Julie Cameron Cirque du Soleil Quidam Interview

Cirque du Soleil is returning to Australia with Quidam, one of the company's most loved, classic shows. The Quidam arena tour will commence in Canberra on 11 December 2015 and will then travel on to Wollongong, Hobart and Newcastle with limited seasons in each city.

Tickets are on sale now at www.cirquedusoleil.com/quidam. Since premiering under the Big Top in Montreal in 1996, Quidam has captivated millions of people across five continents. Now Quidam has embarked on a new journey, with the same spell-binding production being performed in arenas around the world. The international cast features 46 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors who present a showcase of spectacular aerial feats, astonishing human agility, and heart-warming emotion.

Young Zoé is bored. Her parents ignore her. Hidden in the crowd of today's modern society, her life has lost all meaning. Seeking to fill the void, Zoé slides into an imaginary world, the world of Quidam, where she meets a host of curious characters who encourage her to finally free her soul.

Cirque du Soleil

From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 4,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from more than 50 different countries.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 155 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Quidam by Cirque du Soleil

Canberra – 11 to 20 December 2015, AIS Arena
Wollongong – 23 December 2015 to 2 January 2016, WIN Entertainment Centre
Hobart – 6 to 10 January 2016, Derwent Entertainment Centre
Newcastle – 15 to 24 January 2016, Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Tickets (Premium, Level 1, 2 3): Tickets $75 to $165 with discounts for children aged 2 to 12 years and Groups 12+.
For complete show and ticket information, please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/quidam.

Interview with Julie Cameron, Aerial Silk

In the Aerial Silk act, the artist performs aerial acrobatics while suspended from a long, silk band of fabric. While incorporating contortion in her act, the artist manipulates the fabric to wrap, swing and spiral herself into and out of various intricate positions, creating graceful and harmonious figures.

Born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, Julie Cameron began acrobatics training at the age of nine. Two years later, she moved with her family to Prague, Czech Republic where she attended the prestigious British International School of Prague. During her free time, Julie trained at the Czech Sports Acrobatics club which prepared her for the competitive journey in the international sport acrobatics world. Julie's sports acrobatics career flourished as she became Czech Republic's champion in her discipline for the next two years. Shortly thereafter, the family moved back to West Yorkshire, England. It was then that Julie began to compete for the Great Britain Senior Acrobatics Team.

At the age of 17, after winning several British Championships, European Championships, and World Medals Julie ended her competitive career and was offered her first contract with Cirque du Soleil as a Banquine flyer (2007 -2009). In 2010 Julie changed acts within the show, performing as a member of the Arial Hoops act stunning feats of grace and dexterity while twirling though the air.

Julie always strives for perfection and is determined to continually improve her acts. In 2013, she secured a solo act on Quidam as an Aerial Contortionist in Silk where she wows the crowd every performance with her flexibility, power, and grace while suspended high above the stage.

Julie performed over 2000 shows with Quidam in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America

Traveling as a child prepared me to make the decision to leave home so young and travel the world with Cirque du Soleil. Working in the UK, especially at the Royal Albert Hall was one of my biggest highlights and stepping stones while working for the company. Looking back at that moment in my life has made me realize how far I have come.

The best thing about touring is traveling the World while hanging on one foot 40ft in the air for a living!-Julie Cameron


Question: How would you describe Quidam?

Julie Cameron: Quidam is not only a show for me, it's my home. I have been on tour for almost 9 years now but I am still inspired every day by this show. Quidam is a very emotional show with high level acrobatics, it allows you to disappear into your imagination. The show is magical and we like to give the audiences an experience they have never had before.


Question: What do you enjoy most about this Cirque du Soleil show?

Julie Cameron: This show is a very dramatic show, I love the symbolism throughout the show. I love our metal structure above the stage. We call it the Telepherique, it moves acrobats on stage from above it's like a Ski Lift. It is quite unique as no other cirque show has one the same.


Question: What are you looking forward to most about visiting Australia?

Julie Cameron: I am really looking forward to visiting the beautiful beaches and catching up with old friends that I met on tour with Quidam.


Question: What originally inspired you to learn the Aerial Silk?

Julie Cameron: I loved this act long before joining Quidam, but never imagined I would have the chance to perform it. I loved the contortion skills, the music and the story line. I was given the opportunity to be the back up for this act while I was performing the aerial hoop act in Quidam and then eventually I was giving the chance to perform this act full time. It was a new apparatus for me so I had overcome some challenges and stay determined.


Question: Can you tell us about the Aerial Silk act in Quidam?

Julie Cameron: Normally I am performing at least 10 metres above the stage. This act is very artistically and technically challenging. My character in this act portrays the soul of the mother in the show and the difficulties she has and how life isn't always so easy.


Question: What is most difficult about working with other aerial acrobatics during this performance?

Julie Cameron: I perform a solo act on silks. I previous performed the Trio Aerial hoops act in Quidam. It was challenging to try and be perfectly synchronized, you always need to be aware of the other performers on stage and try to help each other to perform the best act we can.

Question: Was it always a dream of yours to perform with Cirque du Soleil?

Julie Cameron: After seeing my first show it was always my goal to be part of one of the Cirque du Soleil shows. I have now performed three different acts for this show; Banquine, Cerceaux/Aerial hoops and The Aerial Silks Contortion act.


Question: Can you talk about your training schedule?

Julie Cameron: I work around the show schedule to try fit in my training. I like to do cardio training in the morning. There is always space for improvement, so if I have the energy I will try to train after the show and try to learn new things, but of course the performance on stage comes first and is the most important.


Question: With over 2,000 Quidam shows do you still practice your routine?

Julie Cameron: After vacations I practice my routine specifically, but after a few weeks of continuous work I am always trying to improve and develop new things.


Question: What's a typical day like, for you on tour?

Julie Cameron: I like to go running in the morning, sometimes I will have training on stage during the day and then I need to get ready for the show. It takes at least one hour and a half to do my hair and make up and around 30 minutes for me to warm up prior to the show.


Interview by Brooke Hunter
Image: Gregory Heirman
Costumes: Dominique Lemieux ©2011 Cirque du Soleil.