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News about contemporary circus and performing arts

Assessing the impact of Youth and Social Circus training through circus and performance practice.

Assessing the impact of Youth and Social Circus training through circus and performance practice.

by Ilaria Bessone, Heta Mulari, Ian R. Walsh In response to a growing need for youth and social circus trainers’ work to be recognised and standardised the Circus Transformation Programme (CTF) was established. This was the first ever European training programme for social circus trainers and there have been eight

SOLO BUT NOT ALONE. A showcase to nurture contemporary Italian circus

SOLO BUT NOT ALONE. A showcase to nurture contemporary Italian circus

What engagement practices can we bring into play in Italy to ensure that contemporary circus can grow and continue to mature on stage as a language? To stimulate reflection on its positioning and ongoing dynamics within the Italian cultural system, the promoters of the project SOLO BUT NOT ALONE created

Circus – a Safe(r) Space for Danger: Article Series Overview

Circus – a Safe(r) Space for Danger: Article Series Overview

Throughout their careers, circus practitioners transition from one role to another and ensuring safety is crucial. How can we provide a safe environment for ourselves and others? From 10 to 12 April 2024, the conference Circus – a safer space for danger in Antwerp explored the topic of safety by combining

On collective atmosphere: safety values to be better together

On collective atmosphere: safety values to be better together

Psychological safety comes from awareness of individual integrity, respecting boundaries, and installing recognisable trigger warnings. However, only practical measures can fix the gap and raise the urgency of acting differently in a collective dimension. The perceived urgency to be more aware of rules around consent and consciousness is a vivid

Safety is more than an attitude. Where do we stand after two years of the safety drive?

Safety is more than an attitude. Where do we stand after two years of the safety drive?

Safety is crucial in a sector known to have inherent risks. The international conference Circus – a safe(r) space for danger served as an anchor point in an initiative that had been ongoing for quite some time and that is still underway. (Will it ever be truly ‘done’?) This article

RIGGERS. How a Global Community is born

RIGGERS. How a Global Community is born

Who does not need a rigger? Awareness in the circus sector improves through the recognition of specific working roles and figures, like those of the riggers, who are responsible for calculating weight and know how to lift people and objects in high spaces. Mixing techniques with innovative skills, they know

Trauma-informed, injuries monitored. Beyond safety and risk with new paradigms

Trauma-informed, injuries monitored. Beyond safety and risk with new paradigms

What is the common denominator of a sense of safety from a young professional's eye in the circus sector, and what is important to underline or still missing from reflections on risk? And what about enlarging the spectrum, including the sociological element of safety beyond the circus bubble?

Consent: a frame for freedom

Consent: a frame for freedom

In the framework of the conference Circus - a safe(r) space for danger by Circuscentrum, Ell Circo D’ell Fuego and MAD Festival, I participated as a representative guest of There There Company in the workshop Consent in Practice: tools & benefits by Madonna Lenaert (they/them) and have

“I believe I can fly” “I believe she could fall” Contemporary Circus Dramaturgy and the Perception of Risk

“I believe I can fly” “I believe she could fall” Contemporary Circus Dramaturgy and the Perception of Risk

On 10th April 2024, I was invited as a keynote speaker for the international conference Circus - a safe(r) space for danger, the first conference on safety in the European circus sector in Antwerp (Belgium) during MAD Festival and MAD Convention organised by Circuscentrum, Ell Circo D’ell Fuego

Queering the Leadership. Against the myth of a progressive circus

Queering the Leadership. Against the myth of a progressive circus

On 15th April 2024, I was invited as a keynote speaker for the international conference Circus - a safe(r) space for danger, the first conference on safety in the European circus sector in Antwerp (Belgium) during MAD Festival and MAD Convention. Organised by Circuscentrum, Ell Circo D’ell Fuego

Zirkus ON: How the German creation programme has nourished the national circus sector

Zirkus ON: How the German creation programme has nourished the national circus sector

In November 2023, the German contemporary circus creation programme celebrated its five years of full swing with the Zirkus ONstage - Pro Festival, a three-day event in the capital. Showing ten productions from four years of creation accompaniment, the creation alliance gathered national and international guests in Berlin to participate

CircusDanceFestival 2024: Re-Inventing Circus

CircusDanceFestival 2024: Re-Inventing Circus

On occasion of the successful recognition of Circus in the German intangible culture as an independent form of performing arts in 2024, CircusDanceFestival titles its fourth edition - from 16 to 20 May - Re-Inventing Circus, framing this specific moment and taking the opportunity to reflect together on questions of

If the Kempentoren could speak

If the Kempentoren could speak

How can objects tell stories? Usually, when speaking about objects in circus, we refer to the structures that host the performances or to objects used as props. We often think about technical elements, such as the height of a space, the floor, the rigging possibilities or the load that a

ON Circus Bodies. Enlarging the spectrum of performing identities

ON Circus Bodies. Enlarging the spectrum of performing identities

For the third day at Theater op de Markt, ON CIRCUS explored the theme of Circus Bodies. The title is a little provocative since we all know there is still a challenge around the normative aspects of bodies and performing in the current circus sector. The companies invited by There

On Care. How connection in artistic practices can increase inclusivity

On Care. How connection in artistic practices can increase inclusivity

The second day of ON CIRCUS Conferences at Theater op de Markt 2023 explored the aspect of Care as a fundamental consideration in artistic practices. The morning turned out to be a rich exchange of years worth of thoughts on trust in artistic processes and shifting the spectacular side of

On Audience Interaction. When listening to the audience's feelings makes your body move

On Audience Interaction. When listening to the audience's feelings makes your body move

On the 29th, 30th and 31st of October, we participated in the ON CIRCUS cycle of conferences curated by There There Company as part of the 13th circus edition of Theater op de Markt in Provincial Domain Dommelhof (Pelt), Belgium. Each of the three sessions was dedicated to a different

The 2024 Festival Season starts in Ghent with Smells Like Circus

The 2024 Festival Season starts in Ghent with Smells Like Circus

The 2024 Festival Season starts in Ghent with SMELLS LIKE CIRCUS! Curated by one of the consortium partners, Circuscentrum, the festival hosts a Professional Programme in collaboration with Around About Circus. From the 16th to the 19th of January at VIERNULVIER, there will be three days of talks, meetings, presentations

LEME 2023: Circus and space(s)

LEME 2023: Circus and space(s)

LEME explores new languages in contemporary circus and artistic presentation in unconventional spaces, searching for new creative approaches in confrontation with experimentation. It reveals an active transfiguration of the traditional vision of cultural spaces in our times, opening doors to new artistic perspectives. The 5th edition of the festival took

ON CIRCUS. Sharing reflections from Theatre op de Markt 2023

ON CIRCUS. Sharing reflections from Theatre op de Markt 2023

During the 13th autumn edition of Theater op de Markt, on the 29th, 30th and 31st of October, from 10 to 12 am, the Belgian circus company THERE THERE will be hosting ON CIRCUS, three sessions in a dialogue between artists around three themes: audience interaction, care and circus bodies.

CircusDanceFestival 2023: Diverse Bodies, Feminism and Parcours

CircusDanceFestival 2023: Diverse Bodies, Feminism and Parcours

CircusDanceFestival will run its 4th edition in Cologne (DE) from 20 to 29 May 2023. The theme of this year is the body at the centre of social negotiations, exploring its political side, the relationship between human and non-human bodies, architecture and the physical environment. Around About Circus is one

Peculiar Families Festival and Circostrada General Meeting

Peculiar Families Festival and Circostrada General Meeting

From 18 to 23 April, Around About Circus is in Split, Croatia, attending the 4th edition of the Peculiar Families Festival. We will tell you more about the festival activities in our stories, participate in several activities and shows, sharing thoughts and images about the experience on our social media

Cirkopolis - International festival of contemporary circus

Cirkopolis - International festival of contemporary circus

Around About Circus is in Prague [CZ] attending Cirkopolis Festival 2023 edition from 12 to 18 February. International contemporary circus festival with elements of dance, physical, visual theatre and music, every year it hosts in the city progressive and innovative shows, workshops and other activities. Organised by Akropolis Palace with

Circostrada Blog: the first article of a series is online

Circostrada Blog: the first article of a series is online

From February to August 2023, I am the guest editor of a series of articles for the Circostrada Network Blog. The aim of this collaboration is to propose themes and chase protagonists to tackle several urgencies and passionate thoughts about current and important topics in support of contemporary circus and

Fuori Asse Focus - At the edge of circus

Fuori Asse Focus - At the edge of circus

Fuori Asse Focus 2023 - 27-29th January 2023, Milan, is a selection of four contemporary circus shows programmed by Quattrox4 within Triennale Milano Teatro accompanied by two critical meetings with the public. Around About Circus will pay a visit at Fuori Asse Focus on Sunday 29th of January, attending the

BIAC - Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque

BIAC - Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque

Program for the Professional Forum Marseille 24-29th of January 2023 Around About Circus will be at BIAC - Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque in Marseille attending the professional days dedicated to the international exchange of good practices. We will keep you posted on the various activities, attending contemporary circus