JOHN

The research project “For a Somatic Approach to the Wheel” led me to discover the depth of bodily movement. Circus, in its essence, is nothing other than the relationship between body and matter.

I have experienced different ways in which a body can perceive its surroundings, and thus understand the connection it has with matter. Through very refined listening, the body can also connect to other bodies, to other beings, without needing to resort to language. In all my experiences, language very quickly becomes an obstacle and prevents a deeper connection.

Through highly sensitive listening, we can access what I call The Field. This field is simply a physical state of listening and movement, a state that is both action and passivity at once. In this state, it is no longer the brain that decides which movements to make or what space to occupy. The Field operates to put everything into place. What emerges are bodily movements that carry their own story, within which a narrative arises. The bodies speak for themselves, without intellectual judgment, without verbalizing meaning. Thanks to the absence of explanation, the narratives woven by the field are extremely deep, penetrating, and transformative.

After three years of research with circus artists’ bodies, I now face the challenge of sharing this experience with adults and teenagers who are not circus performers.