Close-up: The pandemic has disrupted everything, but we continue to chase our dreams – Cirque du Soleil returns to the European stage

LONDON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The pandemic has interrupted everything, but we continue to chase our dreams – Cirque du Soleil returns to the European stage

Xinhua News Agency reporter Guo Shuang

Cobalt blue stage headlights sweep up the red audience seats, huge blue water curtains hang from the sky to the blue indigo ground, orange-red figures soaring high, projected on the walls of the ivory circular theater... The light and shadow acrobatic performance "Luzia", which was forced to end two years ago due to the new crown epidemic, returned to the Royal Albert Hall Theatre in the new year, and the famous Cirque du Soleil finally brought the performance of "Challenging the Earth's Gravity" to the European stage again.

But everything is very different from two years ago: the trapeze wears a mask, the humorous "clown" no longer approaches the audience, the sterilization hand sanitizer can be seen everywhere in the theater, and the public has also increased the relevant epidemic prevention procedures.

Now, "we have to wear a mask when we perform, but in fact, sometimes wearing a mask can be dangerous, such as jumping up may cover our eyes." Before the pandemic, we used to interact with the audience, but now for safety reasons, we have to cancel. Li Yan, a Chinese actor who has been performing at Cirque du Soleil for more than 13 years, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency a few days ago.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the theatre industry hard. At the end of 2021, the emergence and rapid spread of the new crown mutant virus Omicron strain has brought a new huge impact. For Cirque du Soleil, one of the world's three major circuses, performers from all over the world, life during the pandemic is even more difficult. Li Yan told reporters: "The epidemic has interrupted everyone's original life, some people have begun to leave, some people have temporarily left the circle, and we can't even continue to do daily training or rehearsals in the theater." ”

Li Yan's hometown is Shenyang, Liaoning, China. The 33-year-old said that before the epidemic, he would return to China every year to visit his relatives, but he never went back after the outbreak, and because he could not continue to perform, he had to live temporarily in Bulgaria with his wife.

Two years ago, the acrobatic show "Luzia", which was forced to be interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, resumed performing at Cirque du Soleil in Europe in January. Being able to continue to "tell" this story makes performers from all over the world "extra excited".

"We all want to continue to inspire people with performances, no matter what happens." He said. In order to participate in the Luzia performance, Li Yan told reporters that he had been training hard for 4 months in the fitness center near the temporary residence.

Combining the Spanish words "luz" (light) and "lluvia" (rain), "Luzia" aims to take the audience through light and shadow and amazing acrobatic performances, taking the audience through a Mexican country that combines dreams and reality. Although it is about the weather, colors and culture of Mexico, this play also incorporates elements of Chinese culture.

"We try to describe another culture with Chinese elements." Li Yan told reporters. At the time of the interview, Li Yan was preparing for the rehearsal of drilling circles and climbing poles for the day. "Both performances are projects from China, with drill circles depicting hummingbirds galloping and poles depicting lizards wandering through the jungle." He said.

"No matter what happens, we will continue to chase our dreams because this is who we are, this is our life, it is where our passion lies." He said: "I believe that none of us have stopped performing completely, and I have been training because I know that the epidemic will always pass and I will definitely return to the stage." (End)