A Journey from Backyard to Big Top
Gleeful Cirque du Soleil fans know the Power Track for the motion, excitement, and triumph it brings to the final act of the first half of Alegría: In A New Light, but behind this iconic act is an unconventional story of creative vision, technical innovation, and boundary-pushing teamwork.
It all starts in Canada and the USA with a backyard trampoline businessman.
Designing the Ultimate Launchpadp
The roots of Power Track trace back to a chance collaboration with a backyard trampoline maker. At first, he was building a special gymnastics training device for his daughter, but word of his elongated trampoline frame, called at that time a “tumble” or a “fast track”, spread to Boris Verkhovsky, who at the time was National Tumbling Coach and was asked to test the device at the training camp. Later on, the Creation Team of Mystère was suggested to use this device for the new act. Then, while at Cirque and being responsible for development of equipment and performance for Cirque du Soleil shows, the tumble track was used as a starting point to develop a criss-cross tumbling set up for the famous act of Alegria.
The initial concept excited acrobats with its tremendous return of energy, but the first impression was that it had too many rough edges to withstand the rigors of powerful athletes, and even more so the ~475 performances a year…and Cirque’s team made significant modifications to build a new device.
For Boris, who had been co-developing a consistent opportunity to sustain performing the “triples” tumbling performance for Mystère at Treasure Island, the apparatus, named Fast Track, was transformative.
With more durable materials, new safety pads, and a stronger frame, the apparatus proved much more forgiving for performers. “Through the increased repetitions and the softer environment, you could actually polish the technique much better,” recalls Boris
Just when Mystère had finally found its breakthrough, Alegria (the original) came calling.
Weaving the Famous Crossover Point in Alegría
The hallmark of Alegría’s jubilant closing act of the show’s first half is a dual Fast Track performance, but unlike Mystère, this configuration called for a daring crossover, which presented a web of new challenges for Boris and his team.
How do you make a retractable, stage-integrated Fast Track that supports 60-foot runs, graceful landings, and a crossover point, all while maintaining safety and aesthetic harmony in a travelling Big Top show?
Taking inspiration from the tightly interwoven strings of tennis rackets, engineers developed tensioned frames and precise stringing to ensure smooth energy transfer across the track’s “dead crossover spots.” To make the performers safer without compromising aesthetics, our team found ways to conceal extra padding within thinner mats. Later on, during the creation of La Nouba, Cirque’s team even worked with a world-renowned trampoline coach and competitive equipment developer Dave Ross to build a special loom that weaves breathable surface made of double strings with practically zero stretch.
After countless tests and trials, Boris and his team had developed a daring setup that enabled tumblers to perform intricate aerial sequences while leaping between tracks, captivating fans around the world on its way to becoming one of the most iconic acts in Cirque du Soleil history. Fast Track’s growth continued its spread to other Cirque shows, evolving into an upgraded version of itself, aptly named Power Track (first introduced in La Nouba), and adapting to each show’s scenography.
Take Your Place on Stage with Cirque du Soleil
The Power Track performance, which can currently be seen in Alegria: In A New Light, is the perfect embodiment of how Cirque du Soleil blends technical innovation with human artistry. From backyard training tool to circus stage centerpiece, this unique apparatus is the product of tenacious creativity and collaboration.
“That continuity of experimenting and knowledge is one of the powers of Cirque as a company,” thinks Boris. “Knowledge not only of the equipment, but the knowledge of how the body, the human body responds to the equipment, how the equipment can react back.”
Thinking about the next step in your athletic or acrobatic career? Take a leap with Cirque du Soleil by creating or updating a casting profile.