A peek behind the curtain at Cirque du Soleil

It’s about 6:00 on a Wednesday night before Toronto’s latest Cirque du Soleil show, KOOZA, and there’s a lot happening in the backstage tent. Some performers are in stages of doing their makeup (they do their own); some are practicing on a tightrope (a mini version of what we’ll later see on stage) and warming up on floor mats; and others are lounging on mats on their phones, with a full face of that signature vibrant Cirque makeup already done. Meanwhile, garments are being steamed in a wardrobe section, which houses the eclectic assortment of costumes that will grace the stage – from skeletons to dogs. Adorably, a toddler in overalls – presumably one of the entertainer’s children – happily bounces in the middle of a trampoline. 

By this point, most performers have already enjoyed meals in the nearby kitchen tent, which serves up a diverse array of food options to feed everyone involved in the production – from the performers and the vast crew to the marketing team. In other words, it isn’t all necessarily light and lean, surprisingly (but it is delicious). On the menu, that day was an Asian noodle salad, a garden salad, fried rice, steamed gyoza, steamed bok choy, spring rolls, coconut shrimp, a cooked-to-perfection grilled hanger steak, and baked matcha cheesecake. 

As an outsider, there’s a distinct pre-show energy in the air, as well as a sense of comradery. After all, when you travel the world together and perform shows five days a week, you inevitably become family. On Sundays, there’s even a family brunch in the kitchen tent, where performers’ kids are welcome and often leave in Cirque du Soleil makeup. Some performers literally live on the road — with no permanent address — so their Cirque family undoubtedly feels like home.

Contortionist Ninjin Altankhuyag says doing her own makeup was a learning process but now something she has down pat. She chats to me while casually sticking stars to her forehead in front of a mirror. A thorough skincare routine is key when you’re wearing such intense makeup so often, says Altankhuyag.  

Originally from Mongolia, Altankhuyag knew she wanted to go into contortion at a young age. “When I was five years old, I watched a girl on TV doing contortion and said to my mom, ‘I want to be that girl,’” says Altankhuyag. “So, my mom took me to contortion school. Once I saw Cirque du Soleil on TV as a kid, I knew I wanted to work there; it was my biggest goal at the time.”

Altankhuyag had her opportunity when Cirque du Soleil auditions came to Mongolia when she was 10 years old. “They said, we’ll contact you when we can,” she reflects on the audition. She continued training while attending high school. At seventeen, Cirque came calling. Altankhuyag kicked off her KOOZA run in Amsterdam and has been a staple in the show ever since, spending the past 11 years travelling with it. 

“Every city is special; I love travelling,” says Altankhuyag. She’s sure to check out the local museums and restaurants on her days off. As far as Toronto is concerned, she praises the city for its diverse food scene. “You can find every culture of food here,” says Altankhuyag. 

On workdays, once she makes it to the tent, she begins with a varied schedule that could involve rehearsals, Pilates classes, ballet classes, or training. The warmup for she and the show’s two other contortionists is one hour. “We really have to bend and be flexible, so we warm up for longer than other performers,” says Altankhuyag. 

Altankhuyag says that even after performing the same routine – which sees her on the top of a human pyramid – so many times over the years, each day can come with its own set of challenges, depending on how the body feels. “If there’s an injury, we may slightly modify a routine,” she says. “It never gets easy; we need to maintain these skills and keep them at the highest level.” 

In leading me through the vibrant wardrobe area, Altankhuyag lets me in on a little secret. “All of the jewellery looks like sparkly gems, but it’s all made of rubber so it doesn’t hurt us,” she says. As for the show itself, Altankhuyag thinks guests will leave with uplifted spirits. 

“It’s a really happy show, with a really happy energy,” says Altankhuyag. 

KOOZA tells the story of the journey of The Innocent, an endearing yet naïve clown who’s looking for his place in the world. After receiving a mysterious item one way while flying his kite, the clown embarks on a self-discovery journey through a bizarre but exotic world. 

This Cirque show definitely didn’t disappoint offering a well-balanced blend of incredible acrobatics, dance, and storytelling. Highlights included a mesmerizing silk aerial performance; the double high-wire – an act involving two high wires that cross diagonally at 15 and 25 feet above the stage; and the famous “Wheel of Death” giant spinning contraption. 

As it turns out, Altankhuyag was right. The feel-good production left guests with a sense of wonder and inspiration (and, perhaps, a desire to hit the gym, but that’s another story).  

You still have time to check out the show: it runs until June 18.