Contemporary Circus

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented a talk on contemporary circus livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network on Monday 28 October 2019 at 1 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 3 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 4 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4)

Join us as we explore the “act”, the tricks, the prowess, and the impossible physical feats of astonishing new circus dramaturgy, collective devising, and cross-disciplinary experimentation. Celebrating the newly published Contemporary Circus (Katie Lavers, Louis Patrick Leroux, and Jon Burtt; Routledge 2019), the Segal dedicates a full day to the current state and contemporary forms of circus. Artistically-driven, politically astute, inventive, rebellious, hybridized: contemporary circus is quickly redefining the codes of what “circus” means. The end of Ringling closed a chapter on the 19th century form, liberating artists to ask: after animals, after the clown car, after the “Ta-Da!”—what remains?

American Contemporary Circus in NYC & Philadelphia
1 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 3 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 4 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4)

Noted circus artists, presenters, and educators from two US circus communities discuss training, creation, and how to connect contemporary American circus with urban audiences. Curated & moderated by Ruth Wikler (TOHU/Montréal Complètement Cirque Festival) and featuring Angela Butch (The Muse), Juanita Cardenas (artist), Katy Dammers (Hand to Hand Festival, FringeArts, Philadelphia), Ben Grinberg (Circadium/Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, Philadelphia), Nicki Miller (artist), Stephanie Monseu (Bindlestiff Family Cirkus), & Eric Schmalenberger (Blunderland/House of Yes).

Contemporary Circus: Contestation, Reaction, Possibility
3:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 5:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 6:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4)

Yaron Lifschitz (Circa, Australia), Sean Gandini (Gandini Juggling, UK), Gypsy Snider ( The 7 Fingers, Quebec), Jennifer Miller (Circus Amok, NYC)—celebrated artistic directors, at the forefront of contemporary circus, convene with Contemporary Circus co-author Louis Patrick Leroux (Concordia University, Montréal) and circus curator Ruth Wikler (TOHU, Montréal), moderated by Frank Hentschker.

Catch Circa’s En Masse at the White Light Festival at Lincoln Center, October 23-25.
Catch Gandini Juggling’s Spring at Montclair State University PEAK Performances, December 12-15.

Co-curated by Ruth Wikler (TOHU, Montréal) & Louis Patrick Leroux (Concordia University, Montréal) with Frank Hentschker (MESTC). Presented with support from the Québec Government Office in New York and with the generous contribution of the CRILCQ Centre de recherche interuniversitaire sur la littérature et la culture québécoises.

About HowlRound TV

HowlRound TV is a global, commons-based peer produced, open access livestreaming and video archive project stewarded by the nonprofit HowlRound. HowlRound TV is a free and shared resource for live conversations and performances relevant to the world's performing arts and cultural fields. Its mission is to break geographic isolation, promote resource sharing, and to develop our knowledge commons collectively. Participate in a community of peer organizations revolutionizing the flow of information, knowledge, and access in our field by becoming a producer and co-producing with us. Learn more by going to our participate page. For any other queries, email [email protected], or call Vijay Mathew at +1 917.686.3185 Signal/WhatsApp. View the video archive of past events.