Features
Cirque Du Soleil Performer Dies After Fall At Florida ‘Volta’ Show
Steve Russell / Toronto Star via Getty Images –
Cirque du Soleil performers rehearse for the premiere of “Volta” at Toronto’s Portlands in Toronto. Sept. 6, 2017.
A Cirque du Soleil performer died after slipping and falling 20 feet during a performance of the “
“The entire Cirque du Soleil family is in shock and devastated by this tragedy,” the entertainment group’s President Daniel Lamarre said in a statement.
“We are currently gathering more information about this tragic event. We are offering our full and transparent collaboration to the authorities as they look into the circumstances of this accident.” Yann Arnaud, 38, died after suffering injuries when his hand slipped off the double rings during an aerial straps number, the theatrical company announced.
Tampa police said they were investigating the death of Jann Arnaud, though in a release said it appeared to be accidental. Arnaud died at a hospital early Sunday. He had been a Cirque du Soleil performer for more than 15 years. Cirque du Soleil canceled its final two Tampa performances Sunday.
The run began at the Tampa Greyhound Track Feb. 14.
In 2013, performer Sarah “Sasoun” Guyard-Guillot died after an on-stage accident during the Cirque Du Soleil “Ka” performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and, in 2016, technician Olivier Rochette, one of one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil, died in an industrial accident while setting up a San Francisco production of the troupe’s “Luiza” show.
In 2017, “Volta” reported many sold-out runs in Canada, including eight shows at the Grand Chapiteau at the Port Lands in Toronto Nov. 20-26, which sold 17,375 tickets and grossed $1.28 million, and another 10 show at the same venue Nov. 13-19, which sold 17,334 tickets and grossed $1.5 million. The production finished at No. 59 on Pollstar’s Year End Top 100 Worldwide Tours in 2017, with $35.9 million grossed on a whipping 246 shows.