Contemporary Circus: The Conception of the Genre and Its Aesthetics

Abstract

Compared to other performing arts, contemporary circus is quite a young phenomenon. With the birth of new wave circus in France, the culture of contemporary circus has been rapidly evolving in Europe and globally. Contemporary circus rejects traditional aesthetics and the structure of performances. It creates a discussion, a narrative that can be interpreted, and encompasses a wide variety of dramaturgical material. Contemporary circus of the Baltic region is mostly presented at international circus festivals, yet authorial circus art has been rising in the region, although the community of circus creators is still limited. The purpose of the article is to clarify the concept of contemporary circus and to explore the aesthetics characteristic of the genre.