Arts grad student to join Cirque du Soleil cast

Updated Thursday, November 27, 2008 9:53 am TWN, CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- An arts graduate student from Taiwan has won a one-year contract to perform with the world famous Cirque du Soleil entertainment company, known for its dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment.


Yang Shu-ching, a master’s candidate in Fo Guang University’s Graduate Institute of Art Studies, said Wednesday that it was incredible for her to be able to become the first female Taiwan performing artist to be recruited into the Canadian performing arts troupe.

Yang, who is also a part-time instructor at Chinese Culture University’s Department of Theater Arts, began studying Peking Opera when she was 10 and mastered the daomadan, or young female warrior role, that emphasizes singing and dancing.

She is also versed in Taiwanese Opera and modern dance.

According to Yang, she was among 30 hopefuls who registered for an audition when Cirque du Soleil announced in 2006 it would recruit a performer with a background in Peking Opera, and 20 of them passed the initial audition.

The final round of the test process was a grueling knockout contest running from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Yang recalled, adding that each semifinalist was required to perform actions of their own choice, designated acts, martial arts moves with a partner and improvised routines.

“The competition was tense and you got to face fewer contestants once you passed a round of the tests,” Yang said. “I silently screamed in joy when I learned I had emerged as the only woman among the seven finalists.”

Noting that the finalists would not necessarily make the Canadian circus group’s cast, Yang said she had a long wait until early last month when she received a phone call from the troupe wanting her to join a group of new recruits for performances in Las Vegas beginning from January 2009.

Yang is scheduled to fly to Canada this Sunday to seal a formal contract with the troupe. She will then travel to the United States to receive orientation and training in preparation for performances in Las Vegas for a full year.

During the period, Yang said she will suspend her studies and work in Taiwan.

Although the pay is not as high as many have imagined, Yang said she is convinced that the performances will bring her precious and indelible experiences.

Lin Ku fang, a professor at the Buddhist university’s Graduate Department of Theater Arts, said Yang’s achievements were earned with hard work and rigorous training.

“The proverb ‘a one minute performance onstage requires 10 years of training offstage’ can best epitomize Yang’s accomplishment,” Lin said.

Fo Guang University is presenting a theatric and dancing performance Wednesday evening at its International Convention Center to bid farewell to Yang.

The Cirque du Soleil circus troupe is scheduled to perform its classic show “Alegria” in Taipei City early next year.