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.

UBA is a contemporary circus show, therefore multidisciplinary, with the goal of sharing the stage among 15 artists from 3 different generations. The aim of Smart Cie, the initiator of the project, is to confront societal norms that tend to favor 'youthfulness.' Founded in 1996, the company specializes in promoting artistic and cultural education and organizes workshops open to everyone. I had the opportunity to attend one during a contemporary circus festival in Belgium.

The spotlights turn on and two circus performers walk forward hand in hand, one younger, the other older. The stage is relatively empty, surrounded by dozens of bamboo sticks of various sizes standing upright. According to the production notes, the bamboo symbolizes the idea of transmission and transfer from the older generation to the new, and vice versa. Transgenerationality is an uncommon theme in contemporary circus; it is more typical in traditional circus, especially with the passing of the torch within families. The title is meant to reflect this idea of exchange between different generations concerning their experiences and stories. However, it is challenging for the audience to understand.