How do you capitalize on widely divergent and constantly changing skills? Lyn Heward, Director of Creation at Cirque du Soleil says that the core skill for each of their artists is the ability to learn quickly. She used the framework of the seven doors to anchor her presentation at Mount Allison University this evening. An enthusiastic and compelling speaker, Lyn Heward showed how le Cirque maintains creative tension and has managed to grow to over 20 ongoing productions around the world.
For me, these were points worth considering further:
Constraints (budgets, consumers, differences) can become creative catalysts.
Risk-taking. Complacency is the biggest risk any person or organization has.
The most difficult culture to prepare their international troupes for is the USA, which has the highest number of social norms that must be learned before working there.
The clown as teacher, makes it easier for the “student” to drop his guard, become engaged, and learn …
