CIRCUS & INVENTION: A research-creation seminar ^expired Free

A research-creation seminar on apparatus, performance vocabulary and meaning


Overview

This interdisciplinary seminar provides an opportunity to learn, explore and refine research and design methods in the performing arts with a focus on contemporary circus and physical theatre. In addition to discussions of form and discipline, DIY culture, artistic hybridity and creative process, the seminar’s focus will very much be on the performance apparatus.
The main principle on which the seminar is constructed is experiential learning and self-reflexivity concerning the creative process.

This year’s theme is Circus & Invention (apparatus, performance vocabulary, meaning) with a day also focused on Circus and Sustainability and Durability.
2020 Collaborators: Concordia’s 4TH SPACE, Montréal Complètement Cirque (International Market of Contemporary Circus), National Circus School (Center for Circus Arts Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer - CRITAC) and Dix2 design.

Following three successful intensive summer seminars coinciding with Montréal Complètement Cirque, professor Louis Patrick Leroux and his team are pleased to reprise the intensive intellectual and artistic “boot camp” experience for its fourth installation.
The 2019 seminar attracted 25 students from 12 countries: one third were performers, one third graduate students, one third teachers/coaches/professors and most of them were an interesting cross-section of all of those categories.

Target audience

This is a graduate seminar that is also open to professional performing arts practitioners wishing to explore the junction of academic and artistic pursuits.
Successful candidates will possess a fascinating variety of experiences, both artistic and intellectual, and for the most part have experience in circus, theatre, music, video art or dance.
Given the diversity of experiences and academic backgrounds, we encourage an environment of respectful debate and discussion. Students are expected to attend all morning and afternoon lectures and many of the evening performances. They are also expected to contribute to their blog and experiential research project.
This seminar is for thinker-doers, for artists and scholars who are open to experiential learning and interested in process.
Up to four international students could be awarded fellowships covering the full tuition.


Learning outcomes

Course objectives:
Offer a space for sustained discussion on research-creation, practice-as-research and experiential modes of research into the performing arts;
Collaboratively explore successful and more challenging examples of such research design, implementation and dissemination bringing artists, engineers, designers and scholars together;
Share experiences, expertise and insights into a variety of international and interdisciplinary practices;
Encourage research-action and create an environment that fosters embedded research and creation;
Offer an opportunity to engage in a group research-creation project involving elements of the conception, design and implementation of an apparatus;
Create an environment of intellectual and artistic exchange and possibilities that will run alongside a major festival and hopefully contribute to further projects and exchanges.

Assignments and grading

Blog
and/or Podcast - 20% of final grade
You will be expected to write at least two blog entries between June 26th and July 13th but are not limited to any number. These blogs will appear on our class site and will be accessible to the seminar participants.
 Some (but not all) blogs could be selected for online publication.
We will also have access to equipment to record and broadcast podcasts. These could be part of the final artistic or academic presentation or even replace the blogs for students who prefer talking to writing.

Presentations
 - 30% of final grade
On the last two days of classes, students who have worked in teams led by four to five creative leaders (designers, directors, engineers, acrobatic vocabulary specialists) will give a presentation on the apparatus or wider research-creation question they have been developing. This presentation can be a performance, a performative talk or a formal academic talk. Time has been set aside every afternoon to work on the project.

Final paper
 - 35% of final grade
You will submit a final paper of no more than 10 pages (double spaced) by Friday July 31st, 11:59 p.m. This paper will address a specific issue, theme or production linked to the seminar and draw into its argument appropriate theory and references. The paper can draw upon the in-class presentations, refer to them or be conceived as written extension of the oral performative presentation. Paper topics will be discussed with the professor during the seminar.

Participation, attendance and observation reports
 - 15% of final grade
An active participation is one based on presence and respectful relationship to others in the seminar. People will be presenting works-in-progress and ideas-in-progress so we want our space to be a safe one for sharing. Participation is considered for morning seminars at Concordia as it does for talks and conferences that will be part of Montréal Complètement Cirque, the MICC and active observation with the dramaturgy research team.
This is a very intense and all-consuming seminar. Prepare to be working, exchanging, creating, attending shows and discussion with fellow students from all over the world for a good 12 hours a day.
Exploration and apparatuses

We will be exploring, building and transforming apparatuses as well as exploring various creative spaces and opportunities. Please respect the technical director, project manager and coach’s instructions as to which apparatuses are accessible and which are off limits at any given time.
There will be many of us in too few spaces. We have built in quite a bit of time to work on your final presentations, but these are not strictly speaking artistic acts or presentations, but rather embodied (or not) explorations into research-creation questions. This is not a studio course. It’s an intellectually-driven graduate seminar where the professor felt it would also be important to give ourselves some space to move, create and try things out. Anyone wanting to use circus apparatuses will have to have the proper insurance (we can discuss this in person). There will also be more intimate spaces for exploration, floor mats, and projectors upon request and depending on available equipment and space.

How to apply

Deadline: March 20, 2020
Prospective participants should supply: A cv and cover letter explaining their interest in the seminar, past experiences and how this seminar could be of importance to their academic, creative life or both.
Application packages and queries should be directed to
[email protected]

Full details here:
http://www.concordia.ca/summer/artsci/circus-inventions-2020.html