Gracie Valdez, Artistic Director, Cirque du Soleil’s “Luzia,” who grew up in Vienna, Va.
Gracie Valdez, Artistic Director of Luzia for just over two years, is happy to be back in the area. Valdez moved to Vienna when she was 8-years-old and grew up there. She says she got her start in the world of drama as a dancer. She performed in the performing arts center in middle school and taught dance in high school. Then attended George Mason University. “Dancing was my entry into this world.
“At that point I knew I wasn’t a performer. I knew my own strength. I’m better on this side, managing people. I’ve had some beautiful mentors and learned to utilize my organization and project management.”
Valdez has been with “Luzia” off and on for the last nine years and with Cirque du Soleil for 16 years working on other Cirque du Soleil shows. She says her job as Artistic Director gives her responsibility for the overall quality of the show. “I am responsible for everything, and to make sure people are motivated in the right way.” She says she has done over 2,500 shows and, of course, things can happen. “People get sick and also we use a lot of technology. I have a beautiful team but sometimes technology doesn’t want to behave. I’m a problem solver.”
She says this job is a lifelong dream. “I grew up attending Cirque du Soleil shows, even in California before we moved here. I am a massive fan. When I understood I could work here, I knew I was the luckiest person in the world.”
Valdez says she was here 7 years ago with Luzia but selfishly she is happy to return to share it with the next generation. I am excited to be back here. My friends saw the show but now their kids are old enough to come. I want to share it with them, too.”
Her favorite scene in Luzia is just before the final bow to the audience. “It has the full cast on stage and is very emotional. I nearly cry every time I see it.” She says,”Being outside you would never guess what it is like inside the tent. People come to the circus to escape.”