Resumo

Alison Neilson (CES) and Leira Mesa, a Basque circus artist, will lead an interactive seminar based on our research at the 2nd International festival of Palhaças which will occur from November 25 to December 3.

This seminar will be a continuation of the workshop they will lead at the festival "Clowning in Academia". In addition to sharing insights from the research, they will engage participants in clowning activities in order to draw out further possibilities for using the power of the clown to resist the harmful pressures of the neoliberal university system.


Notas biográficas

Alison Neilson has been experimenting with various arts as a way of knowing within her academic practice, including collaborating with performance artists to develop her in-process personal "Super (heroine) Researcher". She has published in academic journals using creativity and humour (Neilson & São Marcos, 2017, "Escape" In response to a call - Evoking a keynote) as well as challenged normal academic conference procedures using costumes ("Wigs and Waves" 2016 Stockholm, Disrupting Environments Conference) and doing interactive, creative keynote addresses (Neilson, São Marcos & Inocêncio, 2017, Not a keynote: Flying without a parachute , Porto).

Leira Mesa is a Basque circus artist currently living in Stockholm (Sweden). She comes from the street theater and has been studying in the school Circomedia (Bristol) and recently she has finished the Master of NPP with specialization in Circus at Doch (Stockholm).

She has worked in the company Nofit State, she has made her first solo show "I live" in collaboration with the director Firenza Guidi; street performances and cabarets.
Recently she has presented her research thesis in the Master of the University of Doch (Stockholm), creating a large personal project titled TWISTING THE BALANCE, project born from the need to twist her circus practice in interaction with other art forms and collaborating with other creative artists to bring the circus to other spaces and audiences; seeking to share experiences and creating a political and social dialogue.

Currently Leire has made with the support of Fira Tarrega, Basque Government and Subtopia NO TENEMOS TÍTULO and Future Animal supported by Antic Teatre and La Central de Circ.