This article is part of the “inter-magazine Circus Festival” projects that is a collaboration between the UP – Circus & Performing Arts Festival, the Université Libre de Bruxelles and five international circus magazines, Around About Circus, Malabart, Juggling Magazine, StageLync, and Dynamo Magazines, all part of the INCAm network. Students at Université Libre de Bruxelles share their thoughts on current stage and circus performances. Their diverse backgrounds—ranging from literature, journalism, acting, to cultural studies—bring unique perspectives, whether familiar with the art form or newcomers. They are united by a curiosity for performing arts, which led them to the MA Arts du spectacle program, offering exposure to various art forms, including the circus. As part of the Circus|Studies, an interdisciplinary and international research project led by Dr. Franziska Trapp, theatre students explore circus dramaturgy, collaborate with emerging artists, and engage in performance analysis and critique. Their experiences culminate in MA theses or articles like the following.

I haven't often gone to see circus in my life. At least, I haven't sought it out. For me, these were shows that punctuated my vacations during street festivals or served as interludes at small music festivals. That's that. My centers of gravity, meaning the activities that attract me, revolve around philosophy and theater. That's where I come from. It was only this year that I began to become aware of the issues at play in circus work. So, I speak as an outsider, and I have the good fortune, reserved for those discovering a new discipline, of seeing everything as new, strange, and open to questioning.