ERIKA LEMAY
Show Creator | Sky Dancer | Health Ambassador | Author
Canadian-born Erika Lemay has become a beautifully disruptive icon in the world of live performance, using her body in ways that defy both gravity and human possibilities. Her journey has taken her from her first ballet class at the age of four to worldwide success and accolades.
As the creator of Physical Poetry, Erika believes that ‘Poetry doesn’t have to be expressed with words’. Her TV performances have been seen by more than 400 million viewers worldwide, and her talent has been featured in international media, including Vanity Fair, Glamour Magazine, Hello Magazine, Le Figaro and La Repubblica. She has performed extensively as a soloist guest star with Cirque du Soleil whilst developing the unique artistic language for which she is famous today.
Every show is literally a life defying moment – and she makes it look easy.
Vanity Fair Italy nominated Erika as the New Queen of Circus in an interview featuring exclusive pictures by legendary photographer and Hollywood icon-maker Douglas Kirkland, whose latest book Physical Poetry Alphabet is a tribute to Erika’s work.
Already an authority in the world of high-end events, Erika draws upon two decades of expertise to create bespoke shows for the most exclusive special events scene around the planet. In 2021, she launched LEMAlab™ featuring a supplement line specifically created for physical artists. In 2022, Erika makes a triumphal appearance in the spin-off America’s Got Talent: Extreme, earning the first and only Unanimous Golden Buzzer by all Judges and Host as well as becoming a Grand-Finalist.
Her first book Almost Perfect has recently been published worldwide.
“Through her limitless body, she has the power and sensibility to express a poetry in motion”
Biography
Erika Lemay was born in Quebec, Canada. She began her extraordinary journey through the art of dance with her first ballet class at the young age of 4.
After a short career in conventional gymnastics, she found her passion as a performing circus artist by the age of 11, soon becoming the youngest and most prominent member of Cirque Eos.
At 14, Erika attended her first European performance at Belgium's international circus festival ‘La Piste aux Espoirs’. Her performance marked a stunning start to her international career, winning her the Public's Choice Award and the Gold Medal. Other tours with major international circuses were to follow—in Canada, the USA, Europe, and Central and South America. Erika's wonderful family believed in her dreams and supported her throughout.
In 2003, Erika became a freelance artist, receiving awards from most prestigious world-class festivals and building a successful career in the niche market of exclusive events worldwide.
Since 2012, she creates, directs and produces bespoke shows on stage and on screen, narrating other peoples’ visions through Physical Poetry.
When not touring for worldwide performances or artistic directions, Erika endeavours to inspire a new generation to develop their full potential through the Arts. She currently holds the honorary position of Arts Ambassador for the cultural foundation Pensare Oltre.
Experience
With guest-appearances on many TV shows worldwide to highlight her talent, Erika has starred in world class events on the most prestigious stages. She has performed and directed as a Guest of Honour in Private Galas for VIPs, moguls, celebrities and royal families, and in Special Events for world leading companies. Some highlights are:
America’s Got Talent: Extreme, Unanimous Golden Buzzer by all Judges and Host as well as becoming a Grand-Finalist. United States
Valentino Haute Couture live aerial fashion show, model and artistic director, Italy
TRANSFIGURATION, music video for Sven Helbig’s new album SKILLS, director and producer.
The short-film MEMORY as a director, writer and actor
The Diriyah Season, Saudi Arabia, artistic director Physical Poetry performances
Tiffany & Co. opening ceremony of their largest boutique in Europe, Milan
Under the honorary presidency of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Monaco Disease Power 10th anniversary
Guest of Honour at the Screen and Sound Fest, Krakow
Flying by the iconic Burj Khalifa for Hermès Dubai
New Milano Malpensa Airport official inauguration after massive renovation for MilanoExpo2015
Frankfurt Stadium Kommerzbank Arena as the Flying Juliet at 30 metres high
70th Venice Film Festival at Spazio Cinecittà Luce, opening Soundtrack Stars Awards ceremony debuting her new creation HOPE
66th Venice Film Festival at Quintessentially VIP Terrace with Douglas Kirkland
Marlborough House in London at Ark Fundraising, along with world renowned singer Prince. The event – sponsored by Bill Clinton, Madonna and other celebrities – raised an astonishing £28.1 million.
Royal Albert Hall in London for Varekai Red Carpet by Cirque du Soleil, along with CEO & President Daniel Lamarre
Grand Opening of renewed La Mamounia in Marrakech by Cirque du Soleil (Only soloist apart from tenor José Carreras).
Forest National in Brussels for Franco Dragone’s All-Stars Christmas show Kdo (Only guest artist, with two different acts)
National Theatre in Oslo in front of Queen Sonja & King Harald V of Norway for the 100th Anniversary of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Google Zeitgeist at The Grove London, courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, hosted by Google founder Larry Page, with London Mayor Boris Johnson and World Wide Web Inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee. Nobel Prize winners:Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Daniel Kahneman and Kary Mullis
Peggy Guggenheim Collection museum in Venezia for San Pellegrino 75th Anniversary Gala
Drama Theatre Kaliningrad for Baltic Seasons Arts Festival 10th
Opening ceremony of the renewed International Autodrome E.& D. Ferrari in Imola, Italy
La Salle des Etoiles of Sporting Club Monte-Carlo for Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year award
The Peninsula Bangkok 10th Anniversary on behalf of UNICEF, chaired by former Prime Minister of Thailand H.E. Anand Panyarachun
Ritz Carlton Doha for Qatar Business Women Award under auspices of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Misnad
FIBA Basketball World Cup Opening by Cirque du Soleil at Arena Istanbul hosted by the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Google Zeitgeist in Scottsdale AZ courtesy of Cirque du Soleil (with CEO Eric Schmidt launching Google Me)
Launch of new TV Channel Medi 1 TV (Morocco) hosted by President Abbas Azzouzi and Minister Khalid Naciri
10th Monte Carlo Film Festival ceremony awards at Salle des Princes of Grimaldi Forum
Almere Arena in Amsterdam for Unive Gym Gala (16th & 17th editions) with London 2012 & Beijng 2008Olympics gymnastics medallists
Palazzo Pisani Moretta in Venezia for Ballo del Doge 20th Anniversary
400th Anniversary of Quebec City at Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. by the Smithsonian Institution.
375th Lévis Celebrations Canada Culture Capital performing with Lévis Symphonic Orchestra, Marie-Josée Lord & Jorane
Globe Energy Award, Vienna, Austria
Festival Awards
Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo (Only Artist featured in two distinct solo acts)
Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris
Golden Circus in Roma
1st Planetary Carnival of Stage Direction in St.Petersburg (Only Artist featured in two distinct soloist acts)
Festival International du Cirque de Massy
La Piste aux Espoirs in Tournai, Belgium (aged 14)
For Cirque du Soleil
Press Launches of Quidam in São Paulo; Alegria in Seoul, Taipei and Dubai; and Varekai in Taipei and London
World Premiere of James Cameron’s movie Worlds Away 3D at Tokyo International Film Festival
With an audience of 400 million, Erika Lemay took a leading role in the PANAM Games Opening Ceremony,Cirque du Soleil’s largest event ever.
Ritz Carlton Montreal 100th Anniversary, hosted by T.R.H. Brian Mulroney former Canadian Prime Minister in front of T.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, inaugurating the Royal Suite renamed Suite Grimaldi
Homage by Cirque du Soleil to CEO & President Daniel Lamarre at Grand Bal des Vins-Coeur in Montreal
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America’s Got Talent EXTREME, Grand-Finalist and Unanimous Golden Buzzer by all judges.
Golden Jubilee 50th Rose d’Or (world entertainment television award) in Luzern (CH) at Concert Hall KKL
Chocolate Girl in the multi awarded TV movie Halvbroren for NRK, where Erika Lemay acts in Norwegian, directed by Per Olav Sørensen
The Supannahong (Award of National Film Association of Thailand) in Bangkok
The Golden Kinnaree Award of Bangkok International Film Festival chaired by H.R.H. Ubolratana Rajakanya, Princess of Thailand
The Best: Le Meilleur Artiste, Paris, TF1
La France a un Incroyable Talent, M6
Sports Awards, Switzerland, broadcast on SRF 1
Bombardier Business jet advertising
Miracle Korea TV show, JTCB Network, Seoul, Korea
Speaking Engagements
Soul Warriors, Palazzo dei Congressi di Riccione, Italy
Lean Lifestyle® Executive Master, 2016,2017,2018, Italy
Glamour Beauty Show, international speakers’ panel
Il Libro della Vita, Florence, Italy
Femmes Inspirantes, Délégation du Québec à Rome, Italy
Ritratti di Poesia, Rome, Italy
Gala Daniela Dessì, broadcast on Rai 5, Carlo Felice Theatre, Genova, Italy
Arts Ambassador, Non-Profit Pensare Oltre, Milan, Italy
Monaco Disease Power, in front of Albert II Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Monte-Carlo
The Senate of the Italian Republic, Rome, Italy