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Acrobat Lionel Zalachas remembers Le Rêve. His odyssey begins in 2009, when he is hired for the creation of The House of Dancing Water and first dives into the aquatic show universe of Franco Dragone. Everyone talks about Le Rêve, the legend in Las Vegas. It seems unreal, far away. Then, five years later, he is hired to perform in Le Rêve. The legend, the dream, is becoming a reality. Here is Lionel’s story…
“I guess my story with Le Rêve starts far away from Las Vegas, in its creative origin, in Franco’s base, Belgium.”
“Honestly, as a former gymnast, I had never even heard of anything else than Cirque du Soleil. But, some wise people advised me to audition for this apparently big company that does water shows.”
“So, here I am, having trouble learning this new job in Antwerp and all I hear about is a marvelous show called Le Rêve. Half of our House of Dancing Water creation team worked there and we’re always compared to one another. Somehow, there’s nothing those bold guys and girls can’t do.”
“I learn how to (flat) dive. At Le Rêve, they do it from an 8 meter high, cake-shaped platform into a pool that is, at that moment, only 1.4 meters deep.”
“I’m dying breathless after some choreography and struggle to learn SCUBA. At Le Rêve, they jump in the water and get caught by a diver after a long dance act. The performers in the Las Vegas show seem super-human to me.”
“On the other hand, I hear stories of artists who struggled during their creation. But they made it into the show and are now great performers. This gives me a goal to achieve.”
Even there, Lionel keeps hearing stories about Le Rêve.
“Our creation is way easier, our days are way shorter, people are more relaxed… And I’m exhausted! How did they even survive?”
In September 2010, after many months of hard work and dedication from everyone, The House of Dancing Water finally opens its doors in Macau. It is enthusiastically received by the public.
“I am now a more experienced artist and I audition for only one show. The one I look up to: Le Rêve. People tell me things have changed there and it’s not as great as it used to be. But I still go for it… and I’ll never regret it.”
“When you saw Le Rêve for the first time, the first thing that hit you was how immersive it was. Most of the time, you have to be a bit farther back in the auditorium to see the full ensemble and appreciate a show. But for this one, I always preferred to watch it from the front row. The round stage and the huge dome above made you feel you are more than just a witness… You felt you are right there, with the artists.”
“All the changes that were made over the years made Le Rêve feel a bit disjointed. But there were so many magical moments.”
“The Sphere remains my favorite aerial act. Nets and Red Men were real badass scenes. Grosse Bertha (they really made tables that are flying and turning???!!!). Chappelle and Winter were amazing poetic tableaux. The list is long.”
“And, what I heard was true: They were killing it on stage!”
“The emotions I have are hard to describe. Even though most of the people are unknown to me, I feel close to them. I recognize the shyness during Giuliano Peparini’s workshops. I recognize the fear of being alone and half naked in front of Franco and his famous, “Show me who you are!” And, I recognize the pain of staying in the same position for hours on a freezing stage.”
“But most of all, I recognize the excitement, passion, and commitment of a bunch of crazy young people. Aware that they are growing together and achieving something special.”
“I see all this and I see myself a few years ago. The connection is made. I belong to the show.”
“Yes, my two and a half years in Vegas changed me. As an artist first. Before Le Rêve I had only one experience in a very strictly structured show and I used to take everything too seriously. In Vegas, I see some of the best artists. They are enjoying themselves, having fun, and they are still being great professionals.”
“Thanks to my role as Winnie, I learn how to have freedom on stage. I have my first solo ever in the cage.”
“Even some backstage and private moments, like a lip sync contest in the rehearsal room are so much fun and push me to propose my own goofy little pieces. Despite being an acrobat, I am in the dressing room with the musicians, clowns, and dancers. And I really enjoy it!”
“I open my mind to a whole lot of new, different horizons.”
“But, most of all, I get to meet very special people. I used to look up at the artists. Now I look up at the friends they became. And, for some of them, I look up at the parents that they are. It may sound cheesy, but I see more happy families here than anywhere else. And the best part is that they spread that joy to the people around them, which creates a huge positive vibe.”
“Even though I left the show three years ago, in 2017, I still try to keep this vibe and stay focussed on the bright side of things. Especially in dark periods like right now, during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“For some of them it must be so difficult now because they didn’t make any further plans. Their lives were just ideal. For others (some creators and original artists were still working in the show) it must be heartbreaking to see their creation coming to an end.”
“For everyone, Le Rêve‘s book closing is hard to accept. Because now all of its vivid beauty will only remain in our memory and will fade away slowly.”
“Still, I see the glass half full (and there’s barely any liquid right now). A solution will be found against this virus. People will gather again in theaters.”
“Thanks to their talent, those who lost their jobs will find some new ones, in the entertainment industry, or elsewhere.”
“Big shows will come back, because business is business. And, in each one, there will be a little piece of Le Rêve. Because its legacy remains in every person that worked for it, lived in it, and had the privilege to watch and experience it.”
Le Rêve in Las Vegas: A Tribute
Entertainment with A Splash: A History of Aquatic Shows
Liam Klenk was born in Central Europe and has since lived on four continents. Liam has always been engaged in creative pursuits, ranging from photography and graphic design, to writing short stories and poetry, to working in theatre and shows. In 2016, Liam published his first book and memoir, 'Paralian'.
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