Circus Dream

First published on Saturday 21 February 2004:

REBECCA Jose is the only person in Britain this year chosen to star in one of the world's most famous circuses. The 21-year-old champion gymnast, from Peatmoor, was all set to go to university but now she's running away to join the Cirque du Soleil, based in Montreal, Canada. She said: "I was going to retire from gymnastics in September and become a full-time student. But the chance to join such a fantastic circus was too good to miss."
Tomorrow Swindon College student Rebecca will fly to Montreal, ready to embark on a year of intensive training with the high-flying troupe, which takes its shows anywhere from Tokyo to San Francisco.

Commonwealth gold medallist Rebecca, who has won the British Championships for rhythmic gymnastics four times, auditioned for the hotly contested role in London last November.
She said: "A friend said I would be really suited to it, so I sent the circus an email with my resume. I didn't hold my breath for a reply."

Her CV secured her an invite to an audition which would test her flexibility, strength, floor work and aerial skills. Competing in one of just 15 auditions held each year worldwide, Rebecca caught the eye of acrobat scout Sabrice Becker. Whittled down to the final four candidates, Rebecca was in with a chance. And last month she received a call out of the blue, offering her a part in the Cirque du Soleil's next touring show, out in 2005. Mr Becker said: "Rebecca is extremely versatile. She is strong in the air and on the floor, which is rare. The selection process is tough, so she has done very well."

As yet Rebecca knows little about her future role, except she will need to have a head for heights. She said: "Apparently I'm going to be thrown in the air a lot. It's quite daunting but exciting too. The sky is the limit and I'm game for anything."

Rebecca will stay in apartments built for artists within the Cirque du Soleil training centre. Artists practise acrobatics, dancing and acting for eight hours a day but often longer as a performance nears. Having practised the discipline since the age of 15, Rebecca is used to gruelling training routines. A helper at the Esprit Academy of Gymnastics, in Stratton St Margaret, pupils at the school are already looking forward to seeing her perform. Esprit business manager Mark Hows said: "We're all so pleased for Rebecca and cannot wait to see her in action." Rebecca is equally thrilled. She said: "It's funny because I've never been to the circus before. It has always been the stuff of dreams and now it's coming true."

The Cirque du Soleil was formed 10 years ago by a group of three street performers from Quebec called the High Heels Club. Their success was sparked by an invitation from the Quebec government to star in festivities celebrating the 450th anniversary of the discovery of Canada.

The circus now has around 600 artists, 25 of whom are British, working on any of its nine different shows. So far the troupe has visited more than 90 cities across the world. Its avant garde production, Dralion, has just finished its run at the Royal Albert Hall, in London.

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