The visionary director Franco Dragone has died at the age of 69. He was one of the masterminds behind the global success of Cirque du Soleil, mixing human performance, dance, the four elements of life, technology and music to create an artform that transcends language and other cultural barriers. His creative and philanthropic efforts have succeeded in thrilling audiences, inspiring artists and revitalising communities the world over.

Franco Dragone. Photo © Dragone

Dragone was born in the southern-Italian village of Cairano on 12 December, 1952. He moved to La Louvière in Belgium with his family at the age of six. In a web series titled Las Vegas Creators United, he recalled having no thoughts of making a living in the arts at that stage. “We never imagined in our family, that you could earn your [living] as jugglers in Saltimbanco or actors. In my family you need to have a tie – that’s why I don’t have ties … You need to have a very clear destination and destiny.”

Despite this, Dragone’s self-confessed fear of boredom prevented him from letting his creativity go to waste. Even as a child, his trademark...