Case Study Of Organization Creativity essay

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creator. Copyright © 2019 by Issam Ghazzawi. Contact: Issam Ghazzawi College of La Verne 1950 third St, La Verne, CA 91750
ighazzawi@laverne.edu
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL:
INNOVATION IS MORE CULTURE THAN PROCESS
ISSAM GHAZZAWI
College of La Verne
“From their workers, artists, technicians, and managers world wide,
nice expectations, magnificent desires, and artistic merchandise have emerged.
They’ve discovered to give up to their senses, belief their instincts, take dangers,
and meet new challenges in an inventive and nurturing atmosphere.”

Man Laliberté Founder and Previous CEO, Cirque du Soleil
1
Cirque du Soleil (French for Circus of the Solar) had developed as probably the most well-known dwell
spectacles and success tales within the historical past of the leisure industry. Whereas Cirque du
Soleil’s numerous performances had reworked through the years, its conventional components of
creativeness, inventive leisure, spectacle, theatrical storytelling, visible extravaganza, and
unbelievable bodily talent had remained on the core of this leisure large.
As Cirque turned thirty-six years outdated, most of its artists and workers had heard tales of its
previous. They discovered about Man Laliberté’s struggles with work as a youth and his supporting
himself on unemployment insurance coverage. They have been advised about Cirque’s starting as a gaggle of
road performers within the picturesque village of Fête Foraine de Baie-Saint-Paul close to the St.
Lawrence River simply exterior of Quebec Metropolis, and really importantly its monetary hardship at its
starting within the 1980s (DeLong & Vijayaraghavan 2002; Ghazzawi, Martinelli-Lee & Palladini
2014).

1
A ahead by Man Laliberté for the e book by Heward, L. & Bacon, J. (2006). The Spark: Igniting the Inventive Fireplace
that Lives Inside Us All. Doubleday Canada.
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Cirque du Soleil
A turning-point for the corporate occurred in 1987, when it launched into its first tour within the
U.S. It began with an invite to carry out on the Los Angeles Arts Competition; Cirque took an enormous
threat in going to LA because it solely had sufficient cash to journey a method and counted on its potential to
increase funds to get again to Montreal. What occurred in Los Angeles – optimistic media critiques
and viewers help – led Cirque to tour different cities in California. Its success within the U.S. helped
solidify its fame and status at residence (Leslie & Rantisi 2011).
For over three many years, Cirque held reveals across the globe. Clients lined as much as purchase its
costly tickets, and cash was simply made. On the finish of the day, the Cirque leisure
phenomenon had permanency. Along with its sustainable tradition of innovation, robust
communication, and moral conduct in its worldwide operations, Cirque maintained relational
belief amongst all stakeholders whereas residing and functioning as one firm (Ghazzawi, et al.
2014). With an estimated $845 million in income in 2014 (CBC.CA 2015), Cirque du Soleil
expanded quickly by way of the 1990s and 2000s, going from one present to 19 reveals
concurrently in over 200 cities on 5 continents world wide. The corporate’s numerous
reveals attracted near 90 million spectators (Cirque du Soleil-c).
Cirque’s tradition, based on one among Cirque producers, was “very open and accepting of individuals
and open to doing issues in several methods. You possibly can invite issues or you possibly can provide options”
(Ricotta 2013). The working atmosphere was good-natured, with appreciable freedom given
to workers and inventive administrators. The behavioral norms and values resulted in affirmation of
household, or on the very least neighborhood (Ghazzawi et al. 2014).
The corporate’s continued success was pushed by its continuous innovation and artistic tradition.
Cirque’s artistic course of often started when its president and CEO Daniel Lammare and Man
Laliberté, its founder and inventive director, outlined the theme of the following present. The theme of
any present began as a broad imaginative and prescient versus a confined mandate, as a way to give others
the chance to contribute to the artistic course of. Cirque executives didn’t use conventional
brainstorming strategies to reach on the theme (Dan 2012). Cirque CEO’s perception was that “no-
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Cirque du Soleil
idea-is-a-bad-idea;” acquiescence and consensus have been emphasised over debate and openness
(Dan 2012).
“Cirque’s tradition of innovation and creativity encourages honesty and judgment
when concepts are explored. Passionate, provocative dissention and disagreements
will not be solely tolerated however cultivated, to spur the very best concepts and, as importantly,
to get rid of dangerous ones shortly. Whereas a consensus searching for strategy could result in a
few incremental improvements, he (Lammare) says, a little bit of stress, even friction
throughout artistic ideation, is more likely to result in innovation breakthrough” (Dan 2012:
Para. Three).
See Exhibit 1 for chosen photos of Cirque reveals.

Exhibit 1. Chosen Pictures from Cirque Du Soleil Reveals
Supply: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/press
Title: Cadre from “O”. Title: Hand Balancing from “Mystère”
Image credit score: Tomasz Rossa Image credit score: Richard Termine
Costume credit score: Dominique Lemieux. Costume credit score: Dominique Lemieux
It was Cirque’s apply that after a theme had been chosen, Lammare and Laliberté would
step again and let the artistic director take over and develop the idea over the 2-Three years
that it took to place the present collectively (Dan 2012).
Along with its world-renowned reveals, Cirque had prolonged its artistic strategy to a spread
of different leisure types, together with multimedia productions, immersive experiences,
theme parks, and particular occasions. The corporate went past its artistic actions by making a
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Cirque du Soleil
optimistic influence on individuals, communities, and the planet – all by way of Cirque’s helpful instruments of
creativity and artwork.
In 2015, ninety % of Cirque was acquired. President and CEO Daniel Lammare and
Founder and Creative Director Man Laliberté have been revisiting the challenges of balancing the
firm’s want to take care of excessive artistic requirements with an enchantment to bigger audiences, whereas
assembly their new companions’ monetary expectations and remaining loyal to Cirque’s values.
The Creation of a Highly effective Leisure Firm
Man Laliberté left residence on the younger age of 14. He left behind a be aware to his anguished dad and mom
explaining the explanations for his daring act and quoting the thinker Kahlil Gibran: “Your youngsters
will not be your youngsters. They’re the little children of life’s name to life” (in Denton, 1988:
Para. 7). Man described himself as a “dreamer, fascinated by the cultures of the world.” For him,
one of the best ways to see the world was to carry out on the streets. He carried out for some time as a
musician, enjoying conventional Canadian music on an accordion whereas he advised tales and picked up
cash in a hat from passersby. Feeling assured in his road efficiency abilities, Laliberté
determined to journey to Europe when he was eighteen (Browse Biography 2011).
As he was interested in the busker’s2
way of life from a younger age, he travelled to Paris in 1978 and
discovered the artwork of fire-breathing. After coming again to Québec in 1979, he started stilt-walking
alongside his buddy Gilles Ste-Croix whereas the 2 have been organizing actions for the Baie-SaintPaul youth hostel within the Charlevoix area of Québec
Three
(Zarov 2014). See Exhibit 2 for photos of
Charlevoix, Canada.

2
Busking and road performing is the artwork of road theatre. It’s a type of efficiency not like some other. A musician
enjoying within the open air – faucet dancers hoofing on a facet stroll. Supply: http://www.buskercentral.com/outlined.php
Three
Charlevoix is an attractive area of the province of Quebec, Canada. Well-known for its idyllic topography of rolling hills
and mountains alongside the St. Lawrence River, the area could be very enticing to guests due to its agricultural
tourism and regional farm-to-table delicacies, arts and tradition, and scenic driving routes (McLean 2019).
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Cirque du Soleil
Man didn’t have the funds for to maintain his life in Europe, so finally he returned to
Quebec to simply accept a full time work at a hydro-electric energy plant. After three days, the plant
employees went on strike and Man was fired (Bass 2013).
In summer time 1980, Laliberté joined Ste-Croix’s stilt-walking theatre firm Les Échassiers de
Baie-Saint-Paul (The Stilt Walkers of Baie-Saint-Paul). The next yr, Ste-Croix and
Laliberté, together with stilt-walkers Serge Roy, Josée Bélanger and Carmen Ruest, based the
non-profit Membership des Talons Hauts (Excessive Heels Membership) to advertise stilt-walking occasions (Zarov 2014).
With monetary assist from the federal government of Québec, Laliberté based Cirque du Soleil in 1984.
The Cirque toured Québec, and its massive prime had a capability of 800 seats (Zarov 2014). The tour
performers and productions have been so successful that the corporate started to generate demand
exterior of Canada.
Exhibit 2. Pictures of Charlevoix, Canada
Supply: https://www.bing.com/photos/
In 1985, the tour included stops in Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara Falls. In 1986, Cirque produced
a brand new present, La Magie Proceed (“We Reinvent the Circus”), which toured Canada, the U.S. and
Europe. When it lastly closed in 1990, the massive prime’s capability was 2,500 seats. Two years later,
the Cirque can be working simultaneous reveals on three continents (Zarov 2014). In accordance

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Cirque du Soleil
to Tony Ricotta, Laliberté had a dream to reinvent the circus to the extent of an artwork kind. This
dream was encapsulated within the firm’s mission assertion: “To invoke the creativeness,
provoke the senses, and evoke the feelings of individuals world wide” (Ricotta 2013).
Laliberté’s inventive innovation bridged the leisure tradition of the circus with the artistry
of acrobatic efficiency. See Exhibit Three for a picture of Cirque’s massive prime.
With the creation of Cirque du Soleil, the mischievous days of popcorn, peanuts, sawdust,
spangles, and calliopes have been gone! Cirque was a hybrid of acrobatics and dance efficiency
(Berry et al. 2006). This venue was “a multi-level manufacturing with out the menagerie of unique
animals, but was one which captured the magnificence of the human kind, agility, and creativity”
(Ghazzawi et al. 2014: 26-27).
Cirque du Soleil Leisure Group turned a world chief in dwell leisure with
about four,000 individuals, together with about 1,300 artists from practically 50 international locations who
entertained over 180 million spectators with reveals in about 450 cities in 60 international locations.
With Cirque’s 28 residential and touring performances across the globe, the corporate’s
income was estimated to be greater than $1 billion yearly (Gittleson 2013).
Exhibit Three. An Picture of Cirque Du Soleil Massive High
Supply: http://www.flyingkitemedia.com/galleries/Options/2013/Issue_126/totem_fp02.jpg
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Cirque du Soleil
From 1984 till 1989, Cirque carried out just one present at a time. Its productions have been divided
into reveals designated as both Resident or Touring. Resident indicated one location solely,
whereas Touring indicated visits amongst cities. See Appendix 1 for Cirque’s complete listing
of resident and touring reveals, Appendix 2 for essential dates, and Exhibit four for a picture of a
resident present “O” and one from a touring present “Alegria.”
With Cirque’s worldwide reputation internationally, its success was coupled with just a few
challenges and organizational disputes together with “inventive rebellions” and partnership clashes
(Delong et al. 2002). In 1998, Laliberté purchased out Gautier’s share and retained full management of
Cirque which was valued at $800 million on the time. On March 1, 2006, Laliberté resigned and
was succeeded by Daniel Lamarre. Lamarre, who joined the Cirque govt crew in 2001,
maintained the title of Founder and Information (Ghazzawi et al. 2014).
In 2015, Cirque du Soleil was acquired for an estimated $1.four billion. The corporate’s
founder, Man Laliberté, retained a ten % stake in Cirque, and ninety % have been
acquired by three events: TPG Capital (Texas Pacific Group-an American funding
firm), Fosun Worldwide Restricted, a Chinese language worldwide funding firm, and
Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ)four
, additionally referred to in English-language media as
the Caisse (Palmeri 2015).

four
Caisse is an institutional investor that manages a number of public and parapublic pension plans and insurance coverage
packages in Quebec, Canada (CBC.CA, 2015).
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Cirque du Soleil
Exhibit four: Chosen Pictures from Cirque Resident “Mystère” and Touring “Alegria” Reveals
Supply: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/press
Title: Spermato and Spermatines from “Mystère” Title: Crossed Wheel from “Alegria”.
Image credit score: Richard Termine Image credit score: MA Lemire ©2019 Cirque
Costume credit score: Dominique Lemieux. Costume credit score: Cirque du Soleil
In 2014, the yr earlier than the acquisition, Cirque introduced in $845 million in income. Within the
identical yr, all of the reveals on Broadway mixed introduced in $1.37 billion (CBC.CA 2015).
Acknowledged over the world, Cirque du Soleil had continuously sought to evoke creativeness
and provoke emotion.
Aggressive Panorama of the Performing Arts Trade
Firms within the performing arts industry primarily engaged in producing dwell displays
involving the performances of actors and actresses, singers, dancers, musical teams, artists,
and different performers (BusinessDataCodes.com). The U.S. performing arts industry included
greater than eight,000 corporations and employed greater than 120,000 individuals. There have been additionally a big
variety of self-employed artists (Pearson 2019). The performing arts industry earned about
$35 billion per yr (Vault.com). Development within the industry was 1.eight % yearly from 2011
by way of 2016, because of the sluggish economic system and federal and state price range cuts. Native
authorities help for the humanities had dropped 18 %, and state funding fell 27 %.
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Cirque du Soleil
The recession resulted in much less disposable revenue, and fewer spending on arts and leisure.
Nevertheless, the outlook for the industry was brighter by way of 2020, because the economic system was getting
stronger and spending on performing arts had improved (Vault.com).
Calls for for performing arts have been pushed by private revenue and leisure time. The
profitability of particular person performing arts corporations was based mostly on what audiences wished to
see. Whereas
“massive corporations have benefits in advertising and marketing, fundraising, and attracting star
performers. Small corporations can compete successfully by specializing in new,
distinctive, or in style works. The US industry is fragmented: the 50 largest
corporations account for lower than 30% of income” (Hoovers.com).
Along with present admission charges, performing arts corporations have been motivated to acquire
income from contract and residual charges, licensing agreements, royalty charges, and in some instances
non-public contributions and authorities grants (Ghazzawi et al. 2014). Admissions accounted for
45% of industry income, contract charges 25%, and personal contributions 15%. Different revenues
included meals, beverage and merchandise gross sales, facility leases, membership dues, and costs for
entertainer administration, promoting, and endorsements (Hoovers.com).
Cirque du Soleil’s High Opponents
As an leisure powerhouse, Cirque’s opponents have been all corporations within the performing
arts industry, together with Dodger Properties, Feld Leisure, Jujamcyn Theaters, Stay Nation
Leisure, Nederlander Producing Firm, Renaissance Leisure, Shubert
Group, and TBA Globa. Its prime direct opponents have been Feld Leisure and Stay
Nation Leisure. See Exhibit 5 for Cirque High Opponents.

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Cirque du Soleil
Exhibit 5. Cirque du Soleil High Opponents
Supply: Hoovers.com
Firm’s Title Gross Income Internet Revenue Margin Internet Working Money Circulation
*Cirque du Soleil $ 342.9 N.A. N.A.
*Feld Leisure $ 1,368 N.A. N.A.
Stay Nation Leisure $10,787 (Zero.16 %) $941.59M
* Figures in USD tens of millions. Figures are estimated as these corporations are privately held and don’t publish monetary
info (CBC.CA 2015).
Feld Leisure
With a concentrate on clowning, Feld Leisure turned one of many largest dwell leisure
producers on this planet. The corporate continued to entertain individuals in North America by way of
its centerpiece, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which visited about 120 cities
yearly. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum &Bailey Circus made its first efficiency in 1871.
Feld Leisure, by way of its partnership with Walt Disney, produced “Disney on Ice” reveals,
“Treasure Trove,” and “It’s Disney Stay!”
Stay Nation Leisure
An American world firm based in 2010 by the merger of Stay Nation and Ticketmaster,
Stay Nation Leisure was the world’s largest ticket vendor and promoter of dwell
leisure. Stay Nation Leisure operated greater than 220 venues in North America
and Europe (D&B Hoovers). Over 580 million individuals attended Stay Nation occasions per yr. Stay
Nation owned Home of Blues venues by way of HOB Leisure and dozens of prestigious
live performance halls. Moreover, the corporate owned a stake in additional than 500 artists’ music,
together with albums, excursions, and merchandise (Hoovers.com 2019-b). Stay Nation had places of work in 40
international locations and performing venues in 11 (D&B Hoovers).
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Tradition and Creativity at Cirque
Lynn Heward, Cirque’s former president of artistic content material, credited the corporate’s progress
with its tradition of innovation and creativity. In his personal phrases,
“Cirque du Soleil has been a world-renowned laboratory of creativity, enthralling
audiences world wide by fusing dazzling acrobatics, staging and
choreography, and music, together with lovely costumes and technical results to
encourage and create magical, nearly otherworldly theatrical experiences” (Heward
& Bacon).
This sentiment was resonated when Cirque founder Man Laliberté offered a ahead to a
storybook about Cirque titled, The Spark: Igniting the Inventive Fireplace that Lives inside us All by
Heward and Bacon. Laliberté wrote:
“Their tales – the individuals of Cirque du Soleil – are actual. From their nice
expectations and “magnificent desires,” artistic merchandise have emerged. They
have discovered to give up to their senses, belief their instincts, take dangers, and
meet new challenges in an inventive and nurturing atmosphere. They work alone
they usually work collectively studying to attach with and contact individuals in new methods,
endeavoring all the time to reinvent themselves. And so they aspire to present again to the
world within the infinite continuum of change, trade, and renewal; they’re
catalysts… From a tiny spark an awesome fireplace was kindled, and its flames warmed the
world.”
New workers and artists have been transmitted Cirque’s underlying cultural values by way of
tales. A number of the tales have been about Man Laliberté leaving residence on the younger age of 14. He
quoted the thinker Kahlil Gibran when he wrote a be aware to his household: “Your youngsters will not be
your youngsters. They’re the little children of life’s name to life” (Denton 1988). Staff
have been additionally advised that Man Laliberté was interested in the busker’s way of life from a younger age; he
began as a road performer.
The corporate’s tradition was open, nurturing, and accepting of individuals. It was open to doing
issues in several methods, and it inspired individuals to take dangers. This organizational tradition
accepted that “there was no single system for artistic success – every of us should unlock the
energy of our creativeness in our personal manner” (Heward & Bacon). Artists remarked that what
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Cirque du Soleil
ignited their creativity wasn’t the strain of deadlines however as a substitute the exhilaration that got here
from risking all of it. The tradition modified the way in which they lived and labored as they felt artistic and
had the chance to faucet into the highly effective power that was Cirque (Heward & Bacon 2006).
The Road: The Origin Cirque’s Organizational Tradition
The tradition at Cirque was rooted in its road performances. “On the street you are taking a variety of
dangers, you by no means know the way individuals will react” (Leslie & Rantisi 2011: 1775). The founding father
of Cirque had toured Europe, performing the humanities of busking, fire-breathing, juggling, and stilt
strolling. The road was additionally the origin of the of the risk-taking entrepreneurial tradition of the
firm (McGuire 2003). The flexibility to simply accept threat, uncertainty, inefficiency, and react to the
wants of the viewers helped Cirque to maintain a tradition of steady innovation and alter.
One artistic director at Cirque asserted that his early expertise engaged on the streets
developed his communication abilities wanted to assemble a crew of artistic artists (Leslie &
Rantisi 2011).
Road tradition was properly built-in in a few of Cirque reveals, for example within the 1006 present
“Quidam.” Quidam meant “a anonymous passer-by, a solitary determine lingering on a road nook, a
particular person speeding previous and swallowed by the gang.” It might have been anybody within the crowd, a
member of the silent majority, or the one who cried out. The present because it was defined by the
present director was for all of the “quidams” whom this present allowed to talk – lastly emerged
from anonymity (Cirque Du Soleil-d).
One other present within the early nineties was Saltimbanco, Italian for “leap on a bench.” The present
explored “the city expertise in all its myriad types: the individuals who dwell there, their
idiosyncrasies and likenesses, households and teams, the hustle and bustle of the road and the
towering heights of skyscrapers” (Yelp.com).
In sum, Cirque’s firm’s tradition was enriched with its humble starting, road experiences,
and road performing hippies who didn’t want greater than their circus-like abilities.
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Cirque Values, Dominant Tradition and Subcultures
Cirque had developed cultural values and norms that strongly emphasised the necessity for
workers to be empowered, to experiment, and take dangers, and to provide you with concepts. Whereas
the numerous productions, departments, and places throughout the group differed in some
practices, they united alongside the group norms and values. Ricotta (2013) recounted from
Cirque’s preliminary beginnings:
“These values [that] have been created after we first started this firm have been such
robust emotional values that they’re nearly not possible to erase and we wouldn’t
need to change them. … there isn’t a dipping within the values once you grow to be half
of the corporate. You simply know that they’re there and other people make you absolutely
conscious. Additional, they don’t seem to be posted on the wall however by some means they get to you. At
the center of all of it, Cirque sees itself as a worldwide citizen. And it’s doing its job for a
objective. I do know it’s going to sound trite, to make the world a greater place, and
we do this by way of leisure.”
The important thing to the corporate’s cultural success was that its workers and artists lived as much as Cirque
espoused values and practiced norms, the “Cirque unwritten guidelines” that efficiently guided the
manner its individuals labored and handled one another. Laliberté’s management philosophy was constructed on
his information and inventive expertise. As a frontrunner, Laliberté was each paternalistic and
protecting of his performers’ artistic shops and luxury capacities (DeLong & Vijayaraghavan
2002; Ghazzawi et al. 2013). Cirque’s philosophy was that if it might maintain the performers’
“happiness” then the viewers/spectator would little question expertise an emotionally pushed,
memorable, glitzy efficiency. “This invaginate blanket served to ascertain Cirque’s
organizational norms and values. Thus, safety of a disparate and numerous band of
performers resulted in motivating performers to excel in a one-of-a-kind leisure
excellence” (Ghazzawi et al. 2013: 41).
Whereas the prescribed tradition manifested the values and norms shared by Cirque’s majority
members, as a big firm, Cirque had subcultures that have been based mostly on the traits of
their very own departments, reveals, or geographical places. See Exhibit 6 for an illustration of the
group’s tradition and sub-cultures as conceptualized by the creator of this case.
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Cirque du Soleil
Cirque was an organization with a trigger. Its individuals have been “residents of the world;” they lived and
firm values. They practiced it by exhibiting pleasure, exhibiting love, exhibiting hardship, exhibiting
ache, and by some means getting individuals concerned (Ghazzawi, et al. 2014).
Exhibit 6. Organizational Tradition and Subcultures*
Supply: Homework help – Writer’s notes
* Subcultures exist inside elements of the group somewhat than completely all through them. The above illustration
doesn’t cowl all of Cirque reveals, places, or departments; it’s merely meant for instance subcultures.
Empowerment and Collaboration: Micro-Administration is Not an Possibility
The working atmosphere at Cirque was good-natured, with a considerable freedom given to
artists and workers. In response to Dan (2012), as soon as a Cirque theme was determined upon,
Lammare and Laliberté empowered the artistic director of that specific present to take over
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Cirque du Soleil
for the aim of creating the idea over the 2-Three years that have been wanted to carry the
present to life. Each company leaders reviewed progress each 6 months,
“however as a way to encourage collaboration they don’t dictate adjustments, merely
level out what doesn’t work, and depart it to the artistic director and the troupe
to provide you with options. The pair’s focus is on high quality management, and ensuring
that the product unfolds throughout the unique imaginative and prescient that they created, with out
micro-managing the “line executives” who’re chargeable for placing the present
collectively” (In Dan 2012: Para. Three).
Empowerment at Cirque was related to establishing instructions and limits versus
micro-managing individuals. The empowerment side of Cirque was described by a performer
who urged:
“We don’t have an enormous historical past of circus. Whenever you go to Europe, they’ve 250
years of household circus, of circus colleges, of individuals, for us it’s all new, so every little thing
is merging proper now … We will nonetheless do what we wish with it as a result of it’s solely 25
years outdated” (in Leslie & Rantisi 2011: 1776).
Versus calling all of the pictures, managers at Cirque granted workers the autonomy to
take cost of what they doing. In response to Grabher (In Fuchs & Shapira 2005: 65):
“Range permits evolution to comply with… The proliferation of a broad spectrum of
totally different organizational types and numerous practices – versus the diffusion
of a single “finest apply” – offers a richer “choice atmosphere” for areas,
companies and particular person actors to co-evolve.”
As empowerment was properly related to innovation, Cirque management cemented this perception
when said that,
“as with all inventive endeavor, inspiration performs an enormous half within the artistic course of,
however Cirque’s strategy to innovation, whereas intuitive, is guided by a deep
dedication to R&D because the catalyst of the artistic spark” (In Dan 2012: Para. 5).
The outcomes of empowerment have been glad artists and workers who have been progressive,
artistic in what and the way they carried out, and who felt a way of feat.
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Embracing Creativity and Innovation by way of Partnership
To maintain its artistic model recent, Cirque additionally believed that it was vital to attempt for
collaboration past its yellow-and-blue striped tent (Dan 2012). An essential side of
Cirque’s tradition was its openness to the skin world, and willingness to cooperate and
embrace others’ concepts. In response to Leslie and Rantisi (2011: 1777),
“the presence of interrelated and complementary industries counsel the
significance of ‘path interdependence’—conditions the place the path-dependent
trajectories of various industries are mutually reinforcing.”
Cirque researched all around the globe, each on-line and with in-country trend-spotters (Dan
2012). The corporate utilized a worldwide community of expertise scouts to find new performers, and
it relied on analysis
“… inside its personal in depth archives that contained hundreds of books, movies,
musical scores, and pictures to ascertain accuracy of particulars. Scores of researchers
feed info of what’s “cool” and distinctive that enables the artistic administrators to
decide the relevancy and enchantment of the brand new present” (Dan 2012: Para. 5).
Stephan Haves, a Grasp Trainer and Cirque marketing consultant asserted that,
“Expertise practically surpassed the artistry with seamless hologram projections
and lasers that it turns into so immersive for the general public that it has grow to be a brand new
era [of entertainment]. The expertise is . . . exponentially extra
unbelievable, a sign that by way of expertise the way forward for the circus will probably be to the
level of intoxication.”
Marc Gagnon, head of Enterprise Structure at Cirque, commented on this relationship when
said:
“Creativity and innovation are in our DNA… It’s what we’ve been doing for
many years. Utilizing expertise as a instrument for intentional and frequent innovation is at
the core of our technique to grow to be the world chief in dwell leisure”
(Newswire Immediately 2018: Para. Three).
See Exhibit 7 for photos of Human-Pc Interplay (HCI).

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Cirque du Soleil
Exhibit 7. Pictures of Human-Pc Interplay (HCI)
Supply: https://www.bing.com/photos/
Cirque had created on-going strategic alliance with just a few entities, together with Disney, artists such
as Madonna (for whom it helped produced 2012 Tremendous Bowl present, see Exhibit eight), and James
Cameron (with whom it collaborated on a 3D film, see Exhibit 9). Moreover, the corporate
collaborated carefully with engineering and artwork departments in as many as 17 universities the place
it solicited concepts from college students, a lot of which have been finally included into its reveals
(Dan 2012).
Equally essential to Cirque’s was the function the Metropolis of Montreal the place the corporate’s head
workplace was situated. Montreal was residence to the Nationwide Theatre College, the O Vertigo dance
firm, the world-famous Jazz Competition, and vibrant different unbiased music, arts, and
design corporations. Moreover, Montreal was acknowledged as the middle of Canada’s vogue,
visible arts and design. This middle of arts, design, vogue, and music had created a basin for
creators and “spill-across” results that have been essential to Cirque’s inventive growth.
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Exhibit eight. Pictures of Madonna 2012 Tremendous Bowl Present
Supply: https://www.bing.com/photos/
Creativity by way of Teamwork and Range
Collaboration was a key to Cirque’s tradition of creativity. Groups and teamwork have been the basin
of artistic work at Cirque, as leisure productions have been based mostly on collaborative efforts.
Creative present needed to be accomplished by groups. In response to Ricotta (2013), the best aggressive
benefit that the corporate had was the variety of its groups. Tony Ricotta, a “Zarkana”
firm’s supervisor, reiterated:
“If all people is from the identical facet of the river, you might be solely going to have a look at it
a method and you may’t enchantment to all people in case you are solely it from a
very slender visual field. So every little thing is made up of groups. Whether or not it’s the
manufacturing crew, the operations crew, and the inventive crew, all of them come from
everywhere. So there’s a diversified perspective and that’s what offers us a
aggressive benefit. Once we began, it was very French Canadian… Now
now we have the flexibility to achieve past our headquarters and usher in new creators
from across the globe and provides them a possibility to create in a manner that they
by no means been capable of earlier than and do some wonderful issues.”
Every Cirque efficiency required a crew of individuals with specialised/complimentary abilities who
labored collectively to carry out a singular manufacturing. In response to Ghazzawi et al. (2014: 42):
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Cirque du Soleil
“Every manufacturing started on a storyboard with narrative growth resulting in
an accruement of design ranges not restricted to lighting and stage design,
gymnastic choreographers, music writers and composers, engineers and set
builders, structural erectors, amongst different design specialists. As soon as developed
operations took on a stage of features together with auxiliary companies reminiscent of
catering, communications, medical companies, enterprise operations, advertising and marketing and
human relations.”
Exhibit 9. Pictures of James Cameron, Cirque du Soleil Manufacturing
Supply: https://www.bing.com/photos/
For Cirque, Groups have been essential for the quite simple motive that nobody particular person might hold all
these proficient balls within the air and do it properly. Moreover, performances, artistic reveals, and
theater productions generally and required collaborative, team-based work (Ricotta 2013).
Exhibit 10 offers photos of teamwork throughout a Cirque manufacturing. Every crew member had a
function of what was anticipated from her/him to carry out. Roles at Cirque had rights and
duties connected to them. Position relationships have been a key to performances’ success as
crew members wanted to work together with one another to carry out their particular roles. Accordingly,
crew members acquired roles by way of role-making and thru role-taking. In response to
Ghazzawi et al. (2014: 41):
“Given the variety of merging cultures, communications amongst recruits and
personnel was certainly difficult however actually not not possible. Add to the combination
the complexities of residing preparations and the fixed adaptation required on
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a day by day foundation, one might simply think about the vital belief necessities wanted
when performing highflying stunts promulgated by precarious drops and turns.”
Usually talking, Cirque performers had excessive group efficacy; this meant that members of the
performing crew had a shared perception concerning the flexibility of all crew members to realize their
targets and aims, in different phrases, “carry out properly collectively.” Stated efficacy developed over
time as group members come to know one another, how the group functioned, the duties it
wanted to perform, and the group’s capabilities (George & Jones 2012).

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Exhibit 10. Chosen Pictures of Teamwork Performances at Cirque
Supply: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/press
Title: Tabloid Junkie from Michael Jackson. Title: Counselor’s Son and Spearmen from ONE KA
Image credit score: Isaac Brekken/Getty Pictures. Image credit score: Eric Jamison
Costume credit score: Zaldy Goco Costume credit score: Marie Chantale Vaillancourt
Ricotta (2013) asserted that “the best aggressive benefit that the corporate had was
the variety of its groups.” DeLong and Vijayaraghavan (2002) famous that the artists and
performers originated from greater than 40 international locations they usually spoke greater than 25 totally different
languages and dialects. Cirque was residence to four,000 workers, 500 of whom have been performers
who arrived from numerous locations and from distant villages in Africa, China, and South
America. The apply at Cirque was to permit at the very least two associates or relations to
accompany a performer to assist ease the challenges of adjustments in tradition, language, customs,
and atmosphere (DeLong & Vijayaraghavan 2002; Ghazzawi et al. 2014).
Moreover, language (studying, talking, and writing) programs and academic alternatives
have been offered for each performers and their accompanied relations. Celebrations of
cultural variety have been widespread at Cirque. Troupe events have been held with ethnic meals and
particular occasions that mirrored the corporate’s variety. Medical care, transportation help,
meals, social and psychological help, and residing amenities have been normal advantages for Cirque
performers/artists.
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Cirque’s 4 Pillars of Company Social Accountability “CSR”
Cirque du Soleil established a philanthropic group to assist at-risk youth by discovering
them, placing them on stage, and offering them an outlet in order that they may very well be sheltered
from life’s challenges. Cirque was an organization with a trigger and Cirque individuals have been “residents of
the world.” Cirque recognized its 4 pillars as: “Expertise, Group, Procurement and
Partnership, and Setting” (Cirque du Soleil-d). (See Exhibit 11 for the creator’s
conceptualized illustration of the 4 pillars.)
Expertise
For Cirque’s “Expertise” pillar, based on its personal definition,
“our workers are the simple power on which our fame is constructed. Their
work atmosphere has an awesome affect on their high quality of life, their household life
and their well being. Therefore, we be sure this atmosphere is open, secure, artistic
and pleasant” (Cirque du Soleil-d).

Cirque emphasised workers’ well-being and vitality, well being and security, and entry to the
arts. Moreover, the corporate was obsessed with creation. Cirque supported the
native inventive neighborhood by buying exhibitions and reveals tickets for its workers to
allow them to find new concepts. Cirque additionally organized the “PARADE” program, an
annual exhibit to salute its workers’ inventive expertise. On the “PARADE,” workers
exhibited their art work. The occasion occurred at worldwide headquarters and in a
gallery in Las Vegas (Cirque du Soleil-d).
Group
As for the “Group” pillar, the corporate communicated the next:
“We attempt to be a very good neighbor at our places of work and within the cities we go to by
constructing relationships with communities by way of actions and packages that
profit at-risk youth. This trigger is a pure match for a corporation based by road
performers. We converse to youth in a language that’s constructed into our DNA: artwork”
(Cirque du Soleil-e).
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The corporate used artwork as an intervention instrument to assist its neighborhood. Cirque created two
intervention packages for youth: Cirque du Monde, a program that promoted circus acts
as a imply of intervention with at-risk youth, also called the social circus; and “Arts
Nomades,” a program that supplied a pedagogical strategy based mostly on a partnership in a
faculty setting. “Arts Nomades” featured a crew of educating artists working with lecturers
who wished to make use of the humanities in help of educational ideas. Each packages “used artwork to
contribute to the non-public and social growth of the contributors by fostering selfesteem, confidence, social abilities, citizen growth and creativity” (Cirque du Soleil-e).
Cirque supported numerous neighborhood packages, specifically “Artwork Assortment and Present
Heritage” and “Montreal: Metropolis of Circus Arts,” amongst others. The corporate inspired its
workers to take part in action-based initiatives and supported occasions that have been
significant to the area people. It supported the annual Run Away with Cirque du
Soleil on the Springs Protect and the 5K Run and 1-Mile Enjoyable Stroll the place all proceeds
supported academic and environmental packages (Cirque du Soleil-e).
Procurement and Partnership
In 2008, Cirque adopted a accountable procurement coverage, with rules for environmental
safety and work requirements outlined by the Worldwide Labor Group. The
firm used accountable suppliers who shared Cirque’s Company Social Accountability
strategy (Cirque du Soleil-f). The “Procurement and Partnership” Pillar was characterised as
follows:
“Cirque du Soleil has a social accountability clause in its partnership agreements.
This clause covers a set of social accountability parameters, reminiscent of worker
relations, accountable procurement, environmental safety and social and
cultural motion locally” (Cirque du Soleil-f).
Setting
In 2006, Cirque adopted an environmental coverage based mostly on the next themes: “water
administration, greenhouse gasoline (GHG) administration, residential and unsafe waste
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administration, and worker training and consciousness constructing” (Cirque du Soleil-g). To cut back
its GHG emissions, Cirque related its reveals to cities’ energy grids at any time when doable as
against utilizing turbines. Moreover, the corporate began utilizing a light-colored
canvas for its new Massive High as a substitute of its conventional Massive High; the brand new canvas mirrored the
solar’s rays, decreasing air-conditioning wants (Cirque du Soleil-g).
The corporate turned a member of city heating community. It linked its worldwide
headquarters to “the Biomont energy plant within the Saint-Michel district of Montreal. City
heating community reworked biogas from the landfill web site of the Saint-Michel
Environmental Complicated into electrical energy. Managed combustion of the biogas produces
electrical energy” (Cirque du Soleil-g). In response to Cirque, the residual warmth of the method was
recovered, provided the heating methods of its headquarters, and decreased its emissions by
greater than 1,200 tons a yr (Cirque du Soleil-g).
Different initiative together with two-sided printing and elimination of disposable cups and
dishes, discount of water consumption, new strategies and supplies to extend the
lifespan of costumes, and energetic recycling and compost (Cirque du Soleil-g).
Cirque worldwide headquarters was licensed “BOMA BEST®” Degree Three. Stated certification
acknowledged the corporate’s environmental practices and its wholesome office. BOMA
BEST® coated six elements: vitality, water, waste discount and websites, effluent emissions,
the indoor atmosphere, and the environmental administration system (Cirque du Soleil-g).
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Exhibit 11. An Illustration of Cirque’s 4 Pillars “CSR”
Supply: Conceptualized by the case creator
The Way forward for Tradition and Creativity at Cirque
Laliberté’s was a “expertise harvester” and “cultivator of individuals” who was dedicated to
creating his artists’ and managers’ expertise whereas sustaining stewardship of their bodily and
emotional welfare. His imaginative and prescient for Cirque and its individuals “will probably be utilized to future productions
whereby he pursues and realizes beliefs and creativity and hunts for the potential in people,
whereas therapeutic the very spirit of dwell efficiency” (Ghazzawi et al. 2014: 44).
Regardless of its historic progress and success, the corporate had been stricken by a sequence of failed
reveals and a decline in its revenue. In 2010, Cirque cancelled Banana Shpeel’s scheduled run at
the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco. After its troubled exhibiting in New York Metropolis and
Toronto, the present was dubbed as “probably the most irritating failures in Cirque’s historical past” by
the New York Instances (Arcand 2019). Leisure critic Christopher Hoile wrote in his evaluate
of Banana Shpeel: “To stay artistic, an organization must experiment; this experiment simply
Expertise Group
Procurement
and
Partnership
Setting
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Cirque du Soleil
would not work out. It will be higher for Cirque du Soleil to withdraw Banana Shpeel than flog it
on tour and endanger its fame” (in Arcand 2019: Para. 5).
Including to Cirque’s hassle was the necessity to cancel 5 reveals in 2011-12, specifically: Z and Zaya in
Asia, Saltimbanco on Tour, Viva Elvis in Las Vegas, and Iris in California. Iris, offered on the
Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, was put to relaxation in December 2012 as a result of a low viewers
attendance regardless of its optimistic vital reception (Baillargeon 2013). See Appendix 1 for Cirque
reveals. In 2012, the corporate introduced a wave of layoffs at Montreal headquarters, together with
30 head workplace positions (Baillargeon 2013). President Daniel Lamarre argued that mentioned adjustments
have been vital “to help the sustainability” of the corporate. To Lamarre, “the scenario did
not appear catastrophic … nevertheless, that after a decade of large progress, world financial
situations have been forcing a evaluate of the enterprise mannequin” (Baillargeon 2013, para. 6). In accordance
to Cousineau (2014):
“Laliberté discreetly reclaimed half of the 20-per-cent stake within the Cirque du Soleil
he had bought to Dubai traders in 2008 after the monetary disaster in Dubai crushed
their world actual property investments and turned this a lot publicized Cirque world
growth/partnership right into a mirage. The failed growth contributed to the
Cirque’s monetary difficulties, which resulted in 400 layoffs in January, 2013. The
monetary difficulties have been additionally felt in Las Vegas, the place resort teams gave into
discounting, forcing their circus companion to comply with swimsuit, Mr. Laliberté mentioned. The
Cirque generates near half of its $850-million in annual income from its eight
Vegas reveals. The rising Canadian greenback, which swelled manufacturing prices, additionally hit
the underside line, shaving off at the very least $50-million in income per yr.”
As ninety % of Cirque du Soleil was acquired in 2015, some have been questioning whether or not a
conventional tradition that valued social norms and stability wouldn’t work properly with processoriented and bottom-line necessities of the brand new homeowners. Accordingly, Daniel Lammare and
Man Laliberté have been re-visiting the challenges that confronted a company throughout its progress cycle
the place Cirque tradition wanted to adapt to environmental adjustments. Cirque executives knew that
the acquisition performed a major function within the survival and revitalization of the corporate. They
for certain knew that the buying companions’ expectations have been to place in place organizational
processes that may yield an affordable return on their invested capital, features in market share,
and retention of key workers.
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In response to Leslie and Rantisi (2019: 264),
“The intimate connections between performers and the viewers that has additionally
led to innovation have additionally been disrupted with the shift from massive tops to arenas.
The present creation course of has grow to be more and more linear in a geographic and
organizational sense, as elements of creation are extra tightly managed…A
standardization of labor and rationalization of labor – as properly an more and more
closed script and controlled space-have created situations whereby a rising
variety of younger performers search out employment at smaller, extra progressive
troupes… .”
In transferring ahead, the massive query earlier than Cirque management was, how might Cirque proactively reply to the adjustments in its inner atmosphere whereas sustaining its excessive artistic
requirements, broaden its enchantment to a bigger viewers, meet its new companions’ expectations, and
stay loyal to its unique values?

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Issam A. Ghazzawi
is Professor of Administration and the Sam Walton Fellow on the College
of La Verne. Professor Ghazzawi presents programs in organizational design,
organizational idea, organizational conduct, and administration. He
obtained his Ph.D. from the College of Pittsburgh; his Grasp in Labor
and Human Assets (M.L.H.R.) from The Ohio State College; and his
Grasp in Enterprise Administration (MBA) from Sul Ross State College.
He’s a previous president of the Western Casewriters Affiliation.
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Appendix A
Cirque du Soleil Reveals
Supply: Wikipedia
Venue Premiere Touring Vs. Resident Type/Format Standing
Alegria April 21, 1994 Touring present * Grand Chapiteau (1994-1999,
2001-2009). Area (2009-2013)
Retired
Alegría: In a New Gentle April 18, 2019 Touring present Grand Chapiteau Lively
Amaluna April 19, 2012 Touring present Grand Chapiteau Lively
Axel April four, 2019 Touring present Area Lively
Banana Shpeel November 19, 2009 Touring present Theatre Retired
Bazzar November 14, 2018 Touring present Grand Chapiteau Lively
Corteo April 21, 2005 Touring present Grand Chapiteau
Area (since 2018)
Lively
Criss Angel Imagine September 26, 2008 Luxor, Las Vegas Resident (2008 — 2016) Retired
Crystal October 5, 2017 Touring present Area (since 2017) Lively
Delirium January 26, 2006 Touring present Area (2006 — 2008) Retired
Dralion April 22, 1999 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (1999- 2010)
Area (2010-2015)
Retired
Iris September 25, 2011 Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles Resident (2011- 2013) Retired
Joyà November eight, 2014 Riviera Maya, Mexico Resident (since 2014) Lively
Kà November 26, 2004 MGM Grand, Las Vegas Resident (since 2004) Lively
Koozå April 19, 2007 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (since 2007) Lively
Kurios: Cupboard of
Curiosities
April 24, 2014 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (since 2014) Lively
La Nouba December 23, 1998 Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista,
Florida
Resident (1998 – 2017) Retired
Luzia April 21, 2016 Touring present Grand Chapiteau Lively
Messi 10 October 10, 2019 Touring present Area (since 2019) Lively
Michael Jackson: One Might 23, 2013 Mandalay Bay Resort and On line casino,
Las Vegas
Resident (since 2013) Lively
Michael Jackson: The
Immortal World Tour
October 2, 2011 Touring present Area (2011-2014) Retired
Mystère December 25, 1993 Treasure Island, Las Vegas Resident (since 1993) Lively
Nouvelle Expérience Might eight, 1990 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (1990-1993) Retired
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Appendix A cont.
Cirque du Soleil Reveals
O October 15, 1998 Bellagio, Las Vegas Resident (since 1998) Lively
Ovo April 23, 2009 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (2009-2015)
Area (since 2016)
Lively
Paramour April 16, 2016 Hamburg, Germany Theatre (2016- 2017, 2019 – current) Lively
Quidam April 23, 1996 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (1996-2010, 2015)
Area (2009, 2010 – 2016)
Retired
R.U.N October 24, 2019 Luxor, Las Vegas Resident Lively
Saltimbanco April 23, 1992 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (1992 – 2006)
Area (2007- 2012)
Retired
Séptimo Día – No
Descansaré
March 9, 2017 Touring present Area (2017-2018) Retired
The Beatles Love June 2, 2006 The Mirage, Las Vegas Resident (since 2006) Lively
Toruk – The First Flight November 12, 2015 Touring present Area (2015-2019) Retired
Totem April 22, 2010 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (since 2010)
Area (2017)
Lively
‘Twas The Evening Earlier than… November 29, 2019 The Chicago Theatre, Chicago
(comfortable launch) and Madison Sq.
Backyard, New York Metropolis
Seasonal Theatre Coming Quickly
Varekai April 24, 2002 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (2002 — 2013,
2017) Area (2013 — 2017)
Retired
Viva Elvis December 16, 2009 Aria Resort and On line casino, Las Vegas Resident (2009 — 2012) Retired
Volta April 20, 2017 Touring present Grand Chapiteau (since 2017) Lively
Wintuk November 1, 2007 Madison Sq. Backyard, New
York Metropolis
Seasonal Resident (2007 — 2011) Retired
X (The Land of Fantasy) August 10, 2019 Hangzhou, China Resident (since 2019) Lively
Zaia July 26, 2008 The Venetian Macao, Cotai Strip,
Macau
Resident (2008 — 2012) Retired
Zarkana June 29, 2011 Aria Resort and On line casino, Las Vegas Area (2011 — 2012)
Resident (2012 — 2016)
Retired
Zed August 15, 2008 Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo,
Japan
Resident (2008 — 2011) Retired
Zumanity July 31, 2003 New York-New York, Las Vegas Resident (since 2003) Lively
* A “Grand Chapiteau” is actually a cell village. It homes the venue in addition to a kitchen, faculty, rehearsal area and objects wanted for the forged and crew.
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Appendix B
Cirque du Soleil Essential Timeline
Supply: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/press/kits/company/about-cirque
1984
Cirque du Soleil is born with the help of the Quebec authorities, as a part of the celebrations surrounding the
450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier’s arrival in Canada. The primary manufacturing, Le Grand Tour debuts within the small
Quebec city of Gaspé, and is then carried out in 10 different cities all through the province. The primary blue-and-yellow
massive prime seats 800.
1985
After performing in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Quebec Metropolis, with Le Grand Tour, Cirque du Soleil leaves its residence
province for the primary time to take its present to neighboring Ontario. It performs in Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara Falls
and the present is solely named Cirque du Soleil.
1986
Cirque du Soleil takes La Magie Proceed throughout Canada, together with Vancouver, the place it places on a number of
performances on the Kids’s Competition and Expo 86 and in seven different Canadian cities. The massive prime now has room
for 1,500 spectators.
1987
Having triumphed in 5 cities in Quebec, We Reinvent the Circus is carried out on the Los Angeles Artwork Competition and
then strikes on to San Diego and Santa Monica. Exhilarated by the Californian public’s response, Cirque du Soleil is
an in a single day success. The participation of Cirque du Soleil on the L.A Artwork Competition just isn’t solely an essential milestone
in its historical past but additionally its first go to to its American neighbors.
1988
We Reinvent the Circus continues its North American tour, after a short look on the Calgary Winter
Olympics. Wherever it goes, the end result is similar: the performances promote out, and the critics rave.
1990
Montreal is the setting for the world premiere of a brand-new manufacturing, Nouvelle Expérience, in a brand new, 2,500-
seat massive prime. With this new manufacturing, Cirque du Soleilshatters all earlier data for ticket gross sales. In the meantime,
Cirque makes its first foray into Europe, staging We Reinvent the Circus in London and Paris.
1992
Fascination, a collage of the very best acts from previous reveals, allows Cirque to make a reputation for itself in Japan. The
present opens in Tokyo after which strikes on to seven different cities. In the meantime, in Europe, Cirque du Soleil joins forces
with Switzerland’s Circus Knie and phases a present in over 60 cities all through the nation. In North America, 1992
sees Cirque du Soleil make its Las Vegas debut when Nouvelle Expérience kicks off a year-long engagement beneath a
massive prime on the Mirage Resort. Cirque du Soleiladad: a monument to its repertoire of reveals, Saltimbanco. Premiering
in Montreal, this newest manufacturing begins a prolonged tour of North America.
1993
Following the profitable Las Vegas run of Nouvelle Expérience, Cirque du Soleil strikes right into a theatre constructed to its
specs on the new Treasure Island Resort. A 10-year contract is signed with Mirage Resorts to stage Mystère,
a big manufacturing befitting this present enterprise capital.
1994
Cirque du Soleil celebrates its 10th anniversary with one other manufacturing, Alegria. True to custom, the world
premiere is held in Montreal. Saltimbanco embarks on a six- month run in Tokyo that pulls an excessive amount of
consideration.
1995
Cirque du Soleil responds to a request from the Canadian authorities and creates a present for the heads of state
gathered on the G7 Summit in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Additionally in 1995, Saltimbanco units out to open formally the
European market. Cirque’s spectacular white massive prime with seating for two,500 spectators makes its first cease in
Amsterdam, adopted by Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Vienna.
1996
In April, Cirque launches Quidam in Montreal. After ending its hometown run, Quidam heads off on a North
American tour. In the meantime, Alegria units out to tour Japan for just a few months.
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Appendix B cont.
Cirque du Soleil Essential Timeline
1997
In Montreal, the inauguration of the model new Worldwide Headquarters is held; the Studio is now the place all of
Cirque’s reveals will probably be created and produced.
1998
In October, the second resident present for Cirque du Soleil, “O”, takes to the stage of a brand new theatre on the Bellagio
in Las Vegas. This manufacturing is Cirque’s first aquatic present and an essential milestone within the firm historical past.
With this present, Cirque is now identified internationally. In December of the identical yr, Cirque inaugurates but
one other everlasting present, La Nouba, on the Walt Disney World Resort close to Orlando, Florida.
1999
A brand-new Cirque du Soleil manufacturing, Dralion, launches its North American tour in Montreal. With
Saltimbanco, Cirque units up store in Asia and the Pacific.
2000
Film followers come out in droves to see Cirque du Soleil on the IMAX display screen for the primary time ever, as its largeformat movie manufacturing Journey of Man (Passages in French), distributed by Sony Footage Classics, premieres
worldwide.
2001
Cirque du Soleil retains on rising with the inauguration of a 15, 000-square-metre addition (Les Ateliers) to its
Worldwide Headquarters in Montreal.
2002
In April, a fifth touring present is added to the seven Cirque du Soleil reveals already performing concurrently in
2002. Varekai premieres in Montreal, and from there begins a tour of North America. Cirque du Soleil made its first
cease in Mexico this yr with Alegriá. Cirque’s Multimedia Division, known as Cirque du Soleil Pictures on the time,
produces its first tv sequence, Cirque du Soleil Fireplace Inside, for the Canadian and American tv market.
2003
The latest addition to the Cirque household, Zumanity is born in August. It’s an adults- solely resident present on the New
York-New York Resort & On line casino in Las Vegas. The filming of a brand new tv sequence—the primary to be produced completely
by Cirque du Soleil Pictures—is wrapped up within the late summer time. This distinctive household TV sequence brings collectively
acrobatic acts inside a dramatic comedy framework. The sequence is aimed toward worldwide tv markets,
together with Canada and america.
2004
Cirque du Soleil celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2004. Various occasions mark the event: amongst different
issues, a e book is launched, entitled 20 Years beneath the Solar, which recounts the bizarre historical past of Cirque du
Soleil step-by-step, and Cirque units the primary Guinness World Report for the biggest variety of stilt-walkers (544) at
the identical time and place. Cirque du Soleil launches a brand new resident present, KÀ, within the fall on the MGM Grand in Las
Vegas.
2005
The yr 2005 is marked by the Montreal launch and world premiere of Corteo, Cirque’s newest touring present. In
July, Montreal hosts the XI FINA World Aquatic Championships, for which Cirque du Soleil creates the opening
ceremony present.
2006
Cirque du Soleil first-ever musical present in area, DELIRIUM, premiered in Montreal in January and has begun its US
tour. Cirque du Soleil can also be getting ready a fifth everlasting present in Las Vegas: The Beatles LOVE, which celebrates
the musical legacy of the Beatles and premieres in June at The Mirage. After touring in North America, Europe, Asia
and Australia, Cirque du Soleil has got down to make a reputation for itself in South America by presenting its present
Saltimbanco in Chile, Argentina and Brazil in 2006.
Cirque du Soleil has entered into an unique settlement with CKX Inc.

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Appendix B cont.
Cirque du Soleil Essential Timeline
2007
KOOZA, a brand new touring present, is launched in Montreal in April 2007. In February, Cirque du Soleil places on a pregame present efficiency for Tremendous Bowl XLI in Miami. In November, Cirque presents Wintuk, a present designed
completely for the WaMu Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York. Beginning in 2007, this seasonal present has
been carried out for 10 weeks for 4 years. Cirque du Soleil has additionally launched a fiction/non- fiction e book entitled
The Spark, which invitations readers to find the facility of creativity and creativeness and apply it in their very own lives.
Written by John Bacon and based mostly on an unique thought by Lyn Heward, the e book is distributed in a number of international locations.
After having toured for 14 years and being carried out earlier than greater than 9.5 million spectators, Saltimbanco is
reborn in July because it takes off on an area tour of greater than 40 cities in Canada and the U.S.
2008
This was an historic yr for Cirque du Soleil as the corporate launched three new everlasting reveals that yr:
ZAIA at The Venetian Resort in Macau (China), ZED on the Tokyo Disney Resort in Tokyo (Japan) and CRISS ANGEL
Imagine at The Luxor Resort in Las Vegas (United States). Cirque du Soleil additionally created a show-event offered at
Colisée Pepsi in Quebec Metropolis within the scope of the 400th anniversary of town. Istithmar World, the funding arm
of Dubai World, and Nakheel have collectively acquired a 20 per cent stake in Cirque du Soleil.
2009
Cirque du Soleil celebrates its 25th anniversary and launches the 25th manufacturing of its historical past. This new creation,
OVO premieres in Montreal in April. The publication of a e book on Cirque costumes and the launch of a double CD
containing a music compilation, are among the many commemorative actions of this anniversary.
In September 2009, Man Laliberté turned the primary Canadian non-public area explorer. His mission was devoted to
elevating consciousness on water points dealing with humankind on planet earth. Below the theme Shifting Stars and Earth for
Water, this primary Poetic Social Mission in area aimed toward touching individuals by way of an inventive strategy: a particular
120-minute webcast program that includes numerous inventive performances unfolding in 14 cities on 5 continents,
together with the Worldwide Area Station.
2010
Cirque du Soleil launches three new productions in 2010. Viva ELVIS, Cirque’s seventh present in Las Vegas begins in
February at ARIA Resort & On line casino. Banana Shpeel is offered from November 2009 to June 27, 2010 in Chicago
and New York. In April, TOTEM, first present designed to adapt to numerous efficiency areas reminiscent of Massive High and
arenas, celebrates its world premiere in Montreal. Cirque du Soleil, James Cameron (Titanic, AVATAR), and Andrew
Adamson (Shrek, Chronicles of Narnia), joined their artistic forces to develop and produce immersive theatrical
3D tasks. In November, Cirque du Soleil’s founder, Man Laliberté will get a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame.
2011
Cirque du Soleil will launch three new reveals: Zarkana, written and directed by acclaimed movie and theatre director
François Girard will start on the legendary Radio Metropolis Music Corridor in New York Metropolis on June 9. Written and directed
by director-choreographer Philippe Decouflé, IRIS created completely for the Dolby Theatre on the Hollywood &
Highland Middle will start on July 21. The present Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour™ written and
directed by Jamie King will start in Montreal on October 2nd.
2012
Cirque du Soleil launched a brand new touring present in Montreal known as Amaluna. The corporate has developed a brand new
artistic and manufacturing service devoted to companies and artists desirous to name on Cirque du Soleil’s artistic
know-how for his or her tasks. Inside that context, Cirque du Soleil collaborated with pop star Madonna offering
inventive course companies for her efficiency on the Tremendous Bowl XLVI halftime present. In December, Cirque du Soleil
and Bell Media created a brand new three way partnership to develop media content material for tv, movie, digital, and gaming
platforms. Cirque du Soleil Media’s mandate is to develop unique leisure tasks, leveraging Cirque du
Soleil’s artistic inventiveness and sources, shopper perception, and infrastructure, with Bell Media’s manufacturing
expertise, media platforms, and numerous distribution capabilities.

Journal of Case Analysis and Inquiry, Vol. 5, 2019 252 |
Cirque du Soleil
Appendix B cont.
Cirque du Soleil Essential Timeline
2013
Cirque du Soleil launched a brand new resident manufacturing impressed by pop icon Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson ONE,
on the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL present ranked among the many 10 extra
profitable excursions of rock historical past, a primary for a Canadian artist.
2014
Cirque du Soleil celebrates its 30th anniversary and launched a brand new touring present in April in Montreal, Kurios –
Cupboard de curiosités. In November, Cirque opened a brand new resident present in Riviera Maya (Mexico), JOYÀ, in a
custom-designed theatre. In December, as a part of its 30th anniversary, and for the primary time in its historical past, Cirque
du Soleil presents a singular, unique music occasion in Montreal celebrating 30 years of music.
Within the context of an on-going technique of diversifying its content material and live-entertainment actions
worldwide, Cirque du Soleil has created some 10 subsidiaries amongst which: 45 DEGREES, Cirque du
Soleil Hospitality, Cirque du Soleil Theatrical, 4U2C, Cirque du Soleil Média and Outbox.
2015
Cirque du Soleil introduced an settlement beneath which TPG, a worldwide non-public funding agency, was to accumulate a
majority stake in Cirque du Soleil to gasoline progress and take Cirque’s iconic blue and yellow massive prime to thrilling new
markets.
On December 21, Cirque du Soleil launched TORUK – The First Flight, an arena-touring present impressed by the world
of James Cameron’s history-making movement image AVATAR.
2016
Two new productions launched in April: LUZIA, a touring present beneath the massive prime impressed by the wealthy Mexican
tradition launched in Montreal, and PARAMOUR, a manufacturing created particularly for Broadway offered on the
Lyric Theatre in New York.
2017
In March, a brand new area present will start a South American tour. This present known as Sep7imo Dia is impressed by the
music of a preferred band from Argentina, Soda Stereo. The newest touring present VOLTA, impressed by motion
sports activities, will elevate its marquee on the Outdated Port of Montreal in April.
The worldwide success story generally known as Cirque du Soleil is, above all, the story of a outstanding bond between
performers and spectators the world over. For on the finish of the day, it’s the spectators who spark the artistic
passions of Cirque du Soleil.

Journal of Case Analysis and Inquiry, Vol. 5, 2019 253 |
Cirque du Soleil
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Journal of Case Analysis and Inquiry
Peer-Reviewed Circumstances, Notes and Articles
A publication of the Western Casewriters Affiliation
Vol. 5
December 2019
ISSN 2377-7389

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