Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to return to the Miami area with its coolest arena show yet – Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal. This unique arena production showcases synchronized, freestyle and extreme skating alongside circus disciplines such as swinging trapeze, aerial straps and hand to hand. Crystal will perform at the American Airlines Arena from Thursday, December 13 through 16 for 7 shows.
Watch world-class ice skaters and acrobats explore their new frozen playground with speed and fluidity as they challenge the laws of gravity with never-before-seen acrobatics. Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal fuses circus arts and the world of ice skating in a stunning new production that will take the audience on a journey into a surreal world where figure skating blends with acrobatics and aerial feats.
Directed by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila, Crystal, their misfit heroine, takes you on an exhilarating tale of self-discovery as she dives into a world of her own imagination. Feel the adrenaline as she soars through this surreal world at high speed to become what she was always destined to be: confident, liberated, and empowered. Crystal invites you to suspend reality and glide into a world that springs to colorful life with astounding visual projections and a soundtrack that seamlessly blends popular music with the signature sound of Cirque du Soleil.
It was a pleasure to sit down with one of Crystal’s principle skaters, Scott Smith, for this exclusive Hotspots interview.
When was the first time you put on a pair of ice skates, and how quickly did you know you loved the sport?
I was about 7 years old, and it was at a birthday party for a kid in my class. I loved it right away, and begged for skating lessons right after the party.
What was your first professional gig?
When I was 10, a local rink, where I grew up in Baltimore, was doing the Nutcracker on Ice. I got cast and it was my first taste of getting paid.
When did you start competing?
I started competing almost right away, probably around 8 years old. As I got older I spread out doing competitions all over the US and internationally.
Who did you or do you look up to in the figure skating world?
I remember watching the 1988 Olympics as a kid and seeing Brian Boitano win the gold and then seeing Scott Hamilton on Stars on Ice. Those are the 2 I look up to, and have been lucky enough to meet.
What was the best contest/medal you won and why?
I won the national junior championship, which was amazing.
How did you get hired at Cirque and how does it feel working for the iconic Cirque Du Soleil?
I submitted a resume and video for Crystal, and at the time I was doing a trapeze act on cruise ships. Shortly after the show opened they contacted me and I showed up to the tour the 4th week of the show. That was about a year ago.
What’s the best part of traveling with Cirque?
I really enjoy getting to see all my friends from around the country that I haven’t seen in a long time. They get to see me performing, which is really special for me. In addition, the other artists are really great so traveling with a group of friends is really fun.
What’s has been your favorite city on the tour?
I really enjoyed San Diego: beautiful weather, and nice restaurants. I also enjoyed our premiere in Montreal.
What should our readers expect from the production of Crystal?
They can expect the unexpected. It’s not like any other Cirque Show or Ice show, so come on down and be amazed.
For more information on Scott, you can follow him at: Instagram.com/SK8trapscott.
For more information on Crystal or any Cirque Show or to purchase tickets, go to: cirquedusoleil.com.
