page_title: Culture of Quebec
section_title: Circus Arts
hierarchical_section_title: Culture of Quebec / Creative arts / Circus Arts
caption_attribution_description: A free outdoor performance by Cirque du Soleil, under the Dufferin-Montmorency highway in Quebec City Everything was in French and I totally did not understand a single word. The performances were great though! Quebec City, Quebec
context_page_description: The culture of Quebec emerged over the last few hundred years, resulting predominantly from the shared history of the French-speaking North American majority in Quebec. It is noteworthy in the Western World; Quebec is the only region in North America with a French-speaking majority, as well as one of only two provinces in Canada where French is a constitutionally recognized official language. For historical and linguistic reasons, Francophone Quebec also has cultural links with other North American and Caribbean French-speaking communities, particularly with the Acadians of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Franco-Ontarian communities in Eastern Ontario and Haiti; to a lesser extent with Martinique and French-Canadian communities of Northern Ontario and Western Canada and the Cajun French revival movements in Louisiana, United States. There is also a large Celtic influence with immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. As of 2006, 79% of all Quebecers list French as their mother tongue; since French is the official language in the province, up to 95% of all residents speak French.
context_section_description: Quebec has carved a niche for itself in the field of Circus arts, where it emphasizes the European tradition of circus.
  The Cirque du Soleil circus troupe is known for its artistic productions with rich musical scores. Its productions include Varekai, Dralion, Alegría, Corteo, KOOZA, Quidam, Kà, Zumanity, Love, Mystère and O, which is performed on a water platform. It is one of the world's few circuses without animal performers. Other internationally successful troupes include Cirque Éloize and Cirque ÉOS.
  Cavalia, a Shawinigan-based horse show, has, since 2003, gained massive popularity in Montreal and Los Angeles. It features both acrobatic and equestrian arts. All of the horses are male, most of which are stallions.
caption: An outdoor performance by Cirque du Soleil in Quebec City.
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