Circostrada

In this episode, host Maaike Muis explores how circus is shaped by cultural context, tradition, and geography. From traditional techniques passed through generations to contemporary, dance-infused circus forms, the episode examines how diverse cultural conditions influence circus in Sweden and Taiwan.
Together with circus artists Amber Gibson Kong (Taiwan) and Karoline Aamås (Sweden), Maaike discusses how artists navigate their roots while developing their own artistic voice. And they speak about the tensions and paradoxes that can arise in that process.
The conversation touches on:
How circus education differs globally, Circus university DOCH in Stockholm and the NTCPA National Taiwan College of Performing Arts;
How training environments shape artistic identity and creative practice;
The balance between individual expression and collective creation, and how personal background plays a role in that;
How audience codes vary widely: from traditional applause-after-tricks to contemporary theatre-informed responses.
The episode reflects on how even within a shared art form, cultural frameworks deeply influence both creation and reception and yet at the same time that circus has the power to link these experiences. 
Crossing Voices, a Circostrada podcast, connects European and international perspectives in contemporary circus and outdoor arts. Each episode fosters dialogue on current issues, bringing together diverse voices to inspire change in artistic practice and cultural policy towards a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape.

If you would like to know more, please visit circostrada.org 
Production Magdeleine Goutierre – Circostrada
Interview, edit, and host : Maaike Muis
Music: blue dot sessions

For the new season of Crossing Voices, host  Maaike Muis  brings together Anna Szepes, theatre maker and facilitator developing community based participatory projects, co-founder of the DePart Collective, and Azadeh Ganjeh, performance artist, researcher, dramaturge, activist, and member of the Rebel-Ist-ha! Collective. Together, they discuss freedom of creation, what it means to be free, and how to foster the right conditions to create. As Azadeh reminds us: "Artistic freedom is not about choosing between given choices. It's about creating choices." And sometimes, those choices mean creating spaces where people can simply be together—silly, goofy, nurturing each other—building the resilience needed for bigger actions later.
Crossing Voices – Linking European and international perspectives in contemporary circus and outdoor arts is designed to highlight the voices of key players in the contemporary circus and outdoor arts sectors. This podcast is part of the red-thread followed by Circostrada's new project, CS VOICES. The podcast aims to foster a continuous dialogue on current issues, bringing together diverse perspectives to inspire meaningful change in both the arts and policymaking, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape.
Want to know more?
Read the Performing Art’s Coalition report Between Rhetoric and Reality: Cultural Rights, Artistic Freedom, and Democratic Resilience, by Elena Polivtseva.
Have a look at ARTCENA’s documentation on Freedom of Creation (in French)

Credits
Interview, edit, voice-over: Maaike Muis
Production: Circostrada- Kinga Kesces & Magdeleine Goutierre
Music: Blue dot sessions

What does it mean to pass on knowledge—and how can circus arts shape the way we teach, care, and create?
In this episode of Crossing Voices, we dive into the world of circus education through the voices of two artists who are reimagining how skills and values are transmitted across generations.
Host Maaike Muis brings together Danka Sekulović, based in Serbia and active within the self-organised collective Cirkusfera, and Saar Rombout, a Dutch artist teaching in Stockholm and Rotterdam. Both explore the tensions between traditional and contemporary aesthetics, offering fresh perspectives on what it means to teach in today’s circus landscape.
From activist pedagogy to creative rigging, their work challenges conventional models and embraces alternative approaches rooted in care, autonomy, and innovation. Whether navigating political pressure, burnout, or the everyday rituals that sustain community—like sharing coffee—their stories reveal how teaching can be both a technical and deeply human act.
Through their practices, we glimpse a future of circus education that is bold, inclusive, and grounded in the lived realities of those who shape it.
Interview, edit, VoiceOver: Maaike Muis
Production: Kinga Kesces for Circostrada
music: Blue dot sessions
more info and resources: circostrada.org

The final day at the Hippodrome of FRESH STREET #5 has begun with a truly special keynote from the legendary Brian Eno who will spark some inspiration in a dynamic and powerful session. After that, a panel of artists and cultural professionals have taken the stage to unpack how artists are responding to today’s and the future’s global and economic challenges. How do creativity and resilience shape artistic practice in uncertain times? The roundtable discussion has united Seraina De Block (BE), Lucia Dubačová (SK) Ed Gillespie (UK), Mimi Lam (HK), Peter John Sabbagha (SA), Michael Sauter (US). This session was facilitated by Julia Von Wild (DE).
The Live Radio was hosted by Dorothy Max Prior.

FRESH STREET #5 continued on its second day at the Hippodrome with a keynote by Vicki Dela Amedume, offering insights into communities and places, from her perspective as an artist. Then, a panel of artists and cultural professionals will come together to share ideas on how inclusive artistic practices can strengthen community connections, elevate a range of voices, and respond creatively to today’s social challenges. The roundtable gathered Tatiana-Mosio Bongonga & Jan Naerts (FR), Luke Horley (BE, FR, UK), Antonia Kuzmanić (HR), Alicia Laguna (ME), Jacqui Mackay (UK), Luis Petit & Prisca Villa (ES). This session was facilitated by Sho Shibata (UK).