Difference between revisions of "Olivier and Melinda"

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==Acrobatic Adagio==
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==Acrobats==
  
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[[By Dominique Jando]]
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''By Dominique Jando''
  
  
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Olivier Merlier was born in Valenciennes, France, and was not at first destined to become a circus artist: He worked as a welder on nuclear plant construction sites, and, in his spare time, practiced kickboxing and karate. While visiting his sister who was studying at the [[Budapest Circus School|State Circus School]] of Budapest, Hungary, he was asked by the School to organize a workshop in kickboxing for the students.
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[[File:Olivier_et_Melinda_1991.jpg|right|300px]]Born in Valenciennes, France, Olivier Merlier was not, it seemed, destined to become a circus performer. He worked as a welder on nuclear power plant construction sites, and, in his spare time, practiced kickboxing and karate.
  
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The teachers at the school were impressed enough by Olivier's strength and flexibility to propose him to enroll in the school. Since it was more fun than welding on construction sites, Olivier accepted. Thus, in 1985, he began to train in all classic circus disciplines, to learn Hungarian, and to pay attention to another student, [[Melinda Merlier|Melinda Fölnagy]].
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Then, while visiting his sister at the [[Budapest Circus School|State Circus School]] in Budapest, Hungary, he was asked by the school to organize a workshop in kickboxing for the students. The instructors at the school were impressed enough by his strength and flexibility to propose that Olivier enroll. It seemed to him that the circus was more fun than welding, so he accepted the invitation. Thus, in 1985, he began training in all the classic circus disciplines. At the same time, he began to study Hungarian—and to pay increasing amounts of attention to a certain fellow student, [[Melinda Merlier|Melinda Fölnagy]].
  
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Olivier and Melinda started working together on an acrobatic adagio. In April 1988, two months before their graduation, Olivier and Melinda also became partners in life, when they married in Budapest. A few months later, they made their professional debut at the old Hansa Theater in Hamburg, Germany.
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Before long, Olivier and Melinda began working together on an acrobatic adagio. In April 1988—two months before their graduation—Olivier and Melinda were married in Budapest. A few months later, they made their professional debut at the old Hansa Theater in Hamburg, Germany.
  
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In Janauary 1988, Olivier & Melinda presented their brand new act at the [[Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain]]; they didn't win a medal, but caught the attention of the [[Big Apple Circus]]'s talent scouts, and were invited to join the circus's resident company in the United States. They debuted there in the Big Apple Circus summer tour production of 1989.
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In January 1988, [[Olivier & Melinda]] presented their brand-new act at the [[Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain]] in Paris. Although they didn't win a medal, they caught the attention of the [[Big Apple Circus]]'s talent scouts, who invited them to join the circus's resident company in the United States. A year later, they made their debut as part of the Big Apple Circus's summer tour.
  
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Olivier & Melinda participated in company ensembles, performed their acrobatic adagio, and created a teeterboard duet at the Big Apple Circus until 1992. At the end of the the 1992 summer tour, they separated. Olivier returned to France, where he became a flying trapeze catcher in the groundbreaking and very successful aerial show, [[Les Arts-Sauts]]. Melinda, a very versatile acrobat, remained in the Big Apple Circus resident company until 1998, where she appeared in an amazing variety of acrobatic acts, before embarking on a career of her own.
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Olivier & Melinda stayed at the Big Apple Circus until 1992, participating in company ensembles. They performed their acrobatic adagio as well as a teeterboard duet. They separated at the end of the 1992 summer tour. Olivier returned to France, where he became a flying-trapeze catcher in the groundbreaking and successful aerial show, [[Les Arts-Sauts]]. Melinda, a versatile acrobat, remained in the Big Apple Circus's resident company until 1998, appearing in an astonishing variety of acrobatic acts, before moving on to explore other opportunities.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
  
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* Video: [[Olivier_and_Melinda_BAC_1991_Video|Olivier & Melinda, Teeterboard Act]] in the Big Apple Circus production of ''Greetings from Coney Island (1991)
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* Biography: [[Melinda Merlier]]
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* Video: [[Olivier_and_Melinda_BAC_Video_1989|Olivier & Melinda, Hand-to-hand duet]], in the Big Apple Circus production of ''Grandma Goes West'' (1989)
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* Video: [[Olivier_and_Melinda_BAC_Video_1990|Olivier & Melinda, Acrobatic Adagio and Teeterboard Act]] in the Big Apple Circus production of ''Ballerinas, Horses and Clowns...'' (1990)
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* Video: [[Olivier_and_Melinda_BAC_1991_Video|Olivier & Melinda, Teeterboard Act]] in the Big Apple Circus production of ''Greetings from Coney Island'' (1991)
  
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[[Category:Artists and Acts|Olivier & Melinda]][[Category:Teeterboard|Olivier & Melinda]]
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==Image Gallery==
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<Gallery>
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File:Olivier_et_Melinda_1991.jpg|Olivier & Melinda (1991)
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</Gallery>
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[[Category:Artists and Acts|Olivier & Melinda]][[Category:Teeterboard|Olivier & Melinda]][[Category:Acrobats|Olivier & Melinda]][[Category:Hand-to-Hand Balancing]]

Latest revision as of 22:06, 2 June 2023

Acrobats

By Dominique Jando


Olivier et Melinda 1991.jpg
Born in Valenciennes, France, Olivier Merlier was not, it seemed, destined to become a circus performer. He worked as a welder on nuclear power plant construction(French) A temporary circus building, originally made of wood and canvas, and later, of steel elements supporting a canvas top and wooden wall. Also known as a "semi-construction." sites, and, in his spare time, practiced kickboxing and karate.

Then, while visiting his sister at the State Circus School in Budapest, Hungary, he was asked by the school to organize a workshop in kickboxing for the students. The instructors at the school were impressed enough by his strength and flexibility to propose that Olivier enroll. It seemed to him that the circus was more fun than welding, so he accepted the invitation. Thus, in 1985, he began training in all the classic circus disciplines. At the same time, he began to study Hungarian—and to pay increasing amounts of attention to a certain fellow student, Melinda Fölnagy.

Before long, Olivier and Melinda began working together on an acrobatic adagioAcrobatic act, generally involving a man and a woman, presented in a slow or romantic mood.. In April 1988—two months before their graduation—Olivier and Melinda were married in Budapest. A few months later, they made their professional debut at the old Hansa Theater in Hamburg, Germany.

In January 1988, Olivier & Melinda presented their brand-new act at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris. Although they didn't win a medal, they caught the attention of the Big Apple Circus's talent scouts, who invited them to join the circus's resident company in the United States. A year later, they made their debut as part of the Big Apple Circus's summer tour.

Olivier & Melinda stayed at the Big Apple Circus until 1992, participating in company ensembles. They performed their acrobatic adagioAcrobatic act, generally involving a man and a woman, presented in a slow or romantic mood. as well as a teeterboardA seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air. duet. They separated at the end of the 1992 summer tour. Olivier returned to France, where he became a flying-trapeze catcherIn an acrobatic or a flying act, the person whose role is to catch acrobats that have been propelled in the air. in the groundbreaking and successful aerial show, Les Arts-Sauts. Melinda, a versatile acrobat, remained in the Big Apple Circus's resident company until 1998, appearing in an astonishing variety of acrobatic acts, before moving on to explore other opportunities.

See Also

Image Gallery

  • Olivier & Melinda (1991)

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