Like Father Like Son

Today, fathers everywhere will be opening gifts from their children, going out to dinner with the family and receiving a good dose of appreciation just for being themselves.

In the spirit of Father's Day, we decided to explore the father-child bond -- Las Vegas style -- by talking to three pairs of performers. Two sets of the fathers and sons are in Cirque du Soleil shows, while the third is in the band of "Le Reve."

Did the relationships with the fathers have any effect on the career choices of the sons?

THE CYRS

Jean-Francois Cyr saw his father sporadically during his youth.

His parents divorced when he was a year old and his father, a pianist, traveled extensively to play gigs throughout Canada. But when Jean-Francois was a teenager, he saw his father perform onstage and attended a few gigs with him. That's all it took before Jean-Francois was hooked on music.

At 15, he picked up the guitar and now, at 32, he plays in the "Le Reve" band at Wynn Las Vegas, where his father, Michel Cyr, is band leader.

"It was a dream for me to work for him and to work for him is a dream," says Jean-Francois, himself a father of three. "When I was a kid, I didn't see him that much. It was a nice thing to finally know each other again."

Michel, 53, regrets not being able to spend a lot of time with his four sons when they were growing up, but he tried to make the most of every moment he did have with them. When he wasn't around, he made a point to send Jean-Francois sheet music.

To be able to work with his son and reconnect all these years later has been a gift to Michel.

"Oh boy, that was incredible," Michel says of being able to hire his son as a member of the band. "I said, 'Would you like to come work with your father in Las Vegas?' It was a silence at the end of the line. I had my heart in my throat and was actually crying. He said it changed his life."

Jean-Francois credits his father for giving him confidence and a passion for music.

"He always looked happy onstage. It made me want to do that," Jean-Francois says. "He always gave me strength and told me when you believe in something you can always achieve it. I watched him work really hard and his perseverance always impressed me. It was a good image to me."

Until recently, father and son had never played together. Now they're trying to put together another band just so they can.

When Jean-Francois joined the "Le Reve" band 2 years ago, Michel says he wasn't sure how to behave directing a family member. They agreed that, on the job, Jean-Francois would call him Michel instead of Dad.

A lot of people discouraged him from working with his son, but Michel says he had a good feeling about it.

"It's his first big break, now I see he belongs here," Michel says. "We get along so well. We are very lucky to work together and to do what we do."

THE DEWHURSTS

Nicky Dewhurst fell off of a roof and broke both wrists when he was 12.

The doctor said he'd probably never have complete range of motion again, recalls his father, Brian Dewhurst, a clown in "Mystere" at Treasure Island. So he taught him how to juggle and in the process, set him on the path of a clown.

It worked; the juggling helped rehabilitate his wrists and earn him his first gig shortly after.

Though Brian, 75, is a third generation circus performer, he didn't encourage his son to get into the business. But it was difficult to avoid it, because Nicky, 38, was surrounded by it when he was growing up in London.

Unlike a typical circus family, "Dad was home a lot," Nicky recalls. "We did everything as a unit."

They've worked together for 25 years clowning and doing other acts, such as tightrope walking. Up until last year, they even worked together in "Mystere." Now Nicky performs in "Zumanity" as a clown.

He credits his father with teaching him everything about performing, fatherhood and life. Nicky has two children and another on the way.

"They say you learn from your parents' mistakes. But there have been very few," Nicky says. "He's an amazing pillar of strength, a best friend. He's always been the person to turn to. I still do."

Brian started performing when he was 13 and he has traveled the world with the circus. People often ask him to recount his most exciting moment, but it's never a showbiz moment, he says. It is the births of his daughter and son.

Brian and Nicky rarely disagree about anything. In fact, Brian can recall only two times when he got angry with Nicky. One was when he put a trick in his act before it was ready. The other was when Nicky fell during a performance and tore his patella tendon because he was wearing a different costume than usual.

"I lost it because he ignored my fatherly advice" to be careful, Brian explains.

Brian adds he has loved being a father and teaching his son about the circus life, clowning and gymnastics. But over the years, he realized that the teaching and learning goes both ways.

"Even though I've been his mentor, Nicky is now as much a mentor to me," Brian says.

THE SALCEDOS

All his life, Seth Salcedo, 9, has watched his father, Matt, do gymnastics, first as a mascot for sports teams and most recently as a performer in Cirque du Soleil's "Ka" at the MGM Grand.

It seemed only natural that the son would want to be like his father, so it was no surprise when Seth started putting on his own shows at home.

"I would come home and he'd say, 'Dad, come watch me,' " Matt recalls.

Then, last year, a young boy was needed for the cast of Cirque du Soleil's "Love" at The Mirage. Seth auditioned and won the part.

"I feel not excited but really happy. If I didn't have this job I wouldn't be here right now," Seth says, making his father laugh.

Matt says he didn't encourage Seth to perform; rather, he was born for it.

"He's a perfect ham," Matt says.

Like father, like son.

Matt started cheerleading in high school, then got into gymnastics in college, when he worked as a mascot for the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. From there, he became a mascot for the L.A. Clippers basketball team while working for SeaWorld in San Diego.

In 2003, he did an audition tape for Cirque and was cast in "Ka."

He's visibly proud of the fact that Seth is taking after him; Matt says he would love for the two of them to perform together one day.

Fatherhood suits him, says Matt, who has a daughter as well.

"I thought it was going to be hard. You're not really prepared for it, not really ready for it until you have a child," he says.

Performing gives him a rare opportunity as a father to teach Seth some life lessons about following your dreams, working hard and honoring commitments. Recently, Seth scraped his knee; Matt told him that sometimes, a performer has to work through the pain.

Their schedules also give them a chance to spend time together. During their free time they play video games and practice gymnastics. Matt is teaching Seth the backhand spring and how to cook noodles.

He may not be old enough to realize the influence his father has had on him, but Seth thinks his dad is pretty cool.

"I'll give you one reason. He just mainly helps me, that's one good thing I like about my dad," Seth says.