Putting a circus act on video might seem counterintuitive to some, but more and more artists are reaching out to new audiences by taking their acts from stage to camera— and Estonian aerialist Kadri Hansen is one of them. In this article, Kadri explores the creative possibilities of making circus films.

Vanishing Act As circus performers, our act vanishes as soon as our performance is over. It is a disappearing art form, just like any other performance art where nothing tangible is offered to the audience. In the best-case scenario, our work will be remembered and talked about long after our show, and we can just hope for ourselves that we will remember to keep the vivid feelings of our own performance before they gradually pass from sight. The true experience is lived only in the moment. While having one’s creations captured on film can allow their work to live beyond the performance itself, it is a whole art on its own to capture circus arts:, a genre that is ideally experienced with all five senses, now flattened down into a two-dimensional form. Having one’s circus act on film is a captivating way to detach our physical bodies from our work while still showcasing both our physical and artistic skills. It can l...