Under the big top

Discover a whimsical world of color, fantasy and spectacular energy. (Credit: Submitted)

Journey into a whimsical world of fantasy beyond anything you've ever imagined at Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco. Artistically set to the beat of original musical compositions that cross all language barriers, this isn't just your typical circus act. It's a mind-blowing experience jam-packed with something for the entire family.

Have you ever wondered how it's all made possible? Michael Ocampo, who's performed on the stage and worked under the big top as head coach with Cirque du Soleil in arenas all over the country, can fill you in. Grab your peanuts, popcorn and some cotton candy and prepare for the most exciting ride of your life.

How many Cirque du Soleil shows have you worked on?

I've worked on three since I joined in 1993. I was an artist and performer in Allegria and Saltimbanco for 10 years, with five years for each show. Then I was on Quidam coaching for just over a year.

What does your role as head coach with Saltimbanco entail?

 I oversee all of the acrobatics done in the show. I work directly with the acrobats and certain house troupe numbers, which are the Chinese poles, Russian swing, bungee and the duo trapeze. The rest of the acrobatics I watch every show and give feedback when needed.

What's different about being a performer versus the head coach?

 A huge amount of responsibility! (laughs) When you're a performer, you only have to worry about yourself unless you're involved in numbers where you're working directly with a team. Then you may have numbers where maybe two to five people perform a specific act or a certain element. As head coach, I have to be responsible for everyone.

How long are the performers in training?

 If they're a part of the house troupes, then they're going to come to Montreal and do a formation period - where they learn the specific number they're performing in - for generally four months long. If they're a solo act, they might have put their act together somewhere else: at a circus school, another circus, or they've put it together themselves. They might not have much training at all in Montreal because they're basically bringing their own number to Cirque du Soleil.

What does the show Saltimbanco mean to you?

 Oh, that's a good way of posing that question. Saltimbanco is a very colorful show. It's all about energy, happiness. Literally translated from Italian, it means "to jump on a bench" or it can mean a street performer, but when I think of Saltimbanco, I think of the colors and the joy that it brings to the people in the audience who are smiling and laughing. It's really a show that people are touched by.

It's very special to me, and it's actually the first Cirque du Soleil show that I ever saw live. I have to say it's pretty much my favorite. I was glad to be able to be part of it as a performer and now as a head coach.

This show was adapted from its original form in order to be performed successfully in arenas across the country, but what types of downsizing or revamping takes place to make that possible?

 The height of the stage is higher to give a little bit of a better view while in the arenas. The way that the stage fits itself together is different, so that the technicians are able to put the stage together and take it apart very quickly. Previously, it would take a week's time. Now, it takes eight hours to set up. The teardown of a site would usually take three days, but now teardown takes just over 2 1/2 hours.

Artistically, from the original show, only one act was taken out because the wiring and the stabilization that would've been needed would've been too difficult to put it in the arena, but it has been replaced with a bicycle act, which audiences love!

What can audiences who've never seen a Cirque du Soleil show expect to see with Saltimbanco?

 Expect to be amazed. Cirque du Soleil tries to blend obviously circus acts with a lot of other performance styles, so it's not just circus acts onstage. We bring the artists to Montreal, and they have lessons in dance, in voice, in movement and in acting. What they try to do is make simple circus acts into a real performance that will encompass a live band, live singers, lighting, sound design, stage design, costume design, and makeup design. It's really a whole package. Especially with Saltimbanco, it's really something to behold live. The same thing cannot be seen when you're watching just on a promo tape or on television.