Circus made in Finland and circus made in Germany – how can they inspire each other and what can be learned from one or the other? These questions are currently on the agenda in Berlin.
Chamäleon Berlin hosts currently a research residency in Germany for a Finland based circus maker, Vilhelmiina Sinervo. The residency is part of a wider program exploring similarities and differences in German and Finnish contemporary circus and the structures supporting the art form in both countries.
Vilhelmiina Sinervo is a Finnish circus artist who specializes in slack rope, object manipulation, dance and acrobatics. After graduation she has been working in touring Lexicon-show with NoFit State Circus (Wales) and Cabaret Décadent in Cirque Electrique (France). During the residency she works on her Tonton project.
Until the end of July, Chamäleon also presents the Finnish Circo Aereo show in_between. It is a co-production that brings the unique style of this circus company to the Berlin stage for the first time.
Similarities and differences in German and Finnish contemporary circus
As part of the program, Chamäleon organizes on the 28th June a panel discussion bringing together circus artists and specialists from Germany and Finland under the title Explorations across cultures: Similarities and differences in German and Finnish contemporary circus handwriting.
Taking part in the discussion are Vilhelmiina Sinervo, Michael Heiduk (Artist and Leader Pepe Arts München), Anna-Katharina Andrees (Director Berlin), Lotta Nevalainen (Head of International Development Circus & Dance Info Finland), Ben Richter (Artist and Lecturer DOCH Stockholm), Jarkko Lehmus (Director Cirko Center for New Circus Helsinki). Panel host: Geordie Brookman (Director and Dramaturg Chamäleon).
The panel focuses on the onstage languages that are being developed currently in Finland and Germany and examines where eventual differences might come from.
The next step in the exchange program will take place in Finland in 2024. Then a German circus artist will be hosted in Helsinki by Cirko – Center for New Circus.
The exchange program is made possible with the support of Goethe-Institut Munich & Goethe Institut Finnland, Finnland-Institut in Berlin, BUZZ Deutschland, and Circus & Dance Info Finland, in co-operation with CircusDance Festival Köln, Pepe Arts, Tollhaus Karlsruhe and Chamäleon Berlin.
Chamäleon Berlin
is a creative venue, network partner and a stage working to increase the visibility and appreciation of contemporary circus as an art form in Germany.
Artistic director: Anke Politz.
Read more: chamaeleonberlin.com