too. There is so much clowning and magic and juggling... the show is so much fun. I couldn't stop smiling the entire time.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Cirque du Soleil, but I've always wanted to.

There was an issue of Marie Claire a few years back when Hilary Swank became one of their acrobats in conjunction with an article she wrote. She's athletic and a trained dancer to start, but my god, the training she went through in order to execute the photos in the article...the flexibility and beauty of the human body never ceases to amaze me.

[tristam.livejournal.com]

I got to see Alegria when they came through Philly and wished I had a credit card to max out so I could see their shows in Vegas. Have you seen the Alegria movie they made? Highly recommended.

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

"I have seen acts of devastating beauty and they have shaped my soul to its very core."

Amen to that. I never saw them perform live, but I'd watched a film version (possibly Journey of Man)... it was absolutely breathtaking. What I remember most was that the foci of the show seemed to be on defying gravity and the power of illusion. (I know that I watched this before moving to Orlando, before I'd heard of La Nouba.)

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Cool entry. Very interesting and creative take on the topic.

[creature-girl08.livejournal.com]

I really liked this and the photos too. A caption for the photos would have made it even better but I really enjoyed this entry.

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

cool nice use of photos to enhance the story.

[mme-furiosa.livejournal.com]

I really dig this entry. I, too find these human feats of strength and grace to be devastatingly beautiful.

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

::: grins :::

Win or lose, this entry is much appreciated, hun.

[tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's Cirque or if it's the circus, but I love those people that pile up pyramid style on top of one single man, riding a bike. That just amazes me. What humans are capable of amazes me.

[elva-undine.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. After we saw Varekai I realized that I - we all - had the potential to be so beautiful.

[vysion-of-books.livejournal.com]

And this is why I love your blog--for inspiring creative arts.