Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ presents "Magnetik": a new act that fuses the cosmos and the energy of the earth

This act transports viewers to a world where the power of the earth comes to life through extraordinary acrobatics and unprecedented visual displays.

Five talented artists of different nationalities—Mexican, Brazilian, Chinese, South African, and Spanish—bring this exciting hoop-jumping act to life. The outfits were created by James Lavoie, the show's original costume designer, while the makeup was done by Nathalie Gagné, who has been responsible for makeup design since JOYÀ's inception.

What is Magnetik about?  

The inspiration behind Magnetik comes from the energy unleashed by a meteorite colliding with the Earth. The jumpers embody the resulting force of this impact, while the costumes, with touches of orange, evoke the Earth's magma.

The act represents the moment when JOYÀ discovers her connection to the meteorite, beginning a journey where the wisdom of the cosmos merges with the primordial energy of the earth.

The development of Magnetik was a painstaking creative process spanning several months. In the first stage, the stunts were designed and perfected, while the artist practiced applying a refreshed makeup design to master every detail of the new look. Subsequently, an innovative lighting design was incorporated and the costumes were validated, ensuring that every element reflected the artistic vision of the act. In total, approximately 40 hours of intensive rehearsals were dedicated to achieving flawless execution.

One of the biggest technical challenges was creating lighting effects on the mats used by the acrobats. Lighting designer Jean Laurin struck a delicate balance between enhancing the dramatic stage setting and avoiding dazzling the performers during their acrobatics. 

Source: Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ  / Grupo Vidanta