Acrobatic performer Sarah Guyard-Guillot plunged 50 feet to her death Saturday night during the final act of Cirque du Soleil’s lavish production of ‘Ka’ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Audience member Dan Mosqueda provided this eyewitness report, “The artist was being hoisted up the side of the stage and then just plummeted down. Initially, a lot of people in the audience thought it was part of the choreographed fight. But you could hear screaming, then groaning, and we could hear a female artist crying from the stage.”
The 31-year-old aerialist, who also worked with children at Cirquefit training camps, was pronounced dead at 11:43 p.m. on June 29 at University Medical Center, according to the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
She was a graduate of Annie Fratellini Art & Circus Academy and had been performing with the popular Las Vegas show since it opened in 2006. She is survived by two children.
MGM Grand issued this statement: “Our company is deeply saddened by the loss of one of the talented ‘Ka’ artists Saturday night. The thoughts and prayers of our employees are with the performer’s family, the cast of ‘Ka’ and the entire Cirque family during this difficult time.”
It is the first death of a cast member during Cirque’s 30-year history. According to show officials, performances of ‘Ka’ have been suspended indefinitely.
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