Developing a Circus Organizational System
I recently developed a visual that shows the ways that over 300 circus disciplines, skills, and apparatuses are connected to
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Research
The Release of a New Guide on Space Development For Circus Training And Equipment
What is a safe and functional circus arts practice space? A new guide is published in the fall of 2023
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Last Waltz: Developing a Methodology for Partnering in Aerial Dance
My long-term aerial dance partner and I originally choreographed the trapeze duet, Last Waltz, in 2010. The work investigates the
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Sacred Arts Offers an Interdisciplinary Research Method for Circus and Beyond
This past March, Ben Yehuda Press published Under One Tent: Circus, Judaism and Bible, edited by Professor Ora Horn Prouser,
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Who Owns Cultural Heritage? The Roma People’s Significance to Swedish Circus
Sometimes the most extraordinary things are hidden in plain sight, such as Sweden’s oldest circus, nestled at the end of
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Does the Menstrual Cycle Negatively Influence the Performance of Menstruated Circus Artists?
Despite the increasing mediatisation around the effects of the menstrual cycle, this bolstered awareness of the topic has not yet
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Unpacking Injury in Circus: Flying with Excess Baggage with Amiel Soicher Clarke–E3 Sarah Poole
In this audio series, Unpacking Injury in Circus, former circus performer and current behavioral neuroscience student, Amiel Soicher Clarke, explores
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Hot Off the Presses! The Latest in Circus Science Medicine Research
If you are an artist, coach, producer, or clinician you know that keeping circus artists training and performing uninterrupted by
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Unpacking Injury in Circus: Flying with Excess Baggage with Amiel Soicher Clarke–E2 Renée Mak
In this audio series, Unpacking Injury in Circus, former circus performer and current behavioral neuroscience student, Amiel Soicher Clarke, explores
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The Individual Experience of Sound – Interview with Madeline Hoak
Circosonic is a project by Cirkus Syd, a networking platform for international research, development and innovation based in Lund, Sweden.
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By Going Online, Alliances and Commonalities Conference Gives Art a Common Ground
Hosted by the Stockholm University for the Arts, the online Alliances and Commonalities Conference will get you pondering the hows
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Circus and Philosophy: Teaching Aristotle Through Juggling
Here’s something you may not know about academic philosophy: subjects such as philosophy of art, philosophy of sport, or philosophy
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Unpacking Injury in Circus: Flying with Excess Baggage with Amiel Soicher Clarke
In this audio series, Unpacking Injury in Circus, former circus performer and current behavioral neuroscience student, Amiel Soicher Clarke, explores
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Genderful Bodies in Aerial Motion!
When aerial performance became popular in the 20th century, critics reported the confusing gender appearance of its performers. Muscular women
Read moreCircus arts a ‘growing area’ for physical literacy research
A postdoctoral fellow at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, recently completed training at the world-renowned National Circus
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A Hobbyist Perspective on the Relationship Between Jugglers and Props
This article is part of my ongoing doctoral research at York University’s Theatre and Performance Studies Program in Toronto, ON.
Read moreMeet the Rebellious Researchers Embracing Rap, Magic and Circus Acts
Academics rise against the conventions of higher education, such as scholarly journals and conferences, in a new book Hip-hop poetry,
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From Postcolonial to Neoliberal: Identifying the “Other” Body in Indian Circus
This article is part of my ongoing doctoral research work, A Critical History of Indian Circus, Performers and Performance Acts:
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First of Its Kind: The Circus Buildings in Europe Conference
The Circus Buildings in Europe– International Academic Conference and Circus Buildings Exhibition made up the official opening to the 14th
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Other Circuses in Montréal: An Embodied Expression of the Queer Paradigm
This article broadly presents my dissertation defended last June at Concordia University. The main argument is that by offering performances
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The European SHIFT Project Shares Results of “Gender and Power Relations” Study
When the #MeToo movement rose to global attention, the SHIFT– or d Initiatives for Training– project made a joint decision
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The Science of Contortion
I was very impressed in 2019 at the 40th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain when I saw the contortionist
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Connecting the Dots: A Casting Conversation with Talent Seekers
This winter, the COVID-19 pandemic will mark its grim two-year milestone. Meanwhile, the performing arts industry continues its tireless preparations
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Practitioners and Academics Unite! A Sneak Peek into Circus and Its Others, 2021
I’ve had a daydream of this scene before: a curious scholar peers through a telescope from a high window in
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Worldwide Arts Industry to 2030 – Featuring Smithsonian Institution, WWE and Cirque du Soleil Among Others
DUBLIN, Aug. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/– The “Arts Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. This
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Is Big ‘Cirque du Soleil’ Style Circus an Economic Indicator of Recovery for the Performing Arts?
Many dark months have passed on stages around the world. And suddenly a sign in circus– Cirque du Soleil announced
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Flying Trapeze Won’t Make Women Infertile: How Victorian-era Infertility Myths Are Still Plaguing Modern Day Athletes
The first time I was told that my career as a female flying trapeze catcher would make me infertile my
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CirK2.2: Breakthrough Research Melds Circus with Sound
CirK 2.2 is a sound/movement based project I’ve been working on for almost 5 years now. The origin of this
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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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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
Read moreConcussion Risk in Stunt Performers
Dr. Jeff Russell, associate professor of athletic training within the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University, is
Read moreWhere 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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The World Circus and Stories Mapping Project Launches July 8th–And You Can Join In
On July 8th, 3:30 pm EST, a team from Concordia, spearheaded by Dr. Louis Patrick Leroux (of the Montreal Working
Read moreConcordia 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
Read moreCircus 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
Read moreProspective 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
Read moreThis 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
Read moreTree 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
Read moreConference: 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
Read moreCamilla 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
Read moreCircus 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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