Dragon Knights Stilt Show

Dragon Knights, Inc. was founded by Lili Noden. She is the creative force, technical expert and lead trainer whose knowledge of street theater and performing arts began in her early childhood in southern France, her native country. She has spent a lifetime cultivating her passion for all aspects of performance, whether on stage, in front of the camera, behind the curtains, or up in the rafters

At the age of 15, she assisted Claire Chaperot establish the non-profit theater company Théâtre of the Explorateurs that continues to flourish today. A few years later, she began her studies in Paris at the René Simon School, the Conservatory of the Dramatic Arts school, and was accepted by Maurice Sarrazin to continue her theatrical training.

After graduation, she performed in a few plays, short films, and in
television. As much as Lili loved to act, she loved to build too. Her time in
Paris provided her with opportunities to work in fabrication as well as
performance. Her passion landed her a position as a fabricator for the most
prestigious scenery company in Paris, Atelier Scenography Simonini. She worked on numerous stages set/scenery projects, which included Disneyland Paris’ Lion King float, sets for the Canal + TV show, the 1989 Chanel Collection, and several scenic design backdrops for various theatrical productions. Always hungry to learn, her creative energy led her to street theater mixing circus arts.

As stilts were a prominent part of her native region’s history, and through her connection with Les Friches Theatre Urbain, Lili discovered the art of stilt theater. She immediately applied her diverse skills into elaborate street and stage performances that incorporated acrobatics, stilts, fencing, trick
riding and theater, collaborating with numerous well-known theater companies throughout France in the 1980s and 1990s. After securing several parts in Jean Marie Lecoq’s production of The Little d'Artagnan, with Universen, as well as with Bruno Boisliveau’s a production at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy,

Lili was invited by Marjorie Laurent and Julien Gabriel to join les Evenements Nuit Blanche to work on stilt-walking and puppetry. In 1994, Walt Disney World’s, Epcot Center, invited the troupe to perform France’s unique style of street performance. Lili relocate with Marjorie Laurent and the cast to the USA.

Over the next years, Lili collaborated with woodworking master, JP Michel Valles, to design and build over a dozen stilt puppets known as the “Cirikli” birds as well as few dinosaurs’ stilt puppets. The stilt bird puppets performed at Epcot Center Disney World for few years and with her French coworker, Lili built, performed, and trained new American talent in the art of stilts, puppetry, theater and itinerant street performance. In chorus the troupe were invited to participate at the grandopening of the Animal Kingdom Park at Florida’s Disney World. Simultaneously, the French troupe created an additional stilt show for Epcot entitled, The
Aviator. Once again with her coworker, Lili built, performed and trained American talent. Right after the French troupe created in collaboration with Julian Gabriel a new company called Dream Hunter.

In December 1999 Lili settled in San Diego, California, clarifying her vision to share France’s unique performance art form with American audiences. In March 2000 Lili founded Dragon Knights, Inc., “Stilt Theater Show “ which allowed her to combine her passions for performance, technical construction, costuming, and teaching stilt theater. Almost immediately, Dragon Knights with new talent trained by Lili was performing all over California and around the globe. As its fame and popularity grew, Lili began creating new design of puppets for countless events, fairs, festivals, art shows and amusement parks across the country. During that time, Lili kept teaching the art of stilt walking, and she introduced in USA the latest design of wooden stilts from her masters. Today, 80% of stilt performers in California use that same design!

Dragon Knights continue to perform throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia, delighting children and adults alike with their fantastically imaginative characters. Two of Lili’s puppets regularly appeared in the Mad T Party at Disney’s California Adventure, featuring the latest design technology of these wood stilt puppets. As a perfectionist, Lili is relentless in her desire to innovate and inspire. She continues to design and build more sophisticated and complex mechanical characters. She is also actively teaching in the art of stilt and currently collaborating with one of the world’s best stilt acrobat from France to train talent and develop a production that includes the latest design of pneumatic stilts, allowing performers to do spectacular acrobatic performances.

Three years ago, Lili started a new production which they entitled Wander Wonder World part 1 Time Off!. Implementing a Jules Verne aesthetic. With the support of French artists Lili produced a series of new machines, including a flying boat, a stilt-driven canoe on wagon wheels, and a pedaling submarine machine. A giant mechanical fish is in the works, which will be the largest construction to date.