Its theatrical, character-driven approach and the absence of performing animals helped define Cirque du Soleil as the contemporary circus ('nouveau cirque') that it remains today. Their first official production Le Grand Tour du Cirque du Soleil was a success in 1984, and after securing a second year of funding, Laliberté hired Guy Caron from the National Circus School to recreate it as a 'proper circus'. Their initial financial hardship was relieved in 1983 by a government grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to perform as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations of Jacques Cartier's voyage to Canada. Originating as a performing troupe called Les Échassiers ( IPA: 'The Stilt Walkers'), they toured Quebec in various forms between 19. Located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul on 16 June 1984 by former street performers Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix.

Cirque du Soleil ( French:, Quebec 'Circus of the Sun' or 'Sun Circus') is a Canadian entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world.