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CAL PERFORMANCES PRESENTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS Friday, May 3, 2013, 8pm es 7 doigts de la main translates liter- Olympic Games closing ceremonies in Turin, Saturday, May 4, 2013, 2pm Lally as “the seven fingers of the hand.” It is the Montreal Jazz Festival, and Mexico, France, Sunday, May 5, 2013, 3pm a twist on a French idiom (“the five fingers of and Norway. Zellerbach Hall the hand”) used to describe distinct parts united Main role: Michel Michel, who Hears tightly, moving in coordination towards one Voices. Secondary roles: Pedestrian, little boy, common goal. Here it refers to the seven found- several park passers-by, guy in bar, drugee, ing directors of the company (Isabelle Chassé, psy. Disciplines: Trapeze fixe, hand-balancing, Shana Carroll, Patrick Léonard, Faon Shane, group juggling. Les 7 Doigts de la Main Gypsy Snider, Sébastien Soldevila, and Samuel Tétreault), who, by combining their distinct Héloïse Bourgeois began to talents and experiences, work toward their com- study acrobatics when she was mon artistic goals with the beautifully awkward five years old, then moved on dexterity of a seven-fingered hand. to equestrian vaulting, tram- Founded in Montreal in 2002, Les 7 Doigts poline and dance. After ob- de la Main’s initial goal was to bring circus to taining a university diploma, a human scale. They began as artists on stage, dreams of travel impelled her creating collectively, and soon branched out, toward the circus. Further expanding their creative talents as directors, training at Circus Space in choreographers, writers, and coaches, passing London and the National Circus School in on their collaborative and unique 7 Fingers pro- Montreal helped her become a hand-to-hand cess to a new generation of circus artists. Out of vaulter. Upon completing a tour of European this emerged Loft, Traces, La Vie, Psy, Fibonacci street festivals, Ms. Bourgeois joined the 7 Project, Patinoire, A Muse, and Sequence 8. A re- Fingers and contributed to creating Traces, in laxed and funky artist’s loft, a bunker, purga- which she has performed more than 500 times tory, or a psychiatrist’s office, an international over three years. While still passionate about collaboration of cultures, or a solo clown show, hand-to-hand, she is also fascinated with each show offers a distinct setting and yet carries Chinese pole and created, in tandem with her the same 7 fingerprint. partner William Underwood, a new acrobatic Celebrating their tenth anniversary this sea- duo on the apparatus. son, Les 7 Doigts de la Main are constantly de- Main role: Claire the Insomniac. Secondary veloping new shows back home in Montreal, ap- roles: Pedestrian/love interest, little girl, sev- plying their unique brand of hands-on creativity eral park passers-by, girl in bar, drunk girl, psy. to all their ventures. Disciplines: Hand to hand, Chinese pole. Guillaume Biron grew up in Mohamed Bouseta grew up France and discovered the in a family of eight children circus at age ten. Five years in the north of France. Peggy Faye later he enrolled in the École Hyperactive by nature, he be- Nationale de Cirque de gan to try different sports as a Châtellerault, where he ma- means of channeling this en- PSY jored in hand-to-hand, tram- ergy. His life took a turn for poline, and static trapeze. the better when he met the When he was 18 years old, he great Romanian gymnast was drawn to the National Circus School in Adrian Munteanu, then retired, who had These performances and the associated SchoolTime performance are made possible, Montreal. There he specialized in Korean board opened a circus school in front of his home. in part, by Corporate Sponsor Mechanics Bank. and static trapeze, while also practicing jug- Beyond a teacher he found a true mentor, and gling, balancing, acrobatics, dance, and theater the circus quickly became more than a passion. Cal Performances’ 2012–2013 season is sponsored by Wells Fargo. arts. His professional career subsequently has Before joining the 7 Fingers, Mr. Bouseta con- taken him to points around the globe: the tinued his training at Rosny-sous-Bois and the 4 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 5 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS Centre National des Arts du Cirque in several park passers-by, guy in bar. Disciplines: Florent Lestage is an artist Julien Silliau spent much of Châlons-en-Champagne. Teeterboard, hand-balancing, group juggling. who uses juggling and other his childhood at his mother’s Main role: Danny the Manic. Secondary circus techniques to create a circus school before entering roles: Pedestrian, psy, Papa, guy in bar, WWF From a very young age, Naël timeless universe of height- the École de Cirque Balthazar Wrestler (the Head Shrinker). Disciplines: Hand Jammal transformed his gar- ened senses. In this weight- in Montpellier and the École to hand, fly mat. den in the south of France defying atmosphere objects Nationale des Arts du Cirque into a circus ring and his par- take on new life, encourag- de Rosny-sous-Bois, both in At age seven, Danica ent’s bed into a trampoline. ing the juggler to help them France. During this training Gagnon-Plamondon began At the École Nationale de take flight. Mr. Lestage finds he acquired great versatility training in artistic gymnas- Cirque de Châtellerault, he inspiration in silent films, dance, music, visual as both juggler and acrobat, and performed in tics through which she devel- worked on hand-to-hand, arts, travel, personal interaction, and cultural several events in association with the oped acrobatic agility and a banquine, Russian bar, and exchanges. They have helped him evolve, as have Acrobacirque Circus School, École Nationale de great deal of determination. juggling before specializing in balancing on his dreams and delusions. He was introduced to Cirque de France, and Festival du Cirque de She then vaulted into the canes. He then enrolled in the National Circus the circus at age eleven in Lomme, France, then Demain in Paris. He has also performed in world of the circus by enroll- School in Montreal and was involved in a variety at the École Balthazar in Montpellier. He subse- Tunisia and Argentina and was part of a circus ing in the National Circus of projects, exchanges, and shows. The circus for quently moved on to the National Circus School company of street performers. Upon enrolling in School in Montreal. There she not only acquired him is a sort of nexus, a place to mingle and in Montreal, at which time he decided to make the National Circus School in Montreal, he ma- performing experience but forged an artistic share. With a skill set acquired through practic- the circus his life. jored in the German wheel, not only making the persona. Even though versatility is second na- ing parkour, classical dance, hip-hop, capoeira, Main role: John? Joe? Jim? the Amnesiac. discipline his own but bringing a new dynamic ture to her, the desire for a specialty number led and clowning, Mr. Jammal has forged a special Secondary roles: Pedestrian, guy in bar, psy. to it. her to focus on the swinging trapeze. This artist style which continues to evolve. Before embark- Disciplines: Juggling, solo and group. Main role: Johnny the Addict. Secondary maintains a comprehensive tool kit that includes ing on the adventure of Psy, Mr. Jammal ap- roles: Pedestrian, older brother, dog, several park the arts of juggling, dance, and acting. peared in several performances of Traces. Passionate about dance from passers-by, guy in bar, psy. Disciplines: German Main role: Lily the Agoraphobic. Secondary Main role: Jacques the Hypochondriac. a very young age, Tom wheel, hand-balancing, group juggling. roles: Pedestrian, Maman, several park pass- Secondary roles: Pedestrian, baby, several park Proneur-Orsini expanded ers-by, girl in bar, drunk girl, prostitute, psy. passers-by, drag queen, psy. Disciplines: Principle his repertoire at Cirque de William Underwood grew Disciplines: Swinging trapeze, group juggling. hand-balancer, group juggling. Nexon in France where he up in San Francisco. At age practiced juggling, trampo- seven, he discovered Chinese At age 15, Gisle Henriet left Originally from Kiev, line, and acrobatics. There he acrobatics with Master Lu Yi, behind his family, martial Ukraine, Olga Kosova emi- studied towards a degree training in the discipline for arts school, and childhood grated six years ago to the with a “dance option” in as- ten years and performing friends to enter the Cirkus United States. After a promis- sociation with the Conservatoire de Danse with the New Pickle Circus. Cirkor school in Stockholm. ing debut in competitive Contemporaine. At the same time, he pursued He has practiced skateboard- The next three years would rhythmic gymnastics, she also regular circus training and coached French ing, kayaking, piano, and see him trying his hand at was a dancer. She trained on trampoline champions before entering the École magic. In 2002 he enrolled in the National almost everything: tight- the aerial rope and in Chinese Nationale des Arts du Cirque de Rosny-sous- Circus School in Montreal, where he majored in rope, aerials, juggling, tram- acrobatics with Master Lu Yi Bois. He went on to major in hand-to-hand at hand-to-hand. After a tour of European street poline, hand-to-hand, theater, and dance. He at the Circus Center in San Francisco, at the the Centre National des Arts du Cirque in festivals, he joined the 7 Fingers in creating the then made another big move, this time crossing same time performing with Trapeze World, Vau Châlons-en-Champagne where he trained for Traces show. During the three-year tour, the ocean to attend the National Circus School de Vire, and New Pickle Circus.

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