Cirque du Soleil Tragedy Puts Focus on Aerial Acts
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- Опубликовано: 8 окт 2024
- Cirque du Soleil reassessed its safety practices and revamped its show 'Kà' after a fatal accident in 2013. But questions remain about whether the show pushes the limits of daredevil stunts. Photo: Eric Jamison
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Even if we can see the nets. We don't care as long as these people are safe and can continue to perform their art!!
Many performers at this level dislike working with nets.
Agreed!!!! I love these amazing artists/athletes but I would love it more if they're are safe.
Aneles S you want a net you no get my money I pay for spectacle got it toots?
Annie S for this particular accident nets wouldn’t have mattered. The only place they could possibly fit them is under the stage and they would be so close to the ground that it wouldn’t matter anyway because it wouldn’t really do anything to protect the performers.
I agree. Also why no padding or inflatable or ANYTHING
At the end he says "the audience doesn't see the bruises"... I just want to say thank you for these amazingly talented people who take the risks every day for the audience. Every Cirque show I've been to has been absolutely amazing and I personally want you folks to know that we do see the hard work you put into it and thank you for the inspiration you bring in each show. On that note, please stay safe!
Yes, I too appreciate the skill, work, talent, injuries and risks taken that the performers endure to entertain us. Thank you seems so inadequate yet there are no other words.
For those that have not had the privilege, each performance segment of KA is jaw droppingly amazing.
I've seen KA before the incident, after the incident(when they went to video battle) and when they returned to live battle. I was truely saddened when news of the incident went public.
Don't know much about this. But if the performers gets more nervous with an act and not more comfortable over time, shouldn't you be worried?
Safety nets would ensure the safety of those brilliant athletes...if you value their lives.
manic hairdo that would just ruin the adrenaline rush!
Anna Pearl Spencer who's? Yours?
manic hairdo pardon?
Anna Pearl Spencer Lol.
No thanks. I don’t want nets under me while performing.
I was there, I was a little girl though. I was probably 7 years old or so. I didn’t see her fall, but I remember guy who was on the wall. He was looking down, and screaming. Even though he was being pulled up, and the lights had turned back on, and everyone was being ushered out, he was still screaming. I remember asking someone that was escorting everyone out what had happened. She said something along the lines of “the shows canceled.” I had always assumed that the guy had broken his leg, somehow. I asked my mom afterwards “ what happened? “ and she told me that nothing had happened, that was the end of the show. She told me a few minutes ago what really happened. Honestly, the only thing I really remember is the guy on the wall. This whole time I thought he was screaming, but he was crying. Really loud crying.
People get so hyped and start doing their conspiracy theories here in the comment section. It was just a very sad and fatal accident, there are no murderers here, no "bad guy" it was just something very bad that happened 4 years ago.And for those who think something "doesn't adds up", you are not getting all the details from a seven minute video, come on, use that piece of muscle under your skull.
Sofy Play I agree it was an unfortunate accident, but blaming the victim in any way or on any level is completely wrong, whether or not she made mistakes previously, they felt at the time that she was trained enough to put her in the show, I do not want to hear blame cast upon her after the fact in order to save face, she can not defend herself. It was a tragic accident. I do however think that some type of foam or netting needs to be in place. These people are great with the art of illusion, Im sure it can be incorporated without being an eyesore.
Elizabeth Francis First of all, I am not blaming no one. Second of all: 4 YEARS
Safety nets EVERY SINGLE TIME. Safety must have priority over spectacle and illusion.
Mirla Criste Nets don’t always make anything safer. They can fail just as other equipment does and also bring in the risk of entanglement or interfering with other equipment. Most artists working at this level dislike working with nets for these reasons and others. At the end of the day people die falling down their staircases in their own homes; risk is an inherent part of life, and aerial performers fully understand the risks. This was a tragic accident, but nothing more than that.
Mirla Criste they would’ve been useless in this situation. They would have to be very close to the ground to accommodate the stage so they wouldn’t really do much to protect the performers
Interesting that so many comments on this thread support NOT using safety equipment. Astonishing.
Exactly. It needs to be a law about this situation.
Okay... but as aerialists, we KNOW the risks. Aerial IS more dangerous than other sports so yes, there are going to be more injuries. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been hurt and I’m not even a professional. You’re pushing your body way beyond its normal capabilities.
So they should have even better safety precautions if it's more risky. I wish you luck in your sport btw 😊
exactly. I just started taking pole class again after being away for reasons, but both classes I have done they make you sign a waiver saying even that there is a possibility of serious injury and it is the student's choice whether to go through with it or not. first day after, my muscles were on fire, I have bruises on my arm, thighs, by my feet from gripping and normally people don't see that side of practicing this stuff.
You've been hurt a lot, which is why you aren't a professional. Sure they get hurt also but the practice and skill they have tops yours. It's their life. Most of the time when they get hurt it's bc of mechanical fault.
@@rockgamegirl4551 when you are in the circus you have trained from a young age. Your body is capable and flexible beyond the regular person taking a couple classes. Theiruaclea aren't on fire...it's normal for them. You cannot compare.
Yes, that’s pole. I’ve been pole dancing for years and nothing goes as high as 75 feet. It’s a big difference
For god sake. Just put a safety net!
Q Huynh it wouldn’t do anything. It would have to be very close to the ground which would basically make it useless anyway
That can actually be very dangerous for the stage hands needing to work around it. There is so much more under the stage, than what anyone can see. Trust me. I saw the show in the first row.
I don't blame her, i don't blame the Cirque either though. Of course it is a tragedy, but accidents happen, and they know the risk. It's the same when you go bungy jumping or skydiving, safety is immensly important but one time out of a million the rope breaks or the parachute does not open...
theeasyma they should have had safety nets. Period.
this was the only comment that actually made sense
RUclipsName actually for this particular accident nets wouldn’t have mattered. The only place they could possibly fit them is under the stage and they would be so close to the ground that it wouldn’t matter anyway because it wouldn’t really do anything to protect the performers.
I’m sorry but it’s not just “accidents happen” when a life is at risk. There is no room for accidents to happen with stunts like these.
I wish they could put something together in Sarah's honor of her talent and work. She seemed truly amazing. What talent these folks have!
The only fact that they revamped the security after the fatal accident shows Cirque du Soleil can do much better to increase the security of the artists, but they take corners until a tragedy happens. Totally unacceptable.
*cut corners
If you plan on pushing the limits and trying things that are in uncharted waters, you MUST have those safety nets. And if you can't fit the nets on the stage, then you shouldn't have an act such as this.
safety nets, safety nets safety nets ...
Adeyabeba Abebe Please imagine a body falling 90 feet and landing in a net. It would be quite similar to falling into water at an extreme height. Sure, falling 10/15 feet isn’t a great feeling, but 90? I’m not sure the end result would’ve been any different.
There was a guy that did a sky dive with no parachute recently - his safety net worked. If they can design that, then I'm pretty sure nets at 90ft can be made to work. In fact I'm pretty sure they have them at every circus ever.
Grace Lewis I’m pretty sure they don’t. Lol. They use them for trapeze, but not aerial. What would I know though? I’m just an aerialist who literally does aerial 5 days a week. Lol.
Adeyabeba Abebe they would’ve been useless in this situation. They would have to be very close to the ground to accommodate the stage so they wouldn’t really do much to protect the performers
This was the most amazing cirque de soleil I have ever seen. So sorry this tragedy occurred.
Wasn't her fault, cirq was at fault, they should have been checking cables. I don't like how they make it out that it was some how her fault because she wasn't trained enough or wasn't "ready".
I agree. It seems like all the people they interviewed were blaming her for the cable snapping? That makes no sense. Also saying she wasn't ready?? As if that has any bearing on if a steel cable will hold during a performance.
Checking the cable would not have helped. It looks like she slammed into the rigging by commanding it to pull her up too fast, and caused the cable to scrap along a surface and fraying it. The only way this could have been avoided if they redesigned the cable system so even if it was abused, it would not have failed.
I do not know why the can't have a net? A net below the audience view.
Nick L then they are still responsible for the design flaw
Pretty sure they don't use steel cables, Adayln.
She didn't do it right, she used the joy stick wrong and sent herself up and her body slamming the stage make the cable break. As shown in the video.
One death in how many hundreds of thousands of performances with professional athletes trained and perfectly aware of the risks, safety measures and variables is pretty amazing honestly. They make this seem like the dancers have no training and no knowledge of The possibility of injury. They weren’t forced to do anything.
the first comment that i read that actually makes sense... if CDS did not care of their athletes they wouldn´t have change the rope security system...
Accidents happen, there's always a risk. Prep can only help so much.
Anissa E 🏌
An accident like this is completely avoidable.
Adeline Bird How do you figure? Clearly you know nothing about aerial arts in general. Risk of death is always there. It’s rare, but there.
A SAFETY NET WOULD NOT HAVE HELPED?
HARLEY QUINN!!!! Cirque du soleil has only had 2 deaths in its 30+ years of existence
Just because you “offer the opportunity” doesn’t mean that people felt safe to ask questions
I have long been an avid fan of Cirque du Soleil and completely remain so. For some insane reason, the public attends these incredible shows without unassuming thought of the ever present risks involved for the performers.
For a show... to be entertained... I would never want someone to risk their life. It isn't worth it. But even jobs at burger places carry risk. The last statement sums it up completely true. Is the juice worth the squeeze! For what it is worth though, Crique is a truly awe inspiring thing to see!
Everyone saying "They need nets" at the heights they're working at the net wouldn't do anything to stop the fall, the company has only ever had 4 deaths in all of its time being a company. With the risk level and the activities they're performing and at such a speed it is understandable that they could mess up once or twice but with the amount of people in each show and the amount of risk with each one, having only 4 deaths overall should speak to how safe they actually do keep their employees. Their safety precautions are immense and it is very rare for deaths obviously.
i only know of one, could you tell me about the others?
Daniel Borbolla There’s Sarah Guillot-Guyard who fell from 50 feet up, Oleksandr Zhurov who died during a training session, and Yann Arnaud who fell from very high in Volta.
The nets could be placed at any height.... So what do you mean it wouldn't save their life? You do know the difference between injury and death don't you?!
@@Goldrefinedthrufire Reread what I said. They're an extremely safe company and take a ton of safety precautions. Where did I say it wouldn't save their lives? I said it was very unlikely they will die because of the amount of precautions taken.
@@bobcatnat123 but there's still a possibility and people have died...
Why no safety net. What is the cost of human life. Despicable!
One of the saddest things in my opinion is that this has nothing to do with the performers bur actually with the safety precautions that weren't taken.
i came here after the tragic death of another performer yann arnaud who fell to his death during performing. sad
When individuals go through the strenuous process of trying out for Cirque du Soleil, they know how risky it is. Yes, the circus takes away some safety precautions for the sake of entertainment, but the performers understand this and they take many measures to ensure the performers know what they're doing and getting into. The chord did snap; partially it was due to the safety of the chord/regulations, partially it was due to her missed timing in her ascension.
Why no safety net?
Fancy Furever I think that's the point of the show, tricks and acts with no net but I think they have added nets now😊
I hope so.....no one wants to see someone die or be badly injured.
Oakleaf700 a Olympic gymnast recently fell and there was no safety net and she is seriously injured😕let's hope they add a safety net👍🏼
I think in aerial acts, the standard protocol for cirque is a safety net or line is needed when an act is 15 feet up from the stage or higher. At least thats what I've heard from a former performer. I take it a safety net wasn't used because of the cables they were attached to.
Fancy Furever eeeqqe
(Personal opinion incoming)
To everyone saying that the Cirque is at fault for the unfortunate accident that claimed the life of one of its performers during Kā, I disagree...
No matter what safety measures Cirque Du Soleil put in place in any of their shows and no matter how skilled the performers are, the risk of serious injury or even death is still pretty high...and every performer signs up knowing that.
Take F1 powerboat, hydroplane, and offshore powerboat pilots for example, men and woman hop into the cockpit of their boats knowing that any race can potentially result in an accident or even death despite the safety measures put into each and every boat and performing in a Cirque Du Soleil show is no different.
Safety may be pretty good. However, it becomes null and void when you have the artists working 450 odd acts per year, leaving the artists exhausted and unable to function as necessary. You give someone too much work, they simply cannot concentrate properly.
More than one performer has died for this show.
Jessica Smith when? I thought like 2 have died in the companies history... and wow in thousands upon thousands of performances in like 30 years of seriously challenging; highly technical and physically demanding performances.. I think 2 or even 3/4 deaths in 30 years just proves how sincere and truly dedicated they are with the safety of their performers.
I know they have safety precautions but can they not put a massive net or foam below for added protection? Life is PRICELESS.
I understand the idea of safety nets but I have been to several shows where people are flying around or tied up in ribbons. These ppl are artists and they know the risks. If they didn’t want to do it or felt that it was too big a risk then they wouldn’t even be up there. What happened to her is such a tragic thing and I hope her family and friends are finding peace.
When I go to a cirque show..I go for the artistry. I go for the beauty and the skill of the performers. At no time do I say I want to go to see a cirque show to see something death defying. I don't need or want to see a performer 75' off the ground without a net. Now that I know this, it has kept me from going back. These skilled artisans put enough risk and stress on their bodies as it is.
Agree, 100%. One thing is enjoying artistic and technical skills, the costumes, the incredible vision, the scenography... another thing is enjoying the adrenaline rush of watching someone risking their life in front of you. Idk, I try to stay clear of these emotions, I dislike horror movies, I don't watch extreme preformance videos ... to me it feels like indulging in easy, morbid emotions. So yes, hearing artists saying the competition make them perform anyway even if scared by the extreme risks they are taking is asbolutely offputtig. Please CDS, take into account this small point of view,.
Sounds like they may be blaming her for the accident. Not cool.
Where is Cirque respondsibility and remorse for the lady's death?
A safety net isn’t possible because the stage is on only so high. It would need to be at the bottom of the vertical stage in order to be unseen but there isn’t enough room between the bottom of the stage and the floor. You would smash into the floor anyways. Raising the stage wouldn’t be possible due to the fact that the pulleys and cable system would need to be raised. As well as lights, speakers, ect
If they can't create the show with safety nets then it shouldn't exist. Yes it's amazing to the audience, but that's not worth someone's life.
For those mentioning safety nets.. they seem to slide off of that platform, or jump into the depths below often, So there has to be something already down there? There were times when the acrobats would fly over the audience, no net there however.
To be fair, they should compare the injury rate with that of ballet dancers. I bet they would be closer.
I THOUGHT SOMETHING REALLY SIMILAR. You can't really compare run-of-the-mill sports with acrobatics for injuries. For one, aerial acrobatics is more performance art than sport, even if comparable to gymnastics, but uuuhhhhh I bet they didn't do that. For another, there is A LOT more risk involved in aerial acrobatics. Everything is choreographed and deliberate, and requires full awareness and control of the entire body. There is no such thing in whatever samples they used for comparison.
Sketchy! I'm so disgusted by the lack of sympathy. Terrible equipment. How does steal cable just snap off? Poor woman lost her life due to negligence.
Was it negligence or poor design of the pulley system? As a mechanic, I know there are ways to "guide" a cable into the pulley groove.
Trust me, safety is #1 here. Unfortunately, sadly. God, it was terrible. But accidents happen.
You can't expect this to go 100% as smoothly as going for a jog does.
If safety was #1, there would have been a net.
If there were no risks, not many people would pay to watch.
Are the cables tested for strength and shear with an instron?
yes they are, the cable didn't split because of her weight, it was because it got stuck with the thingy that controls it and the metal (which I suppose is kinda sharp), cutted it.
why can't there be a net that's disguised to look like the stage or whatever?
I used to be an aerialist and you do have to accept a certain amount of responsibility. I would NEVER have worked without safety equipment, like a net. It is not 100% safe. I would always check the equipment before going on.
I used to be covered in bruises but dancers work with broken toes, athletes are constantly bruised. Its a reality of these jobs.
Why no safety net simple.money sets design cost alot money's
Shows must rest under 20 a nets take time to put up and take down.
adam martinez Imagine the body coming into contact with a net after falling 90 feet. My guess is the outcome would’ve been the same.
HARLEY QUINN!!!! No it couldn’t actually. It would have to be under the stage thing. If they had it up higher it would be in the way and they couldn’t do the stunts properly
So this dudes risking their lives have a union?, a retirement plan? Or are they making shitloads of money? Somebody can tell?
Or maybe they love their jobs...
Love doesn't pay rent.
They are part of the worlds best circus they travel the world doing what they love i dont think they need to pay rent
I saw most of their shows. KA
Is the best in my opinion. Fantastic show,1 level above all
Like dancers, they probably don't have a long career, what with age, injuries, etc. Preventing injury was why unions got involved in theater. Also look at the other stats: "four times the average injury rate of professional sports teams." A baseball player gets a blister and he's on the "disabled list", an artist has problems with a very challenging skill and she's put in the second show where she falls 90 feet to her death and then the scene is made safe? Sounds like she was pressured to me.
A tragedy beyond words...
50 feet, not 90
94 to be exact, she was at to base of the catwalk and hit the base floor
foom5 no actually it was 94 feet
Mystere is better and safer
I truly believe Cirque du Soleil it's not taking any precaution to keep their people safe there stunts are incredibly dangerous .. if they claim they take precaution why they don't have any safety net to save anybody from the fall it's ridiculous.. workplace safety should be a priority they should make it mandatory Fortinet to be on the bottom of the wall and on the bottom of every stunt so the people don't fall to their death
Alessandra Panella it wouldn’t really matter though because they’re so high up. So even if there was a net, the speed that they would be hitting at would still be the same.
These people who are in charge of Cirque du Soleil do not care about their performers as they claim. I am glad I did not audition to be in this show. I will get a law pass that all businesses like Cirque du Soleil must have a safety net all times in the entire shows. Rest in Peace Sarah.
Liars. That explanation makes no sense. I've been in theatre tech, and that's not how a steel cable would snap. If it were, that cable would've been weak enough for someone to feel and say something. But if they had "checks" anyway, someone would've noticed it. They're just liars who don't want to pay a lawsuit fine.
Obviously there is too much pressure to perform at high levels of risk. The audience is not in for that.
Why produce such death defying acts,? For money of course. Money trumps risk. Show Producers are not flying through the air on cables, that's why!!
Traci Islands no, as a preformer myself (not nearly cirqe level though!) I would say that this isn't money talking. The rush that you get when in the air isn't comparable to anything else. As your skill progreses you have to do more and more difficult stunts to get that feeling. These preformers signed up for this, and they wanted to push their limits.
So you are saying people like risking their lives and the performers NOT (preformers) have control of what stunts they do? Money is always talking or there wouldn't be a show.
Traci Islands whoops, sorry about the spelling, that was pretty stupid of me! I completely agree that there should be more safety measures in place. I just think there's more than money talking. People want to perform and stretch their bodies limits. They take on the risk because they love what they do.
Wow what's happen in this circus ? Cirque du soleil, was, at the beginning, a street circus performer.
But they perform spectacles in theaters and others places, without enough considération for the artists, their lives, and their sécurity !!!
A row that break, and oops sorry you're dead ? I really don't appréciate the way of thinking of Cirque du soleil !!!
It seems that the beauty of show has faded away behind a mountain of dollars !!! And they continue to perform shows, instead to be stopped
and prosecuted by law. It's a shame without limits !!! Who gonna stop them ? The next death ?
0:41 “Good and evil”. More like Rin and Len in Karakuri Manji Burst.
boycott this shit...i don`t think no audience would go to this show if they know how much risk is involve for the performers...
It is interesting that there is no mention in the video of her not being trained properly other than what is written in the memo.
I think they were both at fault, but cirque is extremely serious about safety
Oh really ? You think it, but do you see the reality ? I don't think...
Rip😭😭
Y'all come on. don't be that way. they didn't have a net because t takes money and time, and it looks bad in the show. They were at fault for putting her in, but they had no one else. They don't bring an army of people on tour with a lot of backups. hate to say it, but it was a bit of her fault. It was an accident and they can't be faulted on that. I really don't feel like explaining this to y'all. think of the other reasoning when you calm down
looks bad in the show is no excuse for saving human life....they can be creative in incorporating the net with out taking away from the look they are going for...come on these are guys who come up with intricate choreography, costumes and stage designs ...they fail to come up with neat way of placing the safety net? don't think so
Adeyabeba Abebe There are VERY few aerial acts that ever use safety nets. From day one I never used nets, a mat for practicing, yes, but never nets.
A net could rip, you could get stuck with the spears and such, wouldn't be more safe at all.
Adeyabeba Abebe they can’t really put up a net though. It would have to be under the vertical stage (it couldn’t be higher than that because it would get in the way of their stunts) and there wouldn’t be that much room between the net and the ground so it wouldn’t really have any use in protecting them
There's no going to work sick at this job
#boycottcirque no more 👎🏼
Diego Garzón excelente
Circe du Soleil is shallow af.
I don't think that they don't have a safety net because it's too expensive. I believe that they choose not to have one because it looks more dangerous and "elegant" to the eyes of the people who watch the show. Anyway.. this sucks put nets plz! ASAP!
Considering how much money Cirque makes with so many shows in Las Vegas and abroad I feel there is a good chance the equipment has been questionable to down right falling apart for quite some time. I feel I'd never be shocked if I learned that so many of the performers wanted to speak out about the working conditions and never have due to a job being threatened.
Ka is just the most beautiful production. It’s tied with O for the most amazing Cirque. I appreciate the danger of the art.
I hate Cirque du Soleil
Dangerous, and they don't take care of their performers!
I took an aerial class and decided I didnt want to risk falling on my neck. Cant imagine doing something on that level at that height!
assasinn
I think now, the fight scene is played via a screen projector and that the performers no longer perform that scene live.
no watch the video a year after the accident they started it again. i saw it last night and its back
I watched the show five years ago so maybe it's changed now... IDK
it's completely false that the fight scene is not live..it was put back in a while ago
I have seen it twice the first time as intended with acrobats and the second time with a projector. Really disappointed the second time but atleast now I know why.... RIP
Money... all the big wigs want.... rip
The only time I have ever seen safety nets used was when someone is being thrown by another person. Or is swinging off of a trapeze to be caught by another person. Enough with the safety nets. In this case the net would’ve caused more harm than good. It is very sad what happened to her. But no one is truly at fault either. Mistakes were made on both ends. But what’s done is done, we need to move on. It is sad, but it’s reality. And every aerial performer knows what we’re getting into and we accept that because we love what we do. No matter the risk
B.s. I don't think I want to see any show they put on. Makes me sick to my stomach!
Laura B but the performers love their jobs...they take this risk knowingly.
Laura B i love their shows
92 HS football players died between 2005 and 2014 due to related injuries so I hope you don’t watch football either. Getting into aerial you’re told the risks, death is one. We do it anyway because we love it.
It’s her fault and the circuses also the audience if she didn’t feel like she was capable of doing it then she should of said no my life is more important the crew should have put more testing and got a net no matter the price but it can not be stoped they are hanging from ropes and doing tricks and stunts that would damage or kill them and the audiance should not really blame when they are the reason they risk there lives everyday they do know the dangers but the reason the stunts and routines keep getting more dangerous is cause the audience gets bored of the same stuff and they try to make it more exciting it’s a shame that woman lost her life but so have many other people and animals in a circus it’s a dangerous job (I don’t agree w the animals tho they have no choice )
I feel bad for her, but the sad part is me and my family were scheduled for the next show and we weren't able to see it because it was closed down for investigation.
oh no! how are you guys coping? i hope your family didn't get too disappointed or sad after finding out a performer DIED!
ImADino Rawr are you serious she died
ImADino Rawr did u get a REFUND
Is this supposed to be a joke?
The saddest part is that morons like you are allowed to reproduce.