saltimbanco cirque du soleil Saltimbanco Cirque du Soleil Import VHS video, unopened, circus Saltimbanco is a touring show by Cirque du Soleil, which closed at the end of 2012. The name "Saltimbanco" comes from the ancient Italian "saltare in banco," meaning "to jump on a bench." Cirque du Soleil is an entertainment group based in Quebec, Canada, founded in 1984. Cirque du Soleil, meaning "Circus of the Sun," provides circus entertainment loved around the world. Saltimbanco premiered in Turkey and Ukraine in 2011, and in Slovakia and Amman, Jordan in 2012. The final performance was held in Montreal on December 30, 2012, attracting 14 million spectators in 200 cities worldwide.