Exploration and apparatuses
Some of you will want to use the apparatuses, explore the various creative spaces and opportunities. Please respect the technical director, project manager and coach’s instructions as to which apparatuses are accessible, which are off limit at any given time. There will be many of us in too few spaces. I have built in quite a bit of time to work on your final presentations, but these are not strictly speaking artistic acts or presentations, but rather embodied (or not) explorations into research-creation questions or research-creation theory in circus arts. This is not a studio course. It’s an intellectually-driven graduate seminar where the professor felt it would also be important to give ourselves some space to move, create and try things out. Anyone wanting to use circus apparatuses will have to have the proper insurance and some previous experience with them. There will also be more intimate spaces for exploration, floor mats, projectors upon request and depending on available equipment and space.
Location(s)
We will also spend quite a bit of time at Cité des arts du cirque (roughly 45 minutes by public transit away from Concordia). This is where we find TOHU, National Circus School and Cirque du Soleil in the St-Michel neighborhood of Montreal.
We will also spend some time at the Montréal Complètement Cirque headquarters and at events along St. Denis Street, off de Maisonneuve Est (Berri-UQAM metro).
The evening shows will bring us to many venues across Montreal. When possible, we’ll go to them as a group, but some autonomy is expected.
Transportation
Transportation to and from Montreal is your responsibility (click on the Logistics button below for more information). In Montreal, we will be using the transit system (metro, bus) to get to the various venues. An Opus card effective 2 to 12 July will be provided to those of you who do not already live in Montreal.
Meals
These are your responsibility. You are free to bring your own lunch (you will always have access to a fridge and microwave both at Concordia and National Circus School) or to join impromptu groups for meals at nearby restaurants. On days were we are up at Cité des arts du cirque, we’ll need to arrange for meals (at least confirm numbers) ahead of time. In any case, please look ahead to plan appropriate meals as we will sometimes be in transit.
Festival Performances
While we realize that some of your can’t, for various reasons, attend all of the shows, we do encourage you to see as many as you can as they are the equivalent of readings and will be discussed in the seminar. Most, but not all, week night performances are considered part of the seminar.
We will buy your PRO pass that allows you access to MICC (circus marketplace and festival events) and its workshops, works-in-progress presentations and much more.
Typical Schedule
10 am to noon: Seminars. Over the two weeks, topics will include:
- Form and discipline (what forms will we explore? How to define them?)
- Method (research-‐creation, action-‐research, resonant response)
- Hybridity, Body/Text, textures and textualities
- Location and Locatedness (creating from place & placing creation in its context)
- Strategies and Choices (aesthetic, formal, discursive, practical)
- Working with or as Performers (sessions with directors, coaches and professional circus artists)
- Developing the tools to discuss process
Lunch break and free time to work on performance pieces, talks or podcasts (with access to a studio for physical work and a small podcast studio)
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Studio work (weeks 1 and a few days week 2) and talks, panel discussions and events at Montréal Complètement Cirque’s MICC/International Marketplace for Circus
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Daily debrief and retroaction Dinner 5-‐8 p.m.
8 to 10 p.m. Attending shows at Montréal Complètement Cirque or other pertinent shows in Montreal.
Application Process
Potential participants must apply by March 15th by submitting a CV and a letter explaining their interest in the seminar, past experiences, how this seminar could be of importance to their academic or creative life, and whether they seek financial aid to attend.
Click on the APPLY! button below to proceed.
5 students will be awarded fellowships covering the full tuition.