Since first touring its native province of Quebec in 1984, the self-styled ¡°multifaceted creative force¡± that is Canada¡¯s Cirque du Soleil has become a major global phenomenon with several permanent venues.
In 2002, though, seven Cirque du Soleil members turned their backs on that massive enterprise to form 7 Fingers, a small-scale company that had the goal of bringing the circus back down to a more intimate level.
On what will be their second trip to Japan (they had a short tour of Kyushu in 2011), 7 Fingers is set to appear at Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Yokohama next week to present their inaugural program, ¡°Loft,¡± which is the same piece they launched themselves with in Montreal back in 2002.
Since then, they¡¯ve staged ¡°Loft¡± more than 800 times around the world ¡ª invariably to great acclaim despite a lack of grand apparatuses and lavish costumes, which are all trademarks of Cirque du Soleil. Instead, on a stage made to look like a residential loft complete with a refrigerator, bathtub, old TV and a creaky bed, the seven underwear-clad performers will treat audiences to some incredibly acrobatic ¡ª and comical ¡ª dance performances into which they incorporate props such as apples, shoes and lampshades.
Together with virtuoso tap-dance, juggling, singing and music, those who drop by 7 Fingers¡¯ cozy ¡°Loft¡± can be assured of a good time.
¡°Loft¡± runs Feb. 7¡ª10 at Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Yokohama. For more information, call the theater at 045-633-6500 or visit .
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