DYNAMO Circus Seminars (2019-2023) was a series of talks, debates, panels, workshops, work in progress and reflections taking place in Odense, Denmark. The Seminars functioned as a format for a much-needed professionals’ days at DYNAMO Circus Festival.
Form 2025, a new concept for the professionals’ days is launched, titled Nordic Circus Encounters. This project represents a new design for the professionals’ days at DYNAMO Circus Festival. Following 3 editions of DYNAMO Circus Seminars, we decided to revisit and renew the format, premise, and objectives for the Pro’s days. Whereas events dedicated to professionals are absolutely crucial at our festival, we decided to introduce a series of the events which more intently places the artist in the centre. From interviews with artists in our network we learned of clear needs for exchange, access to new and inspiring dialogue with peers, and formats for networking even more focused on artistic creation and innovation. This indeed is in line with our overall dedication as an organisation to support the development of the art form and artists in our region.
If you would like to be invovled with the event, please write an email to elena@dynamoworkspace.dk and present your idea.
We aim to facilitate a platform for organizers, producers, performers and creators to share knowledge and best practices across the region. During the Seminars, we seek to uncover experiences and knowledge of our peers in the circus community, with the intention of sharing best practices and reflecting on models and possibilities for growth in the field. We take a starting point in current realities and challenges in the field, with a focus on imagining and designing a more sustainable future for contemporary circus, in the Nordic Region and beyond.
Highlights from the 2023 edition
The 2023 edition of the Circus Seminars took place between 14th-16th June. The main themes of the Seminars were: Articulation, Innovation, Sustainability.
Highlights from the 2023 edition include: Opening Lecture by circus artist and researcher Marie-Andrée Robitaille; a book presentation of “Notes on Creation” by Katapult Berlin; and workshops in Dramaturgy (with Daniel Gulko), Circus Writing (with Anne Liisberg from ISCENE).
We’re also very proud to have hosted the launch for the new professionals’ network for Danish contemporary circus – Dansk Samtids Cirkus – with a dedicated launch event, panel talk with international and Danish guests Lina B. Frank and Kristina Erikson, and vision workshop with a focus on sustainable development for our sector, facilitated by Amund Lindvang Bentsen from Acting for Climate.
We were also honoured to co-present Producers’ Platform #9 in collaboration with Udviklingsplatformen for Scenekunst, with a panel debate on the topic of a sustainable career model for circus artists, and Pitch Workshop with pitch coach Dan le Man.
The 2023 edition of the Seminars was made possible with support from Nordic Culture Point – Culture and Art Programme, Wisti Foundation, and Circostrada through the SAIL programme.
Find the archived 2023 programme and speakers on the festival website here.
Photo by Cosmin Cirstea.
Previous editions
DYNAMO Circus Seminars 2021
In 2021, the Seminars addressed questions of mobility, a feedback culture for circus, and the concept of circus as a ‘hardcore’ culture. With practical workshops, talks, and panel debates, we covered topics such as: how to give feedback that is beneficial to artists (workshop by Declan Mee from Katapult Berlin)? How to ensure mobility and accessibility to resources for artists across Europe (with a presentation of the project Circus Link)? How to navigate the turns and shifts in an artist’s life (in a session titled ‘Circus Hacks’ led by speakers Signe Løve Anderskov and Sunniva Byvard).
The two days of talks were followed by a physical workshop led by company Kaaos Kaamos, where participants explored the concept of ‘trust’ through corporeal modalities within contemporary circus.
DYNAMO collaborated with Waves Festival and C!CAF to present a full day dedicated to contemporary circus in Denmark, during Waves Xtra. The meeting facilitate talks and debates on the status of contemporary circus in Denmark and possibilities for development. A review of the event by the publication iScene is available here (in Danish).
You can read more about the programme and speakers here.
DYNAMO Professionals’ Days 2019
The 2019 Professionals’ Day was the first in this series. Organised in collaboration with Nordic Women in Circus Network and the Danish Platform for Development in Stage Arts, the two-day event was a mix of talks and debates, sharing and work in progress showings. The addressed themes were: the circus body as a medium in creativity; sustainable fundraising strategies; safety and recovery in circus.
This project is supported by Nordic Culture Point – Culture and Art Programme and the Wisti Foundation.
