Benefit Event: thank you for your support!
PRESS RELEASE
MONTREAL, April 21 - The National Circus School is proud to announce that Guy Laliberté, Cirque du Soleil Founder, will be honoured at the upcoming Foundation Benefit Evening, Turning Passion into Daring, which will take place on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at the TOHU, Cité des arts du cirque.
The National Circus School and its Foundation will pay tribute to Guy Laliberté, an artist, creator and visionary, who has fashioned the renewal of circus arts and has supported the National Circus School's development since its very beginnings. Mr. Marc Lalonde, Executive Director of the National Circus School explained: This year, Cirque du Soleil will be celebrating a milestone, and we are proud to recognize 25 years of prolific successes and the exceptional contribution of its Founder. Guy Laliberté followed a dream and has turned his passion towards boldly redefining contemporary circus and transforming the sector around the globe. His incredible story is an inspiration for future circus artists and business people from all sectors."
Mr. Normand Legault, Chairman and CEO of GPF1 INC. and Honorary Chair of the Benefit Evening added: "Guy Laliberté, of whom I had the privilege of knowing for many years, has always embraced creativity and has believed in supporting the next generation of artists from the National Circus School. Guy Laliberté and Cirque du Soleil's successes prove the importance for the business community to invest in the arts and education and in world-class institutions such as the National Circus School who succeed in preparing the creators of tomorrow. . We look forward to honouring Guy Laliberté and being inspired by this passion and audacity which drives him and the circus artists of tomorrow."
National Circus School Foundation Chair, Mr. David McAusland added, "Cirque du Soleil and all the circus companies who have followed in their footsteps together with the National Circus School have allowed Montréal, Québec and Canada to become global players in a unique cultural sector. The National Circus School is a jewel in a field where we have distinguished ourselves the world over and is a fine example of the value of arts investment in a thriving society and economy that values creativity."
The Foundation Benefit Evening takes place during the 10-day run of the National Circus School's year-end annual show. A favourite in the Montreal cultural calendar, the critically-acclaimed show attracts over 15,000 spectators each year. This year, the School will present two alternating productions giving the School's young artists the full experience and thrill of the ring.
About the National Circus School
For 28 years, the National Circus School has professionally trained over 400 artists who continue to make their mark in Canada and around the world. The precursor to contemporary circus in Canada and North America, the School has contributed to the emergence of several circus companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize and the 7 Fingers. The National Circus School offers a complete spectrum of circus arts education programs from extracurricular preparatory training, arts-academic high-school program to advanced studies which leads to a DEC College Diploma in Circus Arts.