CIRC D’ARA MATEIX 2015-16

April 14 to May 1

Shifting the risk

Roberto Magro, specialist & circus director

Circus, which has always had a nomadic, family component, is adopting new positions in the world of contemporary performing arts, establishing itself and shifting the risk towards new areas within its domain. The Mercat de les Flors presents the Circ d’Ara Mateix (the “Here and Now Circus”), a cycle that takes us into these uncharted territories.

“Circus was heavily influenced by the theatre and its narratives in the 70s and 80s, but now it’s the turn of the dance”, explains Roberto Magro, artistic director of La Central del Circ. The transformation was prompted by professionalised training and an open approach to the conditions. “A somersault is always a somersault, but the preparation and what happens after has changed.”

Freed from formalisms, today’s contemporary circus artists can decide what relationship they want to build up with the audience – in the street, in a theatre, in a tent – and in what direction they want to take their research. Thus, the Compañía de Circo “eia” uses the body as acrobatic material; Claudio Stellato creates a whole universe out of wood; Animal Religion studies animal movement; and F. Gehlker, A. Auffray i M. Diaz Verbeke with Le Vide narrates the myth of Prometheus using ropes and pulleys. “The goal is to explain something through imagery with an evocative, metaphorical impact.” It is no longer a question of a variety show, but instead of going deeper into one of the varieties to solve a problem: three balls and two hands, a trapeze and two performers, for example.

The spirit of working as a company is not lost, of collective creation, familiarity and proximity. “Beyond the fright and the stupefaction, the circus is emotion and excitement.”

Circ d’ara mateix by Jordi Jané on Blog Mercat de les Flors