French trapeze show mesmerizes Fair visitors

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Fair visitors held their breath as a man jumped and performed a double somersault. They applauded as he successfully caught a rope and safely landed on a platform.

The players continued their routine movements while a cellist performed and a woman sang soprano.

Suddenly, the singer laughed after a female acrobat failed to grab the hands of her partner and fell to the net.

The player, however, was still able to perform an acrobatic movement as she fell. "That was a beautiful fall," commented one of the spectators,

The above attraction was part of a trapeze show from France at the Jakarta Fair in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. The group, Les Arts Sauts, a leading trapeze group in France, consists of nine trapeze artists, a cellist and a singer.

The group performed at the Pasar Gambir market at the Jakarta Fair from June 18 to 22.

The group, established in 1991 and led by a female artist Laurence De Magalhaes, presents a unique kind of acrobatic performance.

The trapeze show was a present from the French government to the city of Jakarta in honor of its 469th anniversary. Last year, the French government presented a fireworks show at Monas (National Monument) park, attended by millions of people.

Asia tour

Jakarta is the last city on the group's Asia tour. For the last six months, the group has been touring several cities in Asia, including Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Phnom-Penh, Bangkok and Singapore.

According to De Magalhaes, the group was formed by five trapeze artists who used to play in the Canadian circus group Cirque du Soleil.

"Five performers decided to leave the circus and form a group which specializes in acrobatic shows. Actually, all of the players used to perform in the Canadian circus group," De Magalhaes said.

All of the performers are graduates from three famous circus schools in France: the Centre National des Arts du Cirque de Chalons, Ecole Nationale du Cirque Fratellini and Ecole de Trapeze Jean Palacy.

De Magalhaes said that the performers have at least 10 years experience as trapeze artists.

"We know what we're doing -- even the dangerous movements -- because we learned them from school," she said.

The players create a unique kind of performance because, unlike most circuses which traditionally feature clowns or animals, the trapeze performance is the entire focus of the show.

The group attempts to break away from the traditional staples of the circus: a set of performances held under a giant tent which include animal shows, trapeze acts, magic shows and clowns.

"Currently, there's a trend in Europe to present a specialized show. We just add to it with a different kind of music, combined with outstanding lighting," she said.

The artists perform in a 20-meter steel stage which was specially designed for the group. The one-hour show is also enriched by the unique, live music provided by the cello player and singer.

The musician and singer follow the rhythm of the trapeze players. Sometimes the singer hums. A minute later, she suddenly laughs.

"The basic music for the show is composed by Meredith Monk, whose music was used in an American film, and by French musician Jeanne Moreau. But the musicians improvise most of the time, in line with various movements of the trapeze players," De Magelhaes said.

She said the music is a kind of contemporary music, just like the trapeze show itself. (yns)