Saltimbanco -from the Italian "saltare in banco", which literally means "to jump on a bench"-explores the urban experience in all its myriad forms: the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likenesses, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. Between whirlwind and lull, prowess and poetry, Saltimbanco takes spectators on an allegorical and acrobatic journey into the heart of the city.
Member of the Baroques
The Baroques sleep under bridges and emerge to celebrate life. They are defiant, rebellious and explosive. The Baroques are enlightened beings with free spirits that run wild. Armed with a deeply perceptive vision of the world, the Baroque family reflects the extreme personalities of city characters – both in their beauty and wretchedness. They are baroque in their attitude as well as their appearance.
Inspired by a discipline called acrosport, this act features three acrobats whose bodies meld together to create startling figures. A show of strength, flexibility, balance and grace, this act evokes birth, the family unit and the fragility of life in today's metropolis.
The Baron is your guide in the world of Saltimbanco. He is ageless, timeless and recounts fascinating tales of the past. The Baron is an imposing figure in his black and white striped cape, long red gloves and top hat perched on a pile of serpentine hair. The Baron thinks he has power but has no authority, he is the king of fool. But when he tears off his cape, he reveals another side of his character - an erotic satyr on the prowl. At his most carefree, the Baron loves to party with the Baroques.
A face without a name. A name without a face. The Vers Masqués are the masses, the multitudes, the bureaucrats. They watch. They follow. They never act. They only react. They are the status quo. Their masks hide all expression but then they have nothing to say. The Vers Masqués always keep their feet firmly planted on the ground. They play it safe. They risk nothing, lose nothing and, ultimately, gain nothing.
Multi-coloured beings slip onto the stage and climb on Chinese poles, which symbolize the sky-scrapers of Saltimbanco. Leaping from pole to pole the acrobats soar through the air in a breathtaking display of agility, power and speed. This act is inspired by a Chinese discipline and features over 26 acrobats performing at over 25 feet above the stage
La Belle reflects all human emotion. She is the ever-present town crier who expresses the soul of Saltimbanco. Her language is universal and her song reflects the atmosphere around her. Her vocals are emotions—serenity and excitement, hope and joy, disappointment and melancholy. Graceful in her technicolor dress with waves of sequins, resplendent in her crown of fire like feathers, she sings about the promise of a brighter tomorrow
Two performers twirl boleadoras in the air. A boleadora is a simple percussion instrument made of a weight attached to the end of a cord. The weights bounce off the ground and make exploding sounds either in unison or in counterpoint to the dance steps of the performers. Invented in Argentina , the boleadoras were used by hunters in the pampas or plains. This act is traditionally performed by men and brings together the sounds of the boleadoras and the influences of flamenco. Saltimbanco brings it to another level with a man and woman duo.
The Dreamer lives between reality and illusion.He is like a clown, satirizing and poking fun at the world around him. Dressed in striped blue costume and with his long curly tail, the Dreamer is always ready for a nap. But since he is responsible for looking after the child, he rarely gets the chance to doze off
The family of baroque characters invades the stage, now a huge playground. Leaping from a Russian swing, performers are catapulted up to 30 feet in the air where they execute breathtaking aerial jumps before falling either on their feet, on the shoulders of their partners or atop a human pyramid!
Four performers tied to bungees swing, drop and fly in the air in ways that defy gravity. They perform an aerial ballet on an opera theme, giving spectators the impression they are looking at magnificent birds soaring through the sky
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