The Great Melodist

 

“Life is full of adventure. There’s no such thing as a clear pathway.”

Guy Laliberté, born September 2, 1959, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada), a French-Canadian performer and entrepreneur who cofounded (1984) the acrobatic troupe Cirque du Soleil, which became a hugely profitable entertainment company.

Guy always knew that he wasn’t going to take the traditional approach to life.When he finished school at 16, he made it clear to his family that higher education was not at the top of his list.It wasn’t even at the bottom. There was only one thing he cared about.Travel.He wanted to leave his home of Quebec and see the world.It was a nice dream — but hardly possible.. So he started busking on the streets of Canada, playing the accordion for tips from those passing by.Then, in 1984, Mr. Laliberté founded Cirque du Soleil. His astonishing blend of circus acrobatics and street theatre-inspired stagecraft went on to dumbfound almost 100 million viewers, from New York to Macau.Today, Montreal-based Cirque has 23 shows running on five continents, and Forbes magazine pegs Mr. Laliberté as the world’s 374th wealthiest person, with a net worth of $2.5-billion (U.S.).Cirque’s current offerings range from the aquatic fantasy, O, to Dralion, an East meets West acrobatic spectacle.

Inspired by this success, Laliberté and his band of kindred spirits determined to keep the Cirque du Soleil operating. He cultivated both public and private investors who were taken by the group’s originality and determination, and in 1985 Cirque du Soleil began touring North America. The success of the company grew rapidly, and by the early 1990s it was mounting productions in Europe and Asia. In 1993 the troupe debuted its first permanent show, Mystère, at the Treasure Island casino in Las Vegas. Laliberté later opened other permanent shows in Las Vegas as well as at various other locations, including Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and the Tokyo Disney Resort.

Article by: Abegail Deiparine