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Cirque du Soleil: VOLTA Crew Show Us How To Do Intense Swiss Ring Tricks

7:40·By Gemma G
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About this video

Just when you think Cirque du Soleil could not possibly find ways to keep surprising and delighting us, they not only raise the bar but they triple-somersault over it! Their newest live sensation, VOLTA, is wowing audiences with its wide array of international disciplines, including shape diving and trampoline, as well as an activity we've seen on the Olympics and also dreaded in gym class -- rings! Also known as swing rings and Swiss rings (for their prevalence as a sport in Switzerland), Young Hollywood heads to rehearsal for the show where Yan Lee gives us a crash course on the rings, including how they tie in to the show's bigger themes and the sort of background a rings performer needs. Then it's on to a demonstration and lesson into the major tenets of Swiss rings -- hanging, swinging, piking, and the dismount. See if we can stick the landing!

Chapters (7)

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Key Moments (5)

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Full Transcript

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Young Hollywood

what's up guys young Haldeman behind the scenes at Circus Oh major Volta these are the shape divers song you are the team leader yeah what does that entail and you really expect me to do this

Guest

basically this act is like an original from China and I'm Chinese so what do you need to do is just go through the hoop easy simple that's it

Young Hollywood

that's it easy simple yeah that goes through the hoop do I need to prep learn anything specific

Guest

yeah you have to learn roll first that's the basic first step

Young Hollywood

okay roll roll yeah okay we called Averell okay absolutely condemn and roll diving Rock yeah dive and roll yeah Devereaux okay now Volta is about people expressing their individuality how does shape diving kind of play into that theme

Guest

the this this actor like in this show called urban jungle where I kind of like you know like the free spreads like to inspiration to other people like to be free like us yeah so there's no rules for us just to go through the hope we don't hate the hope that's it it's a rules of shame time yeah dive dive don't hit the hoop that's right roll the roll and then stand up and smile yeah that's it that's it that's it

Young Hollywood

now where did you learn this trick obviously you're a gymnast pretty much your entire life

Guest

I'm Acrobat from when was 11 years old I started circus in China this act is like a traditional Chinese Chinese acro act so I've been down this for almost 20 years because I'm a 30 years old now so it's in my genes in my bones now

Young Hollywood

well it's in my bones cuz you guys are behind me so show me what you know let's let's warm up a little bit let's warm up then we just try the first zero first let's do it yeah okay okay how's it go I'm up six seven guys behind ya and away from everywhere of the world we have a three Chinese including me yeah one Cambodian one Canadian one English one president Wow everywhere I have to tell you in my ears yeah doing what I do I don't think I've ever conducted an interview actually while running what's the first time this might be the first time so it's cool would i express this is great and I'm not out of breath yet yeah sooo try stretch a little bit your legs you're flexible yeah okay it's our job

Young Hollywood

now this show Volta it's the first go around so how our audiences and take you to it

Guest

I think it's pretty good for me it's the first I started to study shows that it's not a really traditional because we have a B max in the show jump rope in the show yeah it's real yeah yeah is it yeah that's you it's all our personality already I'm ready okay that's right let's try the rule first maybe Li can do a example first yes this is my coworker you know my friend up what are we gonna do this that we call front row first one okay so basically Jonah vaccine you have to roll otherwise you over here you have simple no to see like yeah once you push push yes that's it it's a really nice match the second step we just need to add like a little run along even what so you work work and you hear okay

Young Hollywood

confidence confidence that'll get you through the group what else you need to get through that room teammates and support I believe in myself and again I got a team you get squad ready to go I feel like a poodle will you do the roll jump little babe that's a okay so look slow slow down slow go slow yeah go slow go slow now we have backup for shift ever backup go slow just go slow yeah yeah yeah no don't forget a roll don't know yeah put your chin on your chest that could help you keep your head down okay lift your hips up sorry yeah yeah down salute oh yeah bad not bad two more rotation okay as you came through your legs were kept load as your finger kept low your toes hit there as he lifts his hips up he lifts his legs up - got it so it all goes through got it this is scary oh good just put your hands first for your hands first got me good yeah you did it let's let's try the other no no I didn't I didn't the next step we're gonna do a teamwork okay we're gonna do like a one trick together with you yeah teamwork already already okay let's go slow down slow down whoa that was incredible now did I help you

Guest

yeah you did yeah yeah no no we helped you again

Young Hollywood

really yeah we're gonna do another trick again I'll cool you yes yeah maybe let's try okay maybe it's gonna be like this pull you up we don't tell you it pull you up two more two more no hold our hands first yeah blast me so I just learned the basics of shape diving yeah what's like one trick that you're not gonna show me that you maybe do

Guest

you not gonna show you I will not be doing this one his nickname is Bannerman

Young Hollywood

[Applause] [Music] you [Music]

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Yan Lee

    Team leader of the shape divers in Cirque du Soleil: VOLTA

FAQ

What is Cirque du Soleil: VOLTA about?+
VOLTA is a show that features a wide array of international disciplines and focuses on people expressing their individuality.
What is shape diving?+
Shape diving is an acrobatic act, originating from China, where performers go through hoops without touching them.
What are Swiss rings?+
Swiss rings, also known as swing rings, are an acrobatic discipline prevalent as a sport in Switzerland, involving hanging, swinging, piking, and dismounting.
How long has Yan Lee been performing?+
Yan Lee has been an acrobat since he was 11 years old and has been performing the traditional Chinese acro act for almost 20 years.
What countries are represented by the shape divers?+
The shape diving team includes performers from China, Cambodia, Canada, and England.

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