LAS VEGAS — Sarah Guyard-Guillot, 31, an aerial performer in Cirque du Soleil’s Ka at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, died June 29 after a fall during a battle scene late in the show. The production stopped after the accident and the show has been put on hold until further notice. Audience members said the performer fell more than 50 feet into the production’s pit, which is hidden from the audience’s view.
Guyard-Guillot, who was rushed to University Medical Center, reportedly died at 11:43 p.m. Originally from Paris, she had been performing acrobatic feats for more than 22 years and was the mother of two children. She had been performing with the cast of Ka since 2006.
“I wish to extend my sincerest sympathies to the family,” said Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte in a press statement. “We are all completely devastated with this news. We are reminded, with great humility and respect, how extraordinary our artists are each and every night. Our focus now is to support each other as a family.”
It was the first time since Cirque du Soleil was founded in 1994 for a performer to die from an accident during a performance, according to reports.
