“Why did a man one day decide to cross a lake? And how did he go from crossing a lake on skates to doing a triple axel? asks Sébastien Soldevila, co-founder and artistic director of the troupe Les 7 Fingers. These are the questions that gave life to Cadence, new show that will soon see the light of day as part of the Montréal en lumière festival.
Coming to life in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles from February 17 to March 5, 2022, this winter festival once again promises to dazzle young and old alike with its programming. On the agenda, the traditional white night, delectable menus and many free outdoor family activities, including multiple light installations and a long skating trail.
Several artists will also take part in Montréal en lumière over the coming weeks, including the creative collective Les 7 Fingers, which combines many artistic disciplines, including circus. The duty spoke with Sébastien Soldevila, responsible for the staging of the show, in view of the first performance on February 24th.
Cadence, it’s “the story of skating with a ‘twist’”, explains Mr. Soldevila. Those twists, because there is not only one, are quite remarkable. This 30-minute show mixes skating with a circus, in addition to incorporating projections as well as a narration by Alain Goldberg, the famous figure skating commentator who has been hosting Olympic evenings with passion for several decades.
“We have both traditional skaters, circus artists, freestyle skaters, people who come from skateboarding. We even have people who don’t know how to skate at all! details Mr. Soldevila, with obvious excitement in his voice on the other side of the handset. “We can’t wait to get started! We’ve been working on this for a while,” he exclaims.
The performance taking place on a mirror, it is curious to find people who do not know how to stand on blades. “It’s for the Cyr wheel,” explains the artistic director, referring to a large metal hoop in which an acrobat performs as the wheel spins on the stage, or in this case, on the ice rink. .
The execution of this acrobatics on ice will be a first in Montreal. Several months of research were necessary, but the team of the 7 fingers and their collaborators have found a way to put nails on the wheel, so that it bites the ice while spinning.
The story in six scenes
The show, which will return twice a night four times a week, unfolds in six chapters. Break the ice takes viewers back to 3,000 years ago when man first discovered ice. The next board, History of skatesgoes through the history of this discovery to today.
The public will then have the chance to be involved in the chapter on Sbarrels. It is a discipline in vogue in the middle of the XXand century and which was known in Quebec, explains Mr. Soldevila. The principle was simple: launch yourself on skates over barrels in order to cross as many as possible.
The next chapter is called ice dancing, where couples of skaters will gather. It will give way to the fifth part, The park, which is a poetic reflection on the ice cream that brings people together and brings back tender childhood memories. And finally the last part, the most acrobatic of all, The extreme skatewhere skateboarding enthusiasts come in.
Large structures will be set up on the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink to allow skaters to slide on modules and not just on the smooth surface of the ice.
A busy half hour, as Mr. Soldevila explains. Although the director of this performance had more ideas, it was necessary to respect a reasonable time, since the performance takes place outside. “It’s a quick show and we hope it won’t be too cold, both for the spectators and the artists. »
Temperature
In this regard, he explains that the temperature has caused some logistical problems. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that the acrobatic equipment does not freeze, just like the members of the troop. The team behind the show did their research to find a system that would keep the Cyr wheel and other equipment warm.
“We have costumes that were designed with the cold in mind. The tightrope walker will even have a system to keep the heat in his wrists, ”explains the member of the collective of creators The 7 fingers. “It’s not easy, but it’s part of the ‘deal’. »
This deal is “to tell human stories with superhuman virtuosity. This is the mandate of the collective of creators. And according to Mr. Soldevila, this show will live up to expectations.
“This show is our way of approaching contemporary circus with something that speaks of the human – the history of skating. In fact, the reflection of Cadence, is that ice is not just an obstacle, it’s a tool that has allowed man to surpass himself. »
And which always allows man to surpass himself, apparently.
For the schedule of performances of Cadencevisit the site montrealenlumiere.com