Erika Lemay (born 23 March 1983, Quebec, Canada) is a Canadian artist, aerial dancer, actress, and author. She is a show director specialized in luxury events, and creator of Physical Poetry.[1]
Erika Lemay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 23 March 1983 Quebec, Canada |
| Known for | theatrical interpretation, dance, aerial acrobatics and contortion |
| Website | erikalemay |
Biography
editLemay began ballet when she was four years old. She was a gymnast until the age of 11, when she became the youngest member of Cirque Eos, a Canadian circus company. At the age of 14, she performed for the first time in Europe in "La Piste aux Espoirs", Belgium's International Circus Festival, winning the gold medal and the Public's Choice Award. This boosted her international career, touring Canada, US, Europe, Middle and South America with international circuses. In 2003, Lemay became a freelance artist, presenting at various international events.[2][3][4][5]
Lemay is also an inspirational speaker[6] and Arts Ambassador for the nonprofit organization "Thinking ahead".[7]
In 2020, Lemay staged Aerial models for Valentino.[8] In 2021, she published a book titled Almost Perfect: The Life Guide to Creating Your Success Story Through Passion and Fearlessness.
In March 2022, Lemay made an appearance in the spin-off America’s Got Talent: Extreme,[9] winning Unanimous Golden Buzzer for her act and becoming a Grand-Finalist.[10]
LEMAlab
editLemay is the founder of health and wellness company LEMAlab. The company features a supplement line for physical artists and joint health.[11] After having suffered a serious shoulder injury, doctors told Lemay it was the end of her career. She made a full recovery and returned to perform. That inspired her to start the company.
Physical Poetry
editPhysical Poetry is an art form created and performed by Lemay in theaters.[12] The art form is a physical language created from the fusion between acrobatics, aerial arts, dance, and theater.[13]
Performances
editPerformances by Lemay include:
- Inauguration of new Milano Malpensa Airport – MilanoExpo2015[14]
- Venice Film Festival 66th at Quintessentially VIP Terrace with Douglas Kirkland[15]
- Venice Film Festival 70th at Spazio Cinecittà Luce, Soundtrack Stars Awards opening ceremony[16]
- Royal Albert Hall in London, Varekai Red carpet by Cirque du Soleil
- Marlborough House in London at Ark Fundraising, with Prince.
- Opening ceremony of the International Autodrome Ferrari in Imola, Italy
- FIBA 2010 Basket World Championship Opening by Cirque du Soleil at Arena Istanbul.[17]
- 10th Monte Carlo Film Festival ceremony awards.
- TV movie The Half Brother, NRK[18]
On Cirque du Soleil special events
editErika Lemay appears as guest star of Cirque du Soleil in different events,[19][20] including:
- Press launches of Alegria, Varekai and Quidam
- World Premiere of Worlds Away 3D at Tokyo International Film Festival
- Pan American Games Opening Ceremony[21]
- Ritz-Carlton Montreal 100th Anniversary[22]
Awards and recognitions
edit- Golden Circus in Roma
- Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris
- Festival International du Cirque de Massy
- Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo[23]
- 1st Planetary Carnival of Stage Direction in St.Petersburg
- Nominated as the Queen of Circus by Vanity Fair[24]
- Portrayed in video Objet de Desir by Hollywood icon maker Douglas Kirkland.[25]
Publications
edit- Almost Perfect: The Life Guide to Creating Your Success Story Through Passion and Fearlessness
- Physical Poetry Alphabet: Starring Erika Lemay
References
edit- ^ "Canadian 'queen of circus' comes to town". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Queen of circus dazzles bangkok with acrobatic artistry". www.bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "Le acrobazie di Erika La regina del circo – la Repubblica.it". Archivio – la Repubblica.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "Poetry in Motion – thế giới nửa thật, nửa mơ của Trần Việt Hà". Harper's Bazaar Việt Nam (in Vietnamese). 7 January 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "Erika Lemay: Svoje tijelo dovodim do ruba izdržljivosti i u tome uživam!". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "Incontro con Erika Lemay | Il Libro della Vita". www.librodellavita.net. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Lemay, erika (5 July 2016), Erika Lemay Senato della Repubblica speech extract, retrieved 13 June 2017
- ^ "Fashion Film: Valentino A/W 20 Haute Couture | SHOWstudio". www.showstudio.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ Watch America's Got Talent: Extreme Highlight: Golden Buzzer: Erika Lemay Shocks the Judges with Amazing Suspended Aerial Silks | AGT: Extreme 2022 - NBC.com, 15 March 2022, retrieved 13 May 2022
- ^ "AGT Extreme 5th Judge: Meaningless Golden Buzzer Sets Up Extremely Messy Finale, Winner Crowned". Toofab. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Get to know Erika Lemay, AGT Extreme's Golden Buzzer act". Reality Titbit. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Erika Lemay: genio e regolatezza". Glamour.it (in Italian). 26 September 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
"Poesia fisica" – un'arte al confine tra contorsionismo, danza e teatro che lei stessa ha fondato a 19 anni quando ha lasciato le compagnie circensi per diventare freelance. Un'arte per cui è ricercata ovunque: dalla Mostra del Cinema di Venezia allo show di apertura delle Olimpiadi di Londra, a party privati per Madonna o i Clinton.
- ^ "Interview: The Alphabet Poetically Reimagined with the Dynamic Human Body". My Modern Met. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ Milan Airports (27 April 2015), Cerimonia di inaugurazione Malpensa per EXPO 2015 con Erika Lemay, retrieved 13 June 2017
- ^ "66th Venice film Festival". Erika Lemay. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Erika Lemay (17 May 2014), 70th Venice film festival, retrieved 13 June 2017
- ^ Erika Lemay (24 September 2010), Cirque du Soleil at FIBA opening ceremony with Erika Lemay, retrieved 13 June 2017
- ^ "Erika Lemay". Zoomaa. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
I was watching an episode the Norwegian TV series The Half Brother. She appeared in a short sequence as a "Chocolate Girl" and as an aerial acrobat.
- ^ "iT's Tissue, serata esclusiva con gli artisti del Cirque du Soleil – ADC Group". www.adcgroup.it (in Italian). Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Lemay, erika (12 February 2012), Rose d'Or Cique du Soleil, retrieved 19 June 2017
- ^ "Exclusive: Backstage Pass to Pan Am Games Make-up". Make-Up Artist Magazine. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
(...) Satina (modeled after surrealist interpretations of Aphrodite and performed by Erika Lemay)
- ^ MONTREAL, RITZ-CARLTON. "Ritz-Carlton Montreal Celebrates 100th Anniversary with Star-Studded Gala". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "36th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo". VisitMonaco. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ Chan, Edith. "Celebrities". www.edithc.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
Edith has styled for the World Acclaimed Performer Erika Lemay nominated by Vanity Fair as "New Queen of Circus" at the Fine Art Photograpahy "Poetry in Motion" project.
- ^ Lemay, erika (31 January 2012), Objet de Désir, retrieved 12 June 2017