CATHERINE W GICHUKI

DOHA QATAR Tourism authority (QTA) on Monday announced its support for renowned Canada-based entertainment company, Cirque du Soleil to stage its 20- year-old signature production, Saltimbanco in Doha.

The action packed performance is scheduled to run from July 4-7 at the Aspire Dome. The QTA is working with SDI Marketing to bring the extravaganza to Qatar.

The family oriented show will feature acts like balancing, jumping and spinning during the Chinese poles or the Russian swing to the gravity-defying Bungees and trapeze, juggling and acrobatic bicycle and unique clowns. It will also feature spectacular costumes, amazing lighting, humour and enchanting music and magic.

Saltimbanco, derived from Italian ‘Saltare in Banco’ which literally means ‘to jump on a bench’ will feature an international cast of 51 performers and musicians from 20 countries.

Speaking at a press conference, QTA Director of Tourism Abdullah Mallala al Bader said that QTA would be supporting Cirque Du Soleil logistically. He said that the show would also attract people from the region.

“We are supporting them to be in Qatar and after this we might think of a long time agreement to bring them yearly.

QTA is providing assistance to bring this amazing spectacle to Qatar. Qatar has proven its ability to put on large scale events and Cirque Du Soleil choosing to bring their signature show here further underscores this,” Bader said.

“This will attract not just large audiences from within Qatar but also beyond our shores. QTA is proud to be able to play a role in enabling it to happen.” Luke Kinmond, general manager of SDI Marketing, said: “We are bringing over 100 people to Qatar for this show and QTA is helping us to put things together as well as promoting the show. It is a great opportunity for QTA to help and bring people from other countries and stay in hotels, see the country among other things.” More than 150 million audience members have viewed Cirque du Soleil shows over their 28-year history, and 15 million of those saw the Saltimbanco tour at various locations around the world. The show has recently been performed in Beirut, and set a record for the biggest selling show to be held in Lebanon.