Sebastian Kann

Sebastian is a circus artist, theorist, pedagogue, and performance dramaturg. He received his diploma in circus practice from ENC (Montréal) in 2009 and his MA in Theatre Studies from Utrecht University in 2016, graduating with a thesis which examined technical virtuosity in performance. As a dramaturg, he works in dance and circus contexts, collaborating with artists like Vera Tussing (BE); Willem Balduyck and Sophie van der Vuurst de Vries (Circus Katoen, BE); Hugo Mega (Cie Zul, BE); Emile Pineault (BE/QC); Cie Catalyst (FR);  and Lara Oundjian (QC), among others. Sebastian teaches dramaturgy workshops for circus artists across Europe, and gives lectures in dance and circus theory at various arts universities (AHK Academy of Theatre and Dance, Codarts / Fontys [COMMA], ArtEZ Academy of Theatre and Dance). He is himself an active participant in the development of circus theory, publishing articles in Danswetenschap in Nederland  and in the upcoming collection, Zirkuswissenschaft / Semiotics of the Circus. Sebastian is currently working with Bauke Lievens and Quintijn Ketels on a two-year research project at KASK Gent entitled ‘The Circus Dialogues’, which seeks to introduce new perspectives to the Flemish contemporary circus dramaturgy debate, developing innovative pedagogical and dramaturgical approaches for circus as a contemporary art form. In the process of finishing his RMA in Media, Art and Performance Studies and UU, his current research interests revolve around the role of the thinking / feeling body in creative practice, issues of sustainability in artistic ecologies, and collectivity as an ethical principle.