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| divisions = Cirque du Soleil Images, Cirque du Soleil's Merchandising | subsid = Cirque du Soleil Musique | homepage = (www.cirquedusoleil.com ) | intl = yesnow }} Cirque du Soleil (, "Circus of the Sun") is a Canadian entertainment company. It is the largest theatrical producer in the world.〔(Circus arts in Quebec and in Canada (PDF) ), Regroupement national - des arts du cirque. Accessed in 11 October 2013.〕 Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix.〔 〕 Initially named ''Les Échassiers'' ((:lez‿e.ʃa.sje), "The Waders"), they toured Quebec in 1980 as a performing troupe. Their initial financial hardship was relieved in 1983 by a government grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations of Jacques Cartier's voyage to Canada. ''Le Grand Tour du Cirque du Soleil'' was a success in 1984, and after securing a second year of funding, Laliberté hired Guy Caron from the National Circus School to re-create it as a "proper circus". Its theatrical, character-driven approach and the absence of performing animals helped define Cirque du Soleil as the contemporary circus ("nouveau cirque") that it remains today. Each show is a synthesis of circus styles from around the world, with its own central theme and storyline. Shows employ continuous live music, with performers rather than stagehands changing the props. After financial successes and failures in the late 1980s, ''Nouvelle Expérience'' was created – with the direction of Franco Dragone – which not only made Cirque du Soleil profitable by 1990, but allowed it to create new shows. Cirque du Soleil expanded rapidly through the 1990s and 2000s, going from one show to 19 shows in over 271 cities on every continent except Antarctica. The shows employ approximately 4,000 people from over 40 countries and generate an estimated annual revenue exceeding US$810 million. The multiple permanent Las Vegas shows alone play to more than 9,000 people a night, 5% of the city's visitors, adding to the 90 million people who have experienced Cirque du Soleil's shows worldwide.〔 In 2000, Laliberté bought out Gauthier, and with 95% ownership, has continued to expand the brand.〔(【引用サイトリンク】author=Hermann, Eve M. B. )〕 In 2008, Laliberté split 20% of his share equally between two investment groups Istithmar World and Nakheel of Dubai, in order to further finance the company's goals. In partnership with these two groups, Cirque du Soleil had planned to build a residency show in the United Arab Emirates in 2012 directed by Guy Caron (''Dralion'') and Michael Curry.〔McArthur, Rachel.("Cirque du Soleil Show Dubai" ). Retrieved 4 November 2009.〕 But since Dubai's financial problems in 2010 caused by the 2008 recession, it was stated by Laliberté that the project has been "put on ice"〔 for the time being and may be looking for another financial partner to bankroll the company's future plans, even willing to give up another 10% of his share.〔Sylt, Christian.("Cirque du Soleil may leap for new partner" )〕 Several more shows are in development around the world, along with a television deal, women's clothing line and the possible venture into other mediums such as spas, restaurants and nightclubs. Cirque du Soleil also produces a small number of private and corporate events each year (past clients have been the royal family of Dubai and the 2007 Super Bowl). The company's creations have received numerous prizes and distinctions, including a Bambi Award in 1997, a Rose d'Or in 1989, three Drama Desk Awards in 1991, 1998 and 2013, three Gemini Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards,〔(【引用サイトリンク】author=Cirque du Soleil )〕 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2000, Cirque du Soleil was awarded the National Arts Centre Award, a companion award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://ggpaa.ca/award-recipients/2000/cirque-du-soleil.aspx )〕 In 2002, Cirque du Soleil was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2015, TPG Capital, Fosun Capital Group and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec purchased 90% of Cirque du Soleil. The sale received regulatory approval from the Government of Canada on 30 June 2015. == Origins == A new idea became to come shape the performing arts, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté toured Europe as a folk musician and busker after quitting college. By the time he returned home to Canada in 1979, he had learned the art of fire breathing. Although he became "employed" at a hydroelectric power plant in James Bay, his job ended after only three days due to a labour strike. He decided not to look for another job, instead supporting himself on his unemployment insurance. He helped organize a summer fair in Baie-Saint-Paul with the help of a pair of friends named Daniel Gauthier and Gilles Ste-Croix.〔〔 Gauthier and Ste-Croix were managing a youth hostel for performing artists named ''Le Balcon Vert'' at that time. By the summer of 1979, Ste-Croix had been developing the idea of turning the Balcon Vert, and the talented performers who lived there, into an organized performing troupe. As part of a publicity stunt to convince the Quebec government to help fund his production, Ste-Croix walked the from Baie-Saint-Paul to Quebec City on stilts. The ploy worked, giving the three men the money to create ''Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul''. Employing many of the people who would later make up Cirque du Soleil, ''Les Échassiers'' toured Quebec during the summer of 1980.〔(【引用サイトリンク】author=Molaro, Regina )〕 Although well received by audiences and critics alike, ''Les Échassiers'' was a financial failure. Laliberté spent that winter in Hawaii plying his trade while Ste-Croix stayed in Quebec to set up a nonprofit holding company named "The High-Heeled Club" to mitigate the losses of the previous summer. In 1981, they met with better results. By that fall, ''Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul'' had broken even. The success inspired Laliberté and Ste-Croix to organize a summer fair in their hometown of Baie-Saint-Paul.〔 This touring festival, called "''La Fête Foraine''", first took place in July 1982. ''La Fête Foraine'' featured workshops to teach the circus arts to the public, after which those who participated could take part in a performance. Ironically, the festival was barred from its own hosting town after complaints from local citizens.〔 (【引用サイトリンク】author=Eve M. B. Hermann )〕 Laliberté managed and produced the fair over the next couple years, nurturing it into a moderate financial success. But it was in 1983 that the government of Quebec gave him a $1.5 million grant to host a production the following year as part of Quebec's 450th anniversary celebration of the French explorer Jacques Cartier's discovery of Canada. Laliberté named his creation "''Le Grand Tour du Cirque du Soleil''".〔〔(【引用サイトリンク】author=Morgan, Kaya )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cirque du Soleil」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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