Cirque du Soleil and the Foundation: 25 years of creativity

This article is adapted from the fifth edition of the Foundation’s magazine.

The 25th edition of the Bal des Grands Cœurs will be held on September 4, 2025, at Bonsecours Market. The event will also mark a quarter century of partnership between the artists at Cirque du Soleil and the experts at the Montreal Heart Institute. 

Daniel Lamarre is the former President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil and is currently Executive Vice Chair of the board of the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. He is also Chair of the Board of the MHI Foundation. He spoke to us about the inherent connection between artistic and scientific creativity.

When Daniel joined Cirque du Soleil in 2001, he had already been a member of the MHI Foundation’s board of directors for seven years. The commitment was a natural fit for him. "Many of my relatives have had heart disease: my mom, my dad, my son, some uncles and aunts. When something affects you personally, you feel compelled to volunteer and raise money for the cause. There’s an extra motivation there. An unwavering resolve that never fades," he said.

When he started his career at Cirque du Soleil, he also happened to be head of the MHI Foundation’s marketing committee, which was working on the idea of organizing a grand ball. "France Chrétien Desmarais, Gaétan Frigon, and I decided it would be a good idea to stage a public event that would bring together donors and healthcare staff. We also wanted a way to raise the profile of the Foundation. We hoped to make the Bal des Grands Cœurs the kickoff event of Montreal’s fall season. That meant we had to create something really special and unique. We achieved this by adding a standout performance that infused the event with artistic flair and made it distinctly vibrant," he said.

Circus arts, and their playful, dreamlike, and immersive expressivity, have the power to transcend the intense emotions associated with something like this. We asked Daniel to tell us how the entertainment provided by the Cirque has impacted the event’s philanthropic efforts and goal of raising awareness about cardiovascular disease. "It’s all about emotionality. The emotional response associated with this cause is tremendous. And the artistic facet is designed to convey these emotions in an appropriately powerful way that surpasses words. That’s why I believe there’s an intrinsic connection between the two," he added.

Daniel also believes that the partnership has grown stronger in the past 25 years. "In the beginning, the Foundation would simply ask the Cirque to put on a show, and they would. But over the years, the team at the Cirque has become more emotionally invested. Today, they feel a deep sense of commitment to the MHI. It fuels their artistic spirit. There has been a progressively greater alignment between their performance and the event itself."

Isabelle Rousseau is Director of Events at the Foundation and has been involved in organizing the Bal for the past 18 years. She believes the fruitful collaboration between the Cirque and the Institute is the result of a one-of-a-kind partnership. "For the past three years, there has been a major shift in the relationship between our creative teams. Previous performances were taken from the Cirque’s existing shows. Today, they are completely unique. From the get-go, we work to showcase our cause, the very core of our mission, to create this pivotal, highly anticipated moment in a way that reflects what we do at the MHI. When the performance begins, everyone falls silent. It's a highly emotional experience that will later lead to some meaningful interactions and conversations. Circus arts are an exceptional vehicle and a powerful way to forge ties. We are incredibly lucky to have such a profoundly enriching partnership. It’s very rare that this happens and we treasure it," she said.

At first glance, arts and sciences might seem as different as oil and water. But both are driven by a momentum to move forward in tandem. "Thanks to my work with the Foundation and my career, I’m able to appreciate the creative processes behind both artistic creation and scientific work," said Daniel. "In both fields, it all starts with a goal. For the Cirque, it’s about creating an innovative performance that pushes boundaries. For the scientific research projects carried out at the MHI, it’s about developing innovative ways to improve practices. I think research and exploration are at the heart of both. Even though they differ vastly, they share a constant, vital willingness to innovate. A desire to do more, to do better. To explore uncharted territory propelled by an insatiable curiosity."

In that same vein, Isabelle believes that both modes of expression—artistic and scientific—draw their energy from the same source. "It boils down to the same thing: it’s a shared stance, a perspective, a desire to push the limits and find ways to succeed. Because we are focused on innovation, the MHI appeals to organizations that, like the Cirque, are motivated by the desire to change lives either through art or science. We are naturally connected because we strive toward the same ideals," she said.

Cirque du Soleil, a beloved institution in Quebec, shines brightly on the international stage thanks to its unique innovative force. Daniel believes the same is true for the MHI. "Over the years, the Institute has built an outstanding global reputation for excellence. It has become a leader and an example in its field thanks to its ability to break new ground and make advances in cardiovascular medicine. I recently visited the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, a teaching hospital that was named the world’s best hospital by Newsweek in 2024. During the tour, every time we stopped at a new department, the physician who was taking me around would tell me, ‘We’re the best in this field.’ But when we got to cardiology, he said, ‘I’m going to be honest and tell you that everything here was invented by the Montreal Heart Institute. That’s the creative hub in cardiology.’ I believe that’s undeniable proof of the unique spot the MHI occupies in the global community," he said.

But what about his collaboration with the Bal des Grands Cœurs? What fills him with the most pride? His response, like the arts that are his passion, is both moving and surprising: "Physicians are often quite modest and won’t say what I’m about to say. When I visited the MHI for the first time in 1997, I was struck by an emotion that was both simple and profound. It was the knowledge that this was a place that saved lives. When I see someone discharged from the MHI, someone who is on the road to recovery, someone who now has a better quality of life, I’m extremely proud. That’s what the healthcare staff at the MHI do every day."

Through his words, conveyed with sensitivity and an ability to express the full depth of reality, a gift reserved for the true artists of this world, Daniel has shone a spotlight on the immense and vital work that occurs day in, day out at the MHI. Renewed proof that the collaboration between the Cirque and the Foundation is greater than the sum of its parts.

If Isabelle’s could speak, here’s what it would say:

"I am extremely proud to work for this world-renowned institution and organize events that reflect the creative vision of our teams. It’s an honour to collaborate with devoted colleagues to change the future of cardiovascular medicine. I am continuously inspired by the passion and ambition of these exceptional people."