What Is Contemporary Circus? | Shana Kennedy | TEDxRoseTree

Circus has shifted from the idea of a three-ring animal-based showcase to a performance-centric and artistic blend of athleticism and wild interpretation.
As the director of the first licensed circus college in the United States (Circadium), Shana Kennedy is on the front lines of the evolving art form of contemporary circus. Shana believes that circus has a crucial role in the performing arts landscape, with an appeal to all demographics - and it's time to get a glimpse of what circus looks like in a modern context. Shana is the Executive Director of Circadium, the first higher-education program for circus in the United States. Along with her husband, Greg Kennedy, she had an active earlier career touring as a juggler and aerialist, and began teaching when she settled down with her 3 children. In 2000, she founded the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, running recreational circus classes for kids and adults. Now, both the recreational and the professional schools reside at Circus Campus, a hundred-year-old church property in West Mt. Airy. With over 500 students training every week, circus education is becoming an important part of the city's cultural fabric. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@TheRon5832]

Not only was this clear, it stretched my view of an art form that used to pass as mostly entertainment! Great job!

[@ChiaraBells]

This is really great, I love it!

[@TheCircusDiaries]

this is a very clear introduction, well done Shana! :D

[@martinfrenette4099]

If I may, having seen the Big Apple Circus live, I'd say that it definitely is a traditional circus. The way acts are presented and artists are featured, as well as the choice of disciplines and its musical direction make it a traditional circus. However, the Big Apple must be the most European traditional circus seen in North America. La Compagnia Finzi Pasca is Swiss, not Italian. The company is based in Lugano. Yes, Quebec's government recognizes Montreal's National Circus School program, but students don't leave with a degree. All the graduates who eventually went back to school will attest they had to take several additional classes to qualify for higher studies.

[@kratijoshi1587]

This is an important video