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Slith87 favorited a video
(6 months ago)
Francisco Cruz, Raphael Cruz, Brad Henderson and Will Underwood have known each other practically all of their lives. At the San Francisco Circus C...
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Francisco Cruz, Raphael Cruz, Brad Henderson and Will Underwood have known each other practically all of their lives. At the San Francisco Circus Center, these boys trained alongside one another from ages 8 - 18, during intensive Chinese acrobatic courses with former Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe director Master Lu Yi. The four boys spent their days in the circus gym perfecting such uniquely Chinese disciplines as hoop-diving, pole-climbing, and chair-balancing, as well as more traditional western circus skills as teeter-board and trampoline. When not in the circus gym they still "trained" alongside one another on the streets, skateboarding, playing basketball, doing graffiti. They performed together in local circus productions and even went on the road together from time to time.
In 2002 the four boys all moved across the continent to further their training, at l'École Nationale de Cirque in Montreal, Canada. There they perfected their circus techniques and acquired a few new ones, while equally honing their skills as dancers and actors. This is also where they met their future remaining Traces cast member, Héloise.
Unlike her west-coast colleagues, Héloise Bourgeois hails from the other side of the Atlantic, a small little town called Paris, France. Her background was equally unique: 15 years of equestrian vaulting, 10 years of trampoline, both at internationally competitive levels, where she received numerous awards and distinguishes. Complementing her rigorous sports training was 7 years of ballet, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Material Science.
In the summer of 2004, Héloise rounded up the four boys for a whirlwind tour of Europe, under the name "The Abandoned Acrobats". In just two months they performed 200 shows in seven countries, receiving the Bronze and Public awards at the Sol y Circo festival in Sylt, Germany.
In their last year of circus school the five-some grew even stronger as they polished their solo acts and simultaneously prepared a collective future for their fledgling troupe. Shortly after graduation they were scooped up by the 7 Fingers.
http://www.les7doigtsdelamain.com/
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