About The Webinar

TheatreArtLife and Project LUMIÈRE Project join forces to explore the subject of motivation.

Motivation is what helps people think, move and develop.  Everyone experiences motivation on a daily basis as it is an integral part of who we are as human beings. Facilitated by Emanuel Bochud, join the panelists to discover different initiatives designed to better understand and increase motivation, ways to better adapt, navigate and guide ourselves, and most importantly behaviours that promote well-being and the well-being of those close to us.

Join the live conversation between former Cirque du Soleil Artists Laura-Ann Chong and Andy Buchanan, TheatreArtLife's Anna Robb and Jean-Paul Richard from Project LUMIÈRE Project to share their perspective and approach, and help us understand how we can maintain our motivation through these unprecedented times and as the world emerges from isolation. 

Registration and attendance is FREE. 
If you cannot attend the live event, please register and you will receive a replay link within 24 hours of event. 

ABOUT THE PANELISTS: 
Emmanuel Bochud
A graduate of the Université du Québec à Montréal (B.A. in animation et recherche culturelles), Emmanuel Bochud began his circus career performing on the streets of Quebec and worked for a variety of top-notch circus companies and festivals. This fed his other growing interest: circus as a tool for social action. He has since developed multiple projects drawing on circus arts to facilitate social change.
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For over 20 years, Emmanuel travelled the world as a trainer with Cirque du Soleil’s social intervention program Cirque du Monde. He has since held numerous roles within the organization, including Head of the Cirque du Monde training program. Working in that capacity, he oversaw the strategic deployment of training programs as well as the development of educational tools.
He then became Senior Advisor in organizational development at Transat (A.T) in the airline industry, building a training program for high potential leaders.
 
He is currently Senior Advisor, social innovation and training at the CRITAC (Center for Circus Arts Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer) linked with the National Circus School of Montréal.

Andy Buchanan
Andy Buchanan is currently a Professional Skater with Dancing on Ice. He was an artist on Cirque Du Soleil's Axel and a pair skater on Cirque Du Soleil’s first ice show, Crystal. Before joining Cirque, Andy and his wife Robin were the Stars of Holiday on Ice's Believe.  Andy started his career with Disney on Ice where he was a principal performer in a number of different productions from 1999-2012, best known for his portrayal of Aladdin. In 2012 Andy and Robin performed with The Boston Pops Symphony and Itzhak Perlman in the award-winning show A Night of Boston University. From 2012-2014 Andy went on to skate as a Professional on the hit UK television show Torvill and Dean’s Dancing on Ice.  In 2014 he toured the UK with, The Dancing on Ice Final Tour.  In 2013-2014 he also toured the U.K. with The Professionals on Ice. In 2015 Andy and his wife Robin had the amazing opportunity to skate the Phantom Pair in Bietak Productions Broadway on Ice in Muscat, Oman. Andy and Robin were asked by 1984 Olympic Champion, Christopher Dean, to star in his modern-day Romeo and Juliet story, Believe, with Holiday On Ice which ran from 2015-2017. Andy and Robin had the unique privilege of Performing in the Arena De Verona, in Italy, with Intimissimi On Ice” as one of the Principle Pair teams, along-side Evgeni Plushenko, Stephane Lambiel, Carolina Kostner, and the incomparable Andrea Bocelli.
 
Andy also has experience on the other side of the curtain. He was a Line Captain and Pair Skating Coach for Disney on Ice. In 2016 he was Assistant Choreographer to Cindy Stuart on the Disney On Ice show, Follow Your Heart, and he assisted with casting for the film Sonia The White Swan. Most recently Andy was the Talent Scout for Ice Skating at Cirque Du Soleil. He continues to work with world level competitive skaters as coach and choreographer. Most recently Andy cofounded Creative Athletic Performance.
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Laura-Ann Chong
Enthusiastic about connecting artists with their audiences and championing athletes’ rights, Chong’s passions naturally extend from her experience as a professional performer, a former elite gymnast, and her on-going efforts with community involvement. 

Chong worked both under the spotlight as an acrobat and behind-the-scenes in public relations during her seven years with Cirque du Soleil. As chair of the tour's Social Committee, improving tour morale and employee connectivity were both high priorities. During the pandemic, Chong partnered with former colleagues to co-found the Projet Lumiére Project.
 
Starting at the age of two, Chong vaulted into competitive gymnastics with flare. She balanced her physical training and academic pursuits to win an athletic scholarship for her undergraduate studies. Chong was named a two-time All-American gymnast, an alternate for the 2004 Canadian Olympic team and a NCAA PAC-10 Conference champion. During her stint on Amaluna, Chong discovered another passion for public relations while working behind the scenes for Cirque. 

Based in Vancouver, BC, Chong has worked in London, England, and toured with Cirque through North America, Europe and South America. She completed her bachelor's degree in Exercise & Sport Science with a minor in Psychology at Oregon State University. Chong is currently completing a Public Relations Certificate through Simon Fraser University.
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Jean-Paul Richard
Jean-Paul Richard was a Freestyle World Cup coach for several years. He helped develop and implement programs of excellence for coaches and athletes in Sweden, and led the Swedish National Mogul Ski Team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Back in Canada, he coached the Canadian Women's Freestyle Ski Team, where he developed and applied a coaching approach aimed at creating well-being and performance environments, enabling the Dufour-Lapointe sisters to win gold and silver medals at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. 

Following his Olympic successes, he moved into performance management, most notably as Manager of Team Services at the Canadian Olympic Committee, to share and participate in the successes of all sports in Canada. He also acquired experience through various management positions at Cirque du Soleil.

​​​​​​​Founder of TANGIBLE performance, it is in this spirit that Jean-Paul continues to share his experience and passion, with a particular interest in teaching principles of leadership, with the intention of sharing and teaching the skills of self-determination, promoting human and organizational development. 

Anna Robb​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Anna is an experienced Producer/Production Stage Manager. Her 20-year work history spans Asia Pacific, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. She has worked for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Franco Dragone Entertainment Group, Christie Digital Systems and The Sydney Opera House. Anna has managed teams on long and short term projects in a number of different cultures and countries and has experienced the effects of long hours and stress in the entertainment realm. Anna also teaches cross cultural communication at Hong Kong University. 

​​​​​​​Anna is also the Co-Founder and Managing Director for TheatreArtLife. Anna has lectured on Stage Management and given speeches on show creation, and is passionate about the evolution of the entertainment industry.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Time Zones: 
New York:   Tuesday 1 December 2020, 5:00pm
London:        Tuesday 1 December 2020, 10:00pm  
Dubai:            Wednesday 2 December 2020, 2:00am
New Delhi:  Wednesday 2 December 2020, 3:30am
​​​​​​​Hong Kong: Wednesday 2 December 2020, 6:00am
Sydney:          Wednesday 2 December 2020, 9:00am
Auckland:      Wednesday 2 December 2020, 11:00am

​​​​​​​REGISTRATION IS FREE
Remember, if you can't attend the live event, you can register and you will automatically receive a replay link post event. ​​​​​​​