Corporate Open DS/UK/3 Cirque du Soleil; 7 July 1984; Canadian circus company Cirque du Soleil 7 July 1984 Canadian circus company Circus of the Sun | Sun Circus Les Échassiers | The Waders https://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx?6Q6o1X6tCSFX Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, Canada (formed)

Saint-Michel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (HQ)

Variety | Circus 2000 Laliberté bought out Gauthier 2008 Laliberté split 20% share between investment groups Istithmar World and Nakheel of Dubai 2015 TPG Capital, Fosun Industrial Holdings and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec purchased 90% of Cirque, with Laliberté retaining 10% 2020 Laliberté sold his 10% share to Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec 2020 Company emerged from bankruptcy and sold to former MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren and Canadian investment company Catalyst Capital Guy Laliberté, Gilles Ste-Croix, Daniel Gauthier, Rachel Vertus - founders Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul on 7 July 1984, by two former street performers, Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix. Initially named Les Échassiers, they toured Quebec in 1980 as a performing troupe. Their initial financial hardship was relieved in 1983 by a government grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations of Jacques Cartier's voyage to Canada. Le Grand Tour du Cirque du Soleil was a success in 1984, and after securing a second year of funding, Laliberté hired Guy Caron from the National Circus School to recreate it as a "proper circus". Its theatrical, character-driven approach and the absence of performing animals helped define Cirque du Soleil as the contemporary circus that it remains today. Cirque du Soleil expanded rapidly through the 1990s and 2000s, going from one show to 19 shows in over 271 cities on every continent except Antarctica. The shows employ approximately 4,000 people from over 40 countries and generate an estimated annual revenue exceeding US$810 million. The multiple permanent Las Vegas shows alone play to more than 9,000 people a night. The company's creations have received numerous prizes and distinctions, including a Bambi Award in 1997; a Rose d'Or in 1989; three Drama Desk Awards in 1991, 1998 and 2013; three Gemini Awards; four Primetime Emmy Awards; and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2000, Cirque du Soleil was awarded the National Arts Centre Award, a companion award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards; and in 2002 was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque_du_Soleil (2019) International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes RAHeharper 2/27/2012 RAHAKirkbride 4/20/2023 866a7d27-8569-4c89-bd2c-8de109afec75