Cirque du Soleil Artist Killed in Fall from Stage

From the Las Vegas Sun:

Sarah Guyard-Guillot, an artist in "Ka" at MGM Grand and a mother of two young children, was killed Saturday night after a fall from the show's stage at MGM Grand. The Clark County Coroner's Office said this afternoon that Guyard-Guillot, 31, was pronounced dead at 11:43 p.m. Saturday at University Medical Center.

No formal cause of death has been determined pending further examination of Guyard-Guillot's body. She was born in Paris and had spent more than 22 years as an acrobatic performer. She was a graduate of Anne Fratellini Art & Circus Academy, named for the famed French circus clown and actress. The official website for Cirqeufit, where Guyard-Guillot served as a coach, said she was an acrobatic and aerialist specialist. She was hired by "Ka" as the production opened at MGM Grand in 2004.

Also this afternoon, MGM Resorts International, Cirque's artistic and business partner in Las Vegas, issued a statement about the tragedy:

"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."