Sean's Notes

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Cirque du Soleil is a classic example of innovation by category busting. It advertises itself as circus, but circus reinvented. Despite its title, it lacks many of the traditional features of circus - the ring format, the animals, the big name acts. 'It is not quite a circus and not quite opera or theater either, but takes elements from them all' (Williamson, 2002: 3). In some respects, it differs from all three - in the anonymity of its performers, for example. It is successful not simply because it breaks traditional categories, but by self-consciously displaying its category busting as innovation. The resonances of circus, street performance, theatre, opera and ballet are all superbly put on show to be appreciated || as a sophisticated blend. Case-Study