Performers in Contemporary Circus

Part 1 of this chapter, Performers in Contemporary Circus, explores differing presentations of performer ‘prowess’ or as the authors have chosen to define it, ‘exceptional levels of physical bodily achievement.’ The writing in this section represents the authors’ responses to discussions with creators working in the field of Contemporary Circus. Extracts from these conversations can be found in the Voices section in Part 2.

The ways that circus performers present prowess, or how prowess is performed on stage, now emerges as a key point of difference between Traditional Circus and much Contemporary Circus. In Traditional Circus, circus performers are often presented as being superhuman. The skills are performed in a way that makes them look easy, and demonstrate the performer’s prowess in a way designed to elicit wonder and amazement from the audience, and also, depending on the type of act, a visceral or kinaesthetic response. Contemporary Circus, now however, often problematises the presentation of bodily prowess, adopting instead an aesthetic of ‘rawness’ along with movement material and text that reveals the physical vulnerability and lived experience of the performer.

The range of approaches in relation to the presentation of prowess in performance is one of the many challenges that performers now face in Contemporary Circus. The diversity of practice presents challenges not only for performers, but also for circus schools, in deciding how best to equip graduates for the complexities of the field.

Part 2, the Voices section of this chapter, contains conversations with 10 creators, most of whom are or have been performers themselves, talking about performers and performing: Shana Carroll (The 7 Fingers), Yaron Lifschitz (Circa), Firenza Guidi (ElanFrantoio, NoFit State Circus), Mike Finch (Circus Oz), Elizabeth Streb (STREB Extreme Action), Phia Ménard (Compagnie Non Nova), Daniele Finzi Pasca (Compagnia Finzi Pasca), Philippe Decouflé (Compagnie DCA), Jascha Boyce and Lachlan Binns (Gravity and Other Myths).