Cirque StarFirstNews for Young MindsPublished: Friday, January 2, 2009 Ella Bangs, 11, is one of the stars of the amazing new Cirque Du Soleil show Quidam. We caught up with her to find out what it's like to be part of such a huge production and to live her life on the road. How long have you been a part of Cirque? I've been with Cirque for about one and one half years. I was doing a fiddling show with my sister in Ottawa when a talent scout from Cirque saw me and asked me to audition for the role of Zoe in Quidam. What is your role in the show? I play the role of Zoe, the little girl around whom the story evolves. In the beginning of the show she gets a hat from the headless man (Quidam) which brings her into a magical world. Did you have special training to be in the show? Before joining I had six months training in Montreal where I did two hours of vocal exercises a day and did theatre classes and "stage presence" coaching. Some of the Cirque performers have amazing skills - which ones would you like to learn? I wouldn't mind doing all of them! But I especially like the aerial Cerceaux, for which I have started training a bit. Is it scary performing in front of so many people? At first it was, but as I got to know the show and the other artists (better), it got easier. Have you ever made a big mistake on stage? How did you deal with it? One night, I was running backwards during the show and fell flat on my butt! As I was running with another artist, who plays the role of Target, I reached out my arms so she could pick me up, and we succeeded at making it look like it was part of the show. What is it like travelling all over the world? It's GREAT! I like seeing all these different places and I feel very lucky to be able to do that as I know I am privileged in that way. I tour with my family so we get to live in apartments wherever we go. The hardest part, though, it that you just have time to get settled in and you have to get moving again. But it's pretty comfortable, I must admit! How do you fit in school? There are two of us playing the role of Zoe in the show, so we alternate - one day on, one day off. So my days off are for catching up on my school work. What do your friends think of your job? They're proud of me! I'm not there often, but I get to see them once in a while when I go home. Why should people come and see Quidam? Because it's a REALLY cool show! |