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Costume-maker gives soul to 'Dralion'

By Mark Moorehead

Tempe Diablo Stadium’s parking lot has sprouted a blue and yellow big top. Dralion, presented by Cirque Du Soleil, is a circus like no other circus you have seen before. It arrives with an army of high energy, high-wired performers from around the world performing acts such as double trapeze, hoop diving, ballet of lights, juggling, bamboo pole acrobatics, aerial dancing and other breathtaking, fast-moving acts including Dralions, a blend of the traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances.

Most spectacular is the visual presentation. Wildly exotic and brilliantly colored flowing costumes accentuate the drama of each performance.

You might think you entered the middle of a Chinese New Year parade when you open your eyes under this tent. Just as impressive as the physical feats of acrobatic talent are the fantastic costumes--one of the principal attractions and trademark of any Cirque Du Soleil production.

A Wrangler News reporter recently spoke to the creative genius who made the costumes known all over the world.

Francois Barbeau is the grand costume maker and a native of Montreal. His father was a banker who moved his family all over Canada when he was a child. When Barbeau became an adult he chose a more ambitious itinerary and studied fashion design in Montreal, France, Italy and England.

His career in costuming began with several film, theatrical and ballet companies in France in the early 1960s. In the last 40 years Barbeau has designed costumes for more than 500 productions.

For Dralion, he created 250 individual costumes—no small feat, according to Barbeau.

“You have to respect the human figure and you have to respect the movement. We look at the choreography many times. We work with video. You have to watch the number, and when they change something, you have to really keep up.”

However, Barbeau finds no challenge in his choice of materials for costume making.

“I use a lot of horse hair that we have woven, bleached and dyed in many colors. I use it because it moves beautifully, and we have a number where the costume is done mainly with horsehair and it’s extraordinary, the way the girls move in it. It reflects light in a wonderful way and it’s tough and doesn’t wear out.”

Other materials Barbeau is fond of using in Dralion include raffia, silk, velvet, leather, window screen, emu feathers and fun fur.

Color plays an important role in the mythical world of Dralion. Barbeau set out to create costumes that reflect the four elements of life: blue for air, green for water, red for fire and ochre for earth.

Asked to explain his choice of green for water, Barbeau said:

“When I was (flying over) China I was amazed to see from the plane that all the lakes were jade green.” So, for Barbeau, green was the natural choice for water.

“And, there is a fifth element called the strength of soul, which in Chinese mythology is the master of all others,” says Barbeau.

It is this fifth element that Barbeau seems to embody as the enduring creative force unseen behind the curtain. But, you can see his handiwork everywhere in the dream world of Dralion

Dralion

Tempe Diablo Stadium
2200 West Alameda Drive
Tempe 800-678-5440

Nov.13 and 14, 5 and 9 p.m. Nov. 15; 4 and 8 p.m. Nov. 16; 1 and 5 p.m. Nov. 17. Tickets $31.50 to $65.

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