2nd Entertainment Technology Conference at UNCSA

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts will be holding the UNCSA Southeast Regional Entertainment Technology Conference from September 30 to October 2 at the UNCSA campus. The event is a three-day conference presented by Cirque du Soleil and their business partners (Stage Technologies, Coolux, Vari-Lite and Meyer Sound), and will include demonstrations and workshops covering the use of cutting-edge technologies in Cirque du Soleil productions.

New to the conference this year are two workshop ‘tracks’. One track will be focused on machine engineering and the performing artist which merges the creativity of the design team of Cirque du Soleil, the needs of the performing artist and cutting-edge automation technology, and the second track will be focused on the unique show design creation process of Cirque du Soleil.

For the last several years, UNCSA School of Design and Production has taken part in University Partnering retreats hosted by Cirque du Soleil Resident Shows Division in Las Vegas. Cirque du Soleil organised these partnering retreats as a means of helping college faculty members prepare theatre technology students for the entertainment theatre industry and provide a bank of qualified candidates for Cirque du Soleil to identify potential technicians for their future productions. Cirque du Soleil has identified a need within the organisation to hire hundreds of theatre technicians within the next four years to run technical elements of upcoming creations and current productions.

UNCSA is the University of North Carolina's conservatory for the arts, dedicated entirely to the professional training of students possessing exceptional talents in the performing, visual and moving image arts. UNCSA offers students a focused, intense, professional training at the high school, baccalaureate, and masters levels in its schools of Dance, Design and Production, Drama, Filmmaking and Music.

Cirque du Soleil celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009. From the 20 or so tumblers the company featured when it all began in 1984, Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil has become a leading provider of quality entertainment with 4,000 employees, including 1,000 artists who hail from some 40 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has thrilled close to 90 million spectators in more than 200 cities on five continents and the organisation will have 19 different shows playing around the world in 2009.

More information on the UNCSA Entertainment Technology Conference.