Happy 25th Birthday to Cirque and its stilt-walking record try

Cirque du Soleil performers attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people to simultaneously walk on stilts in celebration of the troupe’s 25th anniversary.

By Robin Leach · June 17, 2009 · 9:43 AM

*Check out this story with a photo gallery at VegasDeLuxe.com.*

It will be some time before the auditors at the Guinness Book of World Records rule on yesterday’s attempt by Cirque du Soleil performers to break their own stilt-walking record. Cirque performers in five cities -- Orlando, Fla.; Moscow; Montreal; Macau; and of course Las Vegas -- hoped for a turnout of 1,300 participants across the globe, but only required 625 to stay aloft on the stilts to claim a new world record.

It was no easy task on the Strip, which was renamed Cirque du Soleil Boulevard for the simultaneous 25th anniversary celebrations of the entertainment company. Here 154 stilt-walkers who didn’t fall were counted for the record of the 295 who participated.

Carmen Ruest, one of Cirque’s original members for 25 years, is now a creative director here and led the local performers in the stilt-walking attempt. Contributing photographer Erik Kabik had his feet on the ground to capture the Guinness Book attempt, and my gossip guru pal Norm Clarke was one of the official witnesses for the record-breaking attempt.

The actual 25th anniversary of Cirque is today, so all of us at Vegas DeLuxe add our “Happy Birthday” greetings.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground. Read more of Robin's stories at VegasDeLuxe.com.

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