The Tribune

THREE circus performers sponsored by La Station Vaudreuil, a non-profit organisation working with artists in residence for the Cirque du Soleil (CDS) and the Montreal National Circus School (MNCS), will be showcasing their unique talents under ‘The Big Top’ at the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina over Christmas and the New Year.

Big Game Club general manager, Michael Weber, said the two acts would consist of soloist Gabriel Beaudoin from Quebec - an acrobat, tumbler and juggler - and Yldor Llach from Catalonia, Spain, and Maxime Poulin from Disraeli, Canada, a cyclist duo performing a series of precision stunts. The three artists were chosen from a larger group competing to travel to Bimini to perform.

“Each will be performing half-hour shows daily,” said Mr Weber. “We will have a tent set up for performances as well as a location next to our pool deck. Visitors to the island, local residents and, of course, our guests are welcome to attend.”

Bertrand Myre, with La Station Vaudreuil, said the performers will also spend time in workshops at the Big Game Club during the week ,working with Biminites to create their own circus troop.

Mr Myre, a Quebecois social worker and former mayor of St-Lazare, Quebec, said the workshops are a continuation of the Bimini Quebec Project, which was launched in 2009 following his first visit to Bimini.

The Bimini Quebec Project, according to Mr Myre, involves bringing Canadian youths and adults to Bimini to carry out projects under the guidance of La Station Vaudreuil, a non-profit organisation working with Le Cirque du Soleil since 2003 and the Montreal National Circus School since 2010.

One of the non-profit’s initiatives has been to help prepare Biminites to get their own circus troop through the Montreal National Circus School.

Future plans involve bringing a Bimini resident to Montreal to learn how to become a circus trainer, and to build a dormitory on the island to house Canadians looking to come to the island to volunteer their time and talents.

Mr Weber and Mr Myre hope to continue with future shows at the Big Game Club into 2013, with new performers selected from the MNCS and CDS organizations.

“This is a wonderful project that reaches into the core of our Bimini community and we are thankful to be part of the show,” said Mr Weber.