Cirque du Soleil鈥檚 is taking residency at Little Caesars Arena this week between Jan. 10-13, offering showgoers an unforgettable spectacle of coordinated trampoline acts, juggling performances, and ascending aerial routines.
Before tonight鈥檚 presentation, we sat down with 43-year-old Julie Dionne, who has been with the Canadian entertainment company, and the largest theatrical producer in the world, for over 20 years.
Dionne began ballet lessons at age 5 and danced throughout her entire adolescence, earning a degree in choreography at C茅gep du Vieux Montr茅al.
鈥淎fter I graduated, I wondered what I was going to do with my life,鈥 she says.
She auditioned for a spot at 脡cole Nationale de Cirque, a premier circus school in her hometown of Montreal, Quebec, after high school. Accepted in 1995, Dionne enrolled in the school鈥檚 three-year silk aerial arts program, where she also learned acrobatics, juggling, and tight wire acts.
At the time of her graduation from 脡cole Nationale de Cirque in 1998, Cirque du Soleil had partnered with The Walt Disney Co. to produce La Nouba, a show that required an aerial artist like Dionne.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I joined the circus, and never went back to dancing,鈥 she says with a laugh. Just hours before her onstage appearance, Dionne shares a detailed account of her performance-day regimen.
7:15 a.m.
Dionne is up early to call her daughter, Mathilde, 5,听and son, Emile,听8, in Montreal before they go to school. She briefly chats with her husband, Jermie, a former Cirque du Soleil performer. 鈥淚 usually go back to bed听after that,鈥 she says with a grin, not having to be at rehearsal for a few hours.
9:30 a.m.
She wakes up and noshes on a cup of fruit, one of five snacks throughout the day, before drinking a cup coffee. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a big morning eater, and I never have been,鈥 Dionne admits.听After听hopping听in the shower, she leaves her Midtown听Airbnb听and听heads for the QLine to get to Little Caesars Arena.
10:00 a.m.
As coach of Corteo鈥檚 aerial chandelier act, Dionne spends a portion of her morning with stage management, discussing what changes have been made to the acts she and her team will be executing tonight. She checks in the with other five female aerial artists 鈥斕齩nly four of them performing onstage 鈥斕齮o see if there are any recent injuries or health ailments that could affect the presentation. Dionne adjusts accordingly. 鈥淗aving a strong听and healthy team is our first priority.鈥
10:30听补.尘.
Next for Dionne is confirming that the听large, crystal-embellished chandeliers, which she and her team will be swinging from, are suspended at the correct heights. Every scene of her act demands an exact measurement, each varying by three or four inches. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to be as specific as possible,鈥 she says. In addition to promoting efficiency, this procedure ensures the safety of the artists, who rapidly swivel while clutching onto the heavy听metal structure.
11:00听补.尘.
Prior to mounting the fixtures, she completes her exercise routine. Dionne听stimulates听her joints, shoulder, wrists, and most importantly, her hips. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really exercising our听hip joints throughout our act,鈥 she says. Dionne听then follows her warm-up with听some time on a treadmill or stationary bicycle, and finishes with stretching and strengthening exercises with elastic bands.
11:30 a.m.
It鈥檚 time for rehearsal. Dionne and her team practice听their routine 鈥斕齠our toned women begin gracefully prancing around two chandeliers, one hand firmly secured in a velvet strap within the crystal-beaded chains of each fixture. Soon, they are gently lifted into the air.听鈥淭o make the chandelier look light and delicate, and our every move effortless, is the biggest challenge of the show,鈥 she says.
12:15 p.m.
Rehearsal is finished, but Dionne鈥檚 coaching is not. Also serving as an artistic coach, her daily responsibilities include assisting with choreography for a number of other acts in Corteo, including the silk aerial performances. 鈥淚f there are any new performers that have been听added to the cast, I鈥檓 tasked with teaching them the songs听and dance routines that compose the show,鈥 she says.听This consumes a large part of her day.
4:00 p.m.
Dionne begins getting ready for the show. Every Cirque du Soleil member is responsible for their own hair and makeup, and goes through a tutorial on how to apply the cosmetics necessary before being tested on their abilities to mimic what they鈥檝e learned. After applying her makeup, she gets into costume, a mesh leotard that gives the illusion that she鈥檚 wearing a听crop top with a matching mini skirt听and thigh-high tights. 鈥淚 get ready听before our afternoon meeting so that I can focus my energy on the show,鈥 Dionne says.
6:00 p.m.
Dionne attends a company meeting. This is standard for the first听day of a performance in a new location.听The entire cast goes over the artist director鈥檚 show notes. 鈥淭his usually听takes place an hour and a half before showtime,鈥 she says.
7:30 p.m.
Patrons have taken their seats at Little Caesars Arena and Dionne and her team are ready to wow the audience听with their gravity-defying act. 鈥淲e鈥檙e creating this fantasy onstage, that鈥檚 very dignified and dreamy,鈥 she says.
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