Circus as a Practice of Hope
The last Human on Earth (is a circus artist)–Sensing the World through Circus Arts In times of climate catastrophe, refugee…
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Research
The Element of Language of French Contemporary Circus Artists
In times of climate catastrophe, refugee crises and Covid-19, the question of the responsibility that artists and scholars have is…
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Concussion Risk in Stunt Performers
Dr. Jeff Russell, associate professor of athletic training within the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University, is…
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Where Have All the Sword Swallowers Gone?
In 2020, you would be hard-pressed to find a sword swallower. Well, any sideshow act, really. In the age of…
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A Mobility Perspective on Contemporary Circus
In times of climate catastrophe, refugee crises and Covid-19, the question of the responsibility that artists and scholars have is…
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MLA As a Resource for Circus Research
The MLA International Bibliography (MLAIB) may not be the first resource that comes to mind for circus scholars doing and sharing…
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Concordia Professor Patrick Leroux Co-Leads a Study of Quebec’s Cultural Sector as it Navigates the COVID-19 Pandemic
Montreal’s vibrant, high-profile arts industry has been struggling to stay afloat in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With theatres,…
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Hanging by a Thread–Calculated Risks in Circus
Recently, an acrobat fell 25ft to the floor at the 2nd International Air Athletics Championship in Riga, Latvia[1]. In 2018,…
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Will There Be an Audience When We Reopen?
In an update to their previous survey (published here originally on April 15th), Shugoll research suggests that many theatergoers nationally…
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Circus as a Healing Art: What Polyvagal Theory Teaches Us About Why Circus Works
If you’re involved in the circus world, you’ve likely heard people talk about the healing power of circus, whether they’re…
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Rejoice in the Circus Libraries of the World! (UPDATED)
The circus library–ideally, every circus professional has their own section of the bookshelf cordoned off for the circus classics. But…
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The CIRRC Interdisciplinary Circle of Regional Research on Circus
In the continuing series titled Adventures in Circus Research curated by academic, author, and educator Alisan Funk, we will explore the depth…
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Australian Circus at the Hub of Global Entertainment: Histories and Consequences
In the continuing series titled Adventures in Circus Research curated by academic, author, and educator Alisan Funk, we will explore the…
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Why Do Circus Artists Make Music?
Lately, it seems like more and more circus artists are getting into making music. As a circus artist who makes…
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Mental Health & Circus; The Elephant in the Room– Crucial Resources and a Call for Action
In September 2018, I wrote an article called Circus Saved My Life–Until It Ruined It. This article was an incredible…
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Circus Kids Are Happy Kids
Circus training delivers multiple mental health benefits for children, and cost savings to the broader community, an Australian study reveals….
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A Day at the (Academic) Circus: Reporting from the Popular Culture Association National Conference
Last month in Washington DC, the Marriott Wardman Park hotel played host to the 2019 Popular Culture Association’s National Conference….
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From the Community to the University, and Back Again: Circus Research in Brazil
In this new series titled Adventures in Circus Research curated by academic, author, and educator Alisan Funk, we will explore the…
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Reading Contemporary Circus with Circademic Franziska Trapp
Dr. Franziska Trapp is a researcher at the University of Münster who founded the Zirkus|Wissenschaft research project, a project which…
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The Situation of Circus in Europe Study–A Letter from Verena Cornwall
Verena Cornwall is overseeing a study for the circus industry in the EU, the result of which will affect the…
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The Body in Waiting
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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A Sequence of Blogs on Expertise and Ethics
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Simple Thoughts
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Coffee talk with Maddy and Stacey–Finding the Intersection Between Circus & Dance
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Inclusive Juggling with Craig Quat–Finding the Flow
Internationally known as an innovator in the theory and practice of inclusive juggling, Craig Quat grew up attending a social…
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The More We Learn, The Less I Know
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Soundtracking Circus Creations: A Checklist and a Case Study
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Who is Doing Circus in Italy? Censimento Circo Italia Project & Its Impact on the Field
If you come to Italy and mention the word circus, many people would still go for “Oh! Lions, ringmaster, elephants!…
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What It Means When Circus Artists Take Part in Graduate Research Courses
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Meanwhile, Backstage…
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Running Away to the Circus
Many circus books tell us why their authors have run away to the circus; few address whether they should have….
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Worldwide Platform for Circus Arts Research is Online–Get Hooked on CARP
There is now a tool for circus researchers. It’s a place for them to communicate, exchange research studies and resources…
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Vol. 4, No. 1-2 of Circus & Its Others; Research Work by Circus Writers Published
Performance Matters, an academic journal about the materiality and consequentiality of performance, has just published Vol. 4, No. 1-2 of…
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Prospective Cohort Study on Injuries and Health Problems Among Circus Arts Students
Circus arts is a discipline that is often physically very challenging for the artists. It combines acrobatic elements on the…
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This is Your Brain on Cirque du Soleil
Itsuko Noto lives in Japan, which means it takes her a minimum of 12 hours to fly to Las Vegas….
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Developing Creative Language within Circus–Phase 1.1 Musical Annotation
Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with the lack of tools and language we have as circassians…
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Strength in Numbers: The 34%
How do you decide if something is fair? Where do you start if your gut feeling is telling you that…
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Tree Rigging – Is it really Safe?
Ah, the weather has turned beautiful, it’s great to be outdoors, you don’t want to be stuck in a stuffy…
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Exhibition Upside Down–A Traveling Circus Exhibit to Augment Your Festival
Thanks to Zirkus|Wissenschaft , a new traveling exhibit is available for loan to circus events such as festivals and conferences….
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Field Guide To Circus Dramaturgy
Setting the Stage In late August of 2012, I drove across the border at the Thousand Islands Bridge on Hill…
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Circus & Its Others II–A Call for Papers
The Montreal Working Group has recently announced via press release the details of their second conference on Circus & Its…
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Seen and Heard – Building a Critical Presence Around Circus Arts
Next month, the third in the #CircusVoices series of opportunities for circus artists to develop their critical practise is taking…
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Tightrope Walking and Zen: a Way to Be Trained to Balance
Encounter I had the opportunity to meet the philosopher-funambulist Andrea Loreni in person in May of 2016, during a TedX…
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Risk Agitator for Circus Experimentation
Each individual goes into circus performance for a variety of reasons. Some are born into it, some are attracted to…
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Conference: Imagineers in Circus and Science: Scientific Knowledge and Creative Imagination
Call for Papers The Humanities Research Centre at the Australian National University presents Imagineers in Circus and Science: Scientific knowledge…
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A Call for Proposals for International Market of Contemporary Circus
Montréal has so much influence in the contemporary circus world. There is the Cirque du Soleil headquarters, located in circus…
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UpSideDown – Circus and Space International Conference Calls for Research Papers
Zirkus|Wissenschaft seeks to anchor circus in university research and coursework. The project aims to establish the University of Münster as…
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Camilla Damkjaer: The Circus Body Articulating
Camilla Damkjaer is the Head of Research Education at Stockholm University of the Arts. Damkjaer’s research focuses on the articulation…
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Circus Stories, Le cirque vu par… Edition 2015
Initiated by En Piste, Circus Stories, Le cirque vu par… offered to 10 cultural journalists from Canada and the northeastern…
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