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In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Cirque du Soleil’s YouTube channel is sharing free 60 Minute Specials to bring joyful entertainment to anyone that can access it. Follow the link below. New shows are released every Friday at 3 pm (EDT). The following S2C lesson can be enjoyed with your speller preceding the special or at a suitable time after watching the show.
Cirque du Soleil 60-Minute Specials
Cirque to Soleil is pronounced “Serk doo so-LAY’”
Check out this picture!
One of the most FASCINATING shows one can watch is a circus. One can only look on in AWE while watching an ACROBAT walking the tightrope or a juggler juggling nine knives on fire while riding a UNICYCLE… with a monkey on his back! While traditional circuses include animals in their show, many people feel their treatment is UNETHICAL (which means that it is unfair and harmful to the animals, making it wrong to let it happen), plus they also find the animal acts a little boring. Over the years, circus shows have become less popular than they once were…. with one exception: the CIRQUE DU SOLEIL is a thrilling modern circus featuring talent from around the world that is so EXHILARATING (or super-duper exciting). It does not need animals to create excitement in the show.
Spell CIRCUS Spell ACROBAT Spell TALENT
What circus are we talking about today? CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
When I described the juggler, what did I say was on his back? MONKEY
What do people feel is unethical about animals in a show? (THEIR) TREATMENT
I mentioned that Cirque du Soleil is so exhilarating it does not need anything to create excitement. ANIMALS
I used the word fascinating and exhilarating relating to circuses. What other adjective (descriptive word) would you use to describe a show like this?
Cirque du Soleil means “Circus of the Sun” in French, and it is known as “Cirque” (pronounced SERK) for short. The circus company was formed by two friends in a town in the Canadian province of QUEBEC in the summer of 1984. It is now based in the city of MONTREAL. Prior to that time, and under a different name, they were just a small circus TROUPE (which is a team that works together) that toured around Quebec. After receiving an art grant from the government, they expanded the show and had a successful tour across Canada. Word quickly spread about this fantastic, animal-free show. It combined traditional showmanship from various cultures around the world with modern touches and always excellent music.
What is the French word for Circus? CIRQUE
In what year was Cirque formed? 1984
How many years ago was that? (show your math) 2020-1984= 36
In what country is Montreal? CANADA
Which province did Cirque first tour? QUEBEC
A troupe is a team that does what? WORKS TOGETHER
What rhymes with troupe? SOUP/LOOP/DROOP/HOOP….
How is the music in Cirque described? EXCELLENT
What does Cirque du Soleil mean in English? CIRCUS OF THE SUN
VAKT! Grab an atlas or map, or go online to find QUEBEC. Then, as you read the following paragraph, find the various continents in the world, and determine which is the farthest place the Cirque du Soleil has traveled from the province of Quebec in Canada!
During the 1990s and 2000s, Cirque expanded to 19 shows that took place in over 295 cities on six continents. The only continent it didn’t reach was ANTARCTICA! These expansions were also a result of many changes in ownership and INVESTORS. Investors contribute money to fund the shows in exchange for some of the profits the show makes from ticket sales and merchandise. Almost 5,000 people from 50 countries work on the shows. In Las Vegas, there are permanent Cirque performances that play and entertain more than 9,000 people a night! The Cirque du Soleil brand also creates and conducts many private shows for special clients (like royalty!) corporations and major events, including its participation in the 2007 Superbowl halftime show.
Cirque has expanded to take place in over how many cities? 295
Antarctica is the only What? that it did not reach? CONTINENT
Name one of the continents outside North America that Cirque has traveled to (ASIA, AFRICA, SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE, AUSTRALIA)
If 9,000 people watch the Cirque du Soleil shows each night in Las Vegas, how many people watch them there over -two nights? 18,000. -five nights? 45,000
The expansions of the Cirque Shows are a result of many changes of ownership and what? INVESTORS
What do Investors contribute to fund the show in exchange for profits? MONEY
If you could invest money in a company, which one would you choose, and why?
What famous halftime show featured a Cirque du Soleil performance in 2007? SUPERBOWL
What sport is played during the Superbowl? FOOTBALL
Can you name an American football team? _______________ or Name another sport _______________
VAKT! Let’s watch a clip from Cirque du Soleil’s show called Kurios. Look out for the most amazing giant trampoline you’ve ever seen! (Note: this video is approximately 1 minute long) https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/kurios
The most thrilling feature of the Cirque du Soleil is the performers themselves. The most gifted from around the world are selected. Whether it’s acrobats to double-jointed GYMNASTS (that is, gymnasts who can make their joints and trunks bend forwards AND backward!), UNICYCLISTS, tightrope walkers, fire-breathers, skateboarders and daredevil BMX bike riders, the objective (or goal) of the Cirque is to combine these athletic artists’ daring tricks with beauty and CAPTIVATING live music. And, in order to align the modern circus with its PREDECESSOR, the traditional circus, there is always a component of comedy and magic, with clowns and magicians that keep the audience smiling. It is no exaggeration if one were to say the shows are magical from start to finish!
What are the most thrilling features of the Cirque du Soleil? PERFORMERS
If someone can make their joints move forwards and backward, they are called what? DOUBLE JOINTED
Name one of the performers I listed. (ACROBAT/DOUBLE-JOINTED) GYMNAST/UNICYCLIST/TIGHTROPE WALKER/SKATEBOARDER/ (DAREDEVIL BMX BIKE-RIDER)
(CRP NOTE: acquisition stage – this question can be started on A-J and completed with 3-set of stencils)
Name one of the things I said Cirque combines to achieve its objective: DARING TRICKS/CAPTIVATING MUSIC/BEAUTY
Creative writing options:
If you could perform one amazing trick, what would it be?
Name one type of performer you’d love to see at the circus and tell me why.
What performer do you identify with, and why?
