More than imagination, showmanship or technical mastery, it is Franco Dragone's innate curiosity that can be credited for some of the most spectacular shows ever staged. The Italian-born Dragone has been fascinated by culture and music since childhood, after his family moved to Belgium so his parents could work in the country's coal mines.
"I am always intrigued by people around the world - their lives, what they encounter in the outside world every day, and what they feel and think within," he says. "By digging into human nature, people's actions, reasons and emotions, and then expressing these in ways as far as creativity and imagination take me, a show with extraordinary power naturally evolves."
Dragone worked in the theatre and performing arts in Belgium and Canada before attracting the attention of Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté. In the ensuing 12 years, he developed and directed the group's groundbreaking blend of dance, acrobatics and circus arts in such shows as Saltimbanco, Mystère and Quidam.
Since leaving Cirque du Soleil to set up his own company in Belgium, 12 years ago, Dragone has created Le Rêve at the Wynn Las Vegas, Celine Dion's tour A New Day, and Taboo and The House of Dancing Water in Macau.
"With time and experience I evolve," says Dragone, whose favourite show is always "the next one". "I see things differently, so I want my next show to be impacted by these changes. I want every project to be a unique experience for the spectators, and every next project to be a new stage of my own development as an artist."
A key element in any show is timing. "To play with the imagination of someone, you need to help and support this person by framing the usage of time and timing," Dragone says. "From an operational standpoint, the efforts I ask of the teams I work with require a perfect respect of time and timing. This is a constant professional disciplinary and golden rule."
In his own life, the frequent traveller takes his cue from another iconic artist. "I have learned from the wise Leonardo da Vinci that 'time stays long enough for anyone who will use it'," he says. "So my way of managing my time is just that - to use it."
The award-winning showman also sees time as relative. "On one hand we are regulated by nature and its seasons, on the other hand there are emotions and imaginations that can free us, instantly, from our clocks and watches," he says. "Sometimes we need to let ourselves be subdued by time, humbled by the nature, and there, a different freedom may be found."