DUBAI // The performers at Cirque Le Soir help to bring the club alive each night.
Many have backgrounds in theatre and dance and have performed internationally. Here are some profiles of the club’s most popular performers:
Veronika Valentine, 34
Valentine began dancing as a child and has worked in London’s West End and for the BBC.
She came to Dubai from Cirque Le Soir in London five months ago.
“I push the boundaries, it’s what we do,” she said.
The petite, tattooed Brit performs body-burning stunts on both herself and the ringmaster, as well as piercing her body and face with surgical needles.
“It’s nice that we can still put on shows that are risqué but, compared to London, it’s still very tame,” Valentine says. “We push things here more through our characters.”
In spite of her small frame, she regularly has concrete blocks smashed over her body and lies on a bed of nails, all in the name of art.
Ringmaster Darren Somerville, 35
Began his career on stage as a drummer in his native Ireland and toured Europe before joining Cirque Le Soir in London when the club was at a small Soho venue with a 150-seat capacity.
He moved to Dubai two years ago and developed his ringmaster character and has since become more and more integrated into the show, which can involve having playing cards stapled to his body and fire blown into his face.
“The adrenaline is what keeps you going when you’re on stage,” he said.
Lulu Erasmus
The stilt performer takes pride in the artistic freedom Cirque Le Soir allows its performers.
“I love my work, the creative side of it. It’s something different and not something you see every day. For many expatriates here it makes you feel like it’s home, a little piece of London, Vegas.
“It reminds you a little bit of Europe or the States. We do play a fine line but we know not to push it too much because we’re still in a Muslim country so we do respect the traditions.”
The South African admits some of the acts can leave her feeling squeamish.
“The worst was the guy who dislocated his arm so that he could fit his body through the head of a tennis racquet. He also put a drill up his nose.”
Ravi Nanjundechar, 34
The Indian dwarf is known for his acrobatic tricks, from handstands to riding a unicycle dressed as Charlie Chaplin or Elvis, or a clown and sometimes even a gorilla.
“I enjoy it and love entertaining people. Making people happy makes me happy,” he said.
There are strict rules about touching the performers and Ravi is no exception. “I feel safe here, the security looks after us and makes sure nobody touches us.”
He says there is nothing better than the applause. “It’s nice to be able to do a job that makes you so happy.”
mswan@thenational.ae
