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RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MEDICINE
ADVANCED DIVING
46
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SPRING 2016
at any time. At one point during the show each artist
handler has to support six synchronized swimmers
while preparing to establish a platform for other
artists. The artist handlers hand off two regulators
from their rigs and carry small pony bottles with
four more regulators for the artists to use.
Following the preshow briefing, divers conduct a
series of in-water checks. The opening act is known
as “Pied Deux,” which translates to two feet. The lifts
are positioned 15 feet underwater, and a large red
floating curtain lies on the surface. The aquatics team
spreads out and places a matrix of 15 regulators,
which are connected to a hookah system. Artists
enter the water approximately three minutes before
the show begins. As they swim to the center of the
pool they receive regulators from the divers and
are hidden from the audience until the show starts
and the curtain opens. Once the artists are in position, the
divecomms hit the cue lights to indicate that everyone is in
position and the show can begin.
When the show starts, the lighting in the pool
fades to black. Relying on ambient light, the divers
watch the artists as they invert to begin Pied Deux
and then drop the regulators from their mouths.
When all the regulators are clear, the divers strike the
hookah lines from the stage and stow them for their
next use. This kind of sequence plays out many times.
Each artist handler is responsible for his or her own
“cue track,” a predetermined sequence of actions that
take place during the show. Each cue track proceeds
independently of the other cue tracks but is completely
reliant upon the execution of the others. The aquatics
department is responsible for six in-water cue tracks.
Built into each cue track is a series of “catches,” which
are some of the most difficult elements of a cue track.
During a catch, an artist enters the water from
above, usually from an elevated platform. The
crow’s nest watches and calls out the action over the
underwater speakers. When the artist enters the water
he holds his hands out and waits for the handler to give
him a regulator. The artist then places the regulator in
his mouth, purges it and swims with the diver to the
next position or exit. At this point in the performance
the diver and artist exhibit significant mutual trust.
This trust is cultivated from the time a new artist or
artist handler joins the show.
Cirque du Soleil artists are world-class athletes;
some are Olympians with gold medals. They regularly
perform feats such as a six-minute trapeze routine
followed by a drop from 40 feet in the air into a pool
where they await a regulator so they can take their next
breath. The divers must be dynamic in the way they
work underwater, responding quickly to unforeseen
situations with artists.
O
is a melting pot of talents, backgrounds and
cultures, which brings challenges as well as rewards.
Currently 20 countries are represented in the show,
and the many native languages — not to mention
regional scuba jargon and hand signals — often present
communication challenges. Translators assist as
needed to ensure information is clear and understood.
The
O
cast and crew are proud of their heritage
and nationalities. A few times a year the entire team
gathers for an international food day during which
they bring a dish from their home countries. There is
also a green room in which the artists and technicians
gather for holiday parties, potlucks and sporting
events. American football games are always popular,
but international sporting competitions such as the
FIFA World Cup or the Olympics bring particular
excitement to the green room as everyone roots for his
or her home country.
Due to the nature of show business,
O
team
members often work on holidays and always perform
on Saturdays and Sundays. The full schedule — there
were 475 shows in 2015 — means cast and crew
members must often miss birthdays, anniversaries
and holidays with family. The
O
cast has become a
second family for many team members, who celebrate
holidays, births and marriages together.
As spectators exit the theatre, they leave with a
vision that allows them to create their own story of
O
based on how it affected them. Ask cast members
why they like working at
O
, and they often will say it is
because of the people. While the aquatics team is just
a small part of the show’s success, its role is vital for
creating the spectacle that is
O
.
AD
The aquatics team, artists
and technicians are a
close-knit group; together
they put on 475 shows
in 2015.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL