Jenny Block
With Striking Design, Gravity-Defying Athletes, And A Symbolic Cube Of Endless Doors, Cirque’s Newest Touring Production Invites Audiences To Dream Bigger Under The Big Top At Lone Star Park
Photography by Jean-François Savaria Costumes by Nicolas Vaudelet
Texas is about to get a little more magical. Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO arrives at Lone Star Park this April. The show’s artistic director, Fabrice Lemire, was happy to share his winding journey through the performing arts in advance of Cirque’s journey to Texas from April 9th through May 3rd, with Curated Texan readers, when our culture arbiter, Jenny Block, caught up with him.
The Paris native studied at the Paris Opera Ballet School at a young age. “Which not only exposed me to various ballet and opera productions but also provided me with the opportunity to participate in some of them with the prestigious company,” said Fabrice Lemire.
Lemire went from ballet dancer to choreographer, teacher, and director. His journey, he says, “Underwent multiple stages of evolution, transformation, and adaptation. Yet it consistently remained connected to the creative platform, dance education, and performing arts.” He was completely unfamiliar with the circus art form when Cirque du Soleil presented itself to him, he explained. “From the moment I was approached to engage in conversation about joining the company, and I signed my first contract with Cirque du Soleil, another three years passed.”
But Lemire’s love for the performing arts began when he was a small child. “From the age of three, I exhibited joy in movements, particularly when the movement was connected to music,” he said. Because he came from what he described as a scientific family, he shares, “My parents’ ongoing support, my education, and development in dance were, in a sense, their discovery as well.”
Because of the numerous specialized trainings and formations outside the normal classroom, he explained, “My education was unique and different from my siblings. He joined the Paris Opera Ballet School at nine, and, he said, “I shed the conventional norms associated with being a boy and embarked on a unique lifestyle.” Lemire quickly realized how easily replaceable dancers can be if they don’t conform to the specific mold he learned in the highly competitive ballet world of the 1980s. “Also, the injuries, minor or severe, constantly challenge you and force you to re-evaluate your path,” he said.
Early in his career, he recognized that while the journey ahead might be truly enjoyable and fulfilling, it’s not always smooth sailing and could potentially be cut short. Luckily for him, in his early 20s, he noted, “I quickly discovered that I had another voice and developed a strong interest in collaborating with other artistic individuals and institutions.”
Initially, Lemire associated with choreographers and directors, then transitioned to “dancing” between being a performer and an educator. “This allowed me to transfer knowledge while simultaneously nurturing my own creative pursuits,” he said. “The creative process is where I truly thrive. My mind is constantly brimming with ideas, and the joy of expressing them and witnessing their transformation into something palpable is incredibly rewarding.”
It was this long journey that molded him into the artistic director for a touring production of Cirque Du Soleil that he is today, he said. “As the title suggests, it completely embraces the artistic aspects of the role, but it’s a much larger undertaking.”
As the artistic director, he feels completely at the service of others and the show. “I serve as a mentor, offering support and facilitating a process that upholds a standard, fosters motivation, and ensures everyone’s safety. However, I also encourage them to contemplate the possibilities that lie ahead, beyond this show.”
Although it is his job, Lemire doesn’t consider his craft work at all. “I’m passionate at heart, and I would call it a drive and a lifestyle. Honestly, I don’t know any other way,” he said. “What stands out is that I’ve never had two days that are the same. My commitment and leadership should be directed toward benefiting others, not just myself. It should be a source of profit and growth for others in the process.”
“Performing arts and commercial arts have the power to unite people, provide an escape from their daily routines, inspire, make us dream, offer a momentary respite,” he said. “And perhaps even make us better human beings.”
As for Lemire personally, he said. “They hold a profound purpose for me, shaping my choices and influencing my thoughts and emotions.” It raises questions in him that he seeks to answer. “How can something or someone evoke a specific feeling or reaction within us?” He adds, “What are the subsequent ripple effects of that feeling, and how does it impact our future thoughts, emotions, and overall well-being?”
“You could compare it to a love story,” he mused. “With its ups and downs. Performing arts shaped me and continue to do so, providing me with a sense of purpose.”
Lemire loves exploring new places, and he’s visited Texas multiple times, “mostly by car,” he said. “I have a special fondness for West Texas: Marfa, Alpine, Terlingua, and Big Bend National Park.”
Each Cirque du Soleil show is unique, of course. “ECHO stands out,” he said, “With its minimalist style and clear visual lines, giving the spotlight to athletes, characters, and musicians.” It has “A distinctive atmosphere and design that enhances the acrobatic performance of the athletes,” he added. “The aesthetic elements serve as supporting skills, and the artists themselves are the primary focus.”
His own interpretation of ECHO is quite simple, he said. “The cube with its numerous windows represents gateways to the unknown and opportunities that one must explore thoroughly, both internally and externally, to build oneself. Take it apart, rebuild it in a way that makes sense to you, embrace the outcome, and move forward in life.”
ECHO will be under the Big Top at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie from April 9th to May 3rd. Tickets are available here.
