In a horrible reminder that Cirque du Soleil performers are actually mortal flesh-and-blood people too, comes the tragic news that a 31 year old acrobat died after falling 50 feet during a live performance in Vegas on Saturday. Shortly thereafter the show was stopped and the crowd was ushered from the MGM Grand theatre where “Ka”, a martial arts influenced production has had a residency.
Witnesses in attendance said they saw the performer, mother of two Sarah Guillot-Guyard, fall after it appeared she had detached from her safety wire and dropped into the open pit below the stage. According to new reports the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of Nevada is currently investigating the fatality – the first stage casualty in the company’s 29 year history.
Following the confirmation of Guillot-Guyard’s death, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte said in a statement: “We are reminded with great humility and respect how extraordinary our artists are each and every night. Our focus now is to support each other as a family.”
All future performances of “Ka” have been postponed until further notice.
Via the Washington Post.
Photo by Sean Gallup taken during a Cirque Du Soleil Dress Rehearsal in 2012.
