Estudo de caso

MGMT 6800 Case Study: Cirque du Soleil From the Streets to the Stars

Da Yi Ebube Anizor

November 16, 2009

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From the Streets to the Stars

From the Streets to the Stars

“The mission of Cirque du Soleil is to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world.”

Cast of ‘Characters’
Guy Laliberté: a Rising Star!
Born in Québec City in 1959, Laliberté’s talents as an accordionist, stilt-walker and fire-eater provided the foundation for what would be a remarkable career. His father a PR executive and mother a nurse, Laliberté once remarked that he grew up in a typical French-Canadian home. "There was always a reason for a party, always music in the house." As a child he was interested in performing and took martial arts, folk dancing and sang in choirs. (4) By 16 he had produced several high school events and had decided on a performance arts career. Laliberté dropped out of college to tour Europe as a busker and folk musician returning to Canada in 1979 with a new set of performance skills but also needed to find a ‘real’ job. (3) After only 3 days employed at a dam in James Bay a strike ended the job and Laliberté, living off of unemployment insurance, joined the stilt-walking troupe Les Échassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul; this would be a predecessor to Cirque. (5) The life of billionaire Laliberté has not been without controversy. Much has been rumored about the sex, drug and alcohol fueled lifestyle of not only the founder but many under the Cirque umbrella. Due to the wild success of Cirque Laliberté has received many honours including the Order of Quebec, Order Of Canada, and the Humanitarian Award in 2007 for his social commitment with his ONE DROP Foundation. While Cirque officially supports a few community programs involving youth at risk and extending art workshops and culture activities to children ONE DROP was the primary reason Laliberte went to space – to send the message that safe, clean water