Energetic and epic contemporary circus with very old music.
Premiere 14 november at Bærum Kulturhus, Norway 2025.
Energetic and epic performance with contemporary circus and very traditional live music
More faithful to tradition than tradition itself.
Welcome to a folk party adrift between life, dance and death.
Energetic and epic concert circus blending traditional music with innovative new movements. Award winning folk music trio Hialøsa’s interpretations of timeless Scanian folk songs set the tone. The physical expression of four circus artists dissolves the romantic aesthetic, making way for a fresh celebration more true to its roots than tradition itself. This physical, emotional, and musical exploration pushes boundaries, as Cirqus Hialøs navigates the border between life, dance, and death. The show incorporates an electronic sound manipulator, 7 fiddles, double bass, singing, acrobatics, hair hanging, trapeze, rope, and dance, challenging perceptions of traditional dance, circus and music.
Artists who have contributed during the process: Lalla la Cour, Simon Wiborn, Malte Zeberg, Alva Bosdottir, Methinee Wongtrakoon, Love Aamås Kjellsson, Karoline Aamås, Eivind Øverland, Andreya Ek Frisk, Mira Leonard, Ester Thunander.
All residencies are organised and led by the artists present and the concept and format is developed by experiments with or without audience.
All public try-outs are documented and available at this link: https://entmanagement.se/cirqus-hialos-video/
Timeline:
November 2023 – first residency with working group – research of concept, working methods and dramaturgy.
Location: Karavan, Malmö, Sweden.
Supported by: Region Skåne
July 2024 – second residency and 2 public showings – research of integration music and aerial acrobatics, singing and try out of format with audience
Location: Byhuset, Rödön, Jämtland, Sweden.
Supported by Byhuset, Swedish Art Grants Committee, Region Jämtland Härjedalen
October 2024 – third residency and 2 public showings – integration of concepts development of details, dramaturgy and composition
Location: Frikar, Fjelldansen, Valdres, Norway
Supported by: Region Skåne, Malmö Stad, Frikar, Swedish Art Grants Committee
November 2024 – fourth residency and 1 public showing – full scale try out of concept and black-box format, final plan for rigg and technical concept, first light design tests, development of details, integrating composition and establishment of the final form of the performance.
Location: Dynamo – Workspace for circus and performing arts, Odense, Denmark.
Support: Region Skåne, Malmö Stad, Dynamo, Swedish Art Grants Committee
February 2025 – fifth residency and 2 showcase presentations for professional audience in Skåne and Stockholm.
Development of artistic qualities of material and research of deeper connection and integration between music and circus, traditions and development. Analysis of dramaturgy and composition. Exposure to local and international professional networks.
Locations: Karavan in Malmö, Expo Scenkonst in Lund, Riksteatern in Hallunda (Stockholm) and Subtopia, Alby.
Support: Region Skåne, Malmö Stad, Swedish Art Grants Committeen, Nordic Culture Point, Karavan, Barnens Scen, MalmöFolk, Cirkulationscentralen, Riksteatern Skåne, Riksteatern Hallunda, Cirkusexpo, Expo Scenkonst, Cirkuscentrum, Subtopia.
March 2025 – sixth residency and 3 public presentations for different target groups. First rehearsals with extended artistic team, to make alternative versions with different cast. Experiments with target groups.
Location: Malmö Barnens Scen & Malmöfolk
Support: Support: Region Skåne, Malmö Stad, Swedish Art Grants Committeen, Nordic Culture Point, Karavan, Barnens Scen, MalmöFolk, Cirkulationscentralen, Riksteatern Skåne, Riksteatern Hallunda, Cirkusexpo, Expo Scenkonst, Cirkuscentrum, Subtopia.
3 May 2025 – work in progress presentation in Tromsø at Vårscenefest
Summer 2025 – residency and public showings – experiments with overall tempo, dynamics, contact with audience and exposure to international context.
Location: TOHU, Montreal and Malmöfestivalen, Karavan in Malmö
Support: Nordic Culture Point, Karavan
Fall 2025 – final residency and premier – rehearsals and development of details and design to make the performance easy and sustainable to tour.
Location: to be announced
Support: to be announced
14 november 2025 – premiere! at Bærum Kulturhus, Norway
Support: to be announced
