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The Research Centre works on a variety of research projects related to human potential and movement in the context of the performing arts. The work of the researchers and specialists is articulated around four fields of innovation:

  • Human Performance
  • Experiential and Environmental Design
  • Social Innovation
  • Digital Technologies

The list of projects will be updated soon.

Technical innovations

Confidential industrial projectsapplied research, transfer and training 

  • Duration: 2017-2022 (second cycle of the research chair)    
  • Description: N/A    
  • Partners: Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, The 7 Fingers, Machine de Cirque    
  • Collaborators: N/A    
  • Funder: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) 
  • Expected results: design of unique and innovative circus acts (several projects in progress).

Interactive and immersive technologies

Confidential industrial projects — applied research, transfer and training 

  •     Duration: 2012-2017 (first cycle of the research chair) 
  •     Description: N/A 
  •     Partners: Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, The 7 Fingers 
  •     Collaborators: OPTECH 
  •     Funder: SSHRC 
  •     Results: use of new technologies to improve performance in partnership: 
  •     Development of a mini HD camera that can be inserted into stage costumes with the 7 Fingers; 
  •     Optimization of a physiological data acquisition jacket with Carré technologie. 

Health and security

Validation of sleep quality measurement tools

  • Duration: Since 2015 (ongoing project)
  • Description: project aimed at a better understanding of the impacts of sleep on the performance of circus artists.
  • Partners: University of Manitoba
  • Collaborators/researchers: Dean Kriellaars, Adam Decker
  • Funder: SSHRC
  • Results: submission of a doctoral thesis in September 2018.

 

Development of a questionnaire measuring anxiety-provoking phenomena and their impact on circus artists

  • Duration: Since 2015 (ongoing project)
  • Description: project aiming to better understand the impact of anxiety-provoking phenomena on the performance of circus artists
  • Partners: University of Manitoba and Laval University
  • Co-researchers: Dean Kriellaars, Sarah Travis and Richard Fleet
  • Funder: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
  • Results: Functional Questionnaire

 

Improvement of the analysis of the etiology and mechanisms of injury in the practice of circus arts

  • Duration: Since 2013 (ongoing project)
  • Description: project aimed at developing a method for analyzing the phenomenon
  • Partners: University of Manitoba, University of Montreal, Laval University
  • Co-researchers: Raphaëlle Creniault, François Prince, Dean Kriellaars, Éric Deschênes, Richard Fleet
  • Funder: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education
  • Result: master’s thesis.

Pedagogy

Introduction to the practice of circus arts and evaluation of its effects on physical literacy, creativity and resilience

  • Duration: 2015-2018
  • Description: project on the effects of an introduction to the practice of circus arts on the development of physical literacy, creativity and resilience of young participants
  • Project Director: Patrice Aubertin
  • Partners: Cirque du Soleil, CLIPP, University of Manitoba, University of Alberta, Concordia University, Resilience Research Center at Dalhousie University, Quebec Gymnastics Federation, Parkland School Division
  • Co-researchers: Dean Kriellaars, Doug Klein, Patrick Leroux, Michael Ungar
  • Collaborators: Felicia Ochs, Stéphanie Taillon, David Simard, Guy Lavoie, Sergei Kimvi, Isabelle Tremblay
  • Funder: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
  • Expected results: This project aims to develop a complete cycle of action, knowledge development and mobilization. | In addition to publications and a new portal to come, this project has enabled the development of a tool for assessing physical literacy, resilience and creativity in a social and school circus context.

Writing and dramaturgy

Dramaturgy(ies) of the body, the object and interdisciplinarity in contemporary Quebec circus

  • Duration: 2015-2018
  • Description: Research-creation aimed at understanding the modes and strategies of scenic writing in the circus field and better understanding its notation, modeling and transmission.
  • Partners: Concordia University
  • Funders: FQRSC (Quebec Fund for Research on Society and Culture)
  • Expected results: conference | The development of a conceptual framework for dramaturgy in circus arts | Improving the processes for evaluating and analyzing artistic performance in the circus.

History and aesthetics

Development of cultural mediation tools relating to the history of circus arts

  • Duration: April to December 2018
  • Description: Produce educational files on the history of circus arts for 2nd cycle primary and 1st cycle secondary schools in order to promote knowledge and practice of circus arts in Canada.
  • Partners: University of Montreal — Department of History
  • Project Director: Anna-Karyna Barlati
  • History Department team — 2nd cycle: Célia Destemberg
  • Expected results: Bibliographic identification | Writing of an educational file for the 2nd cycle of primary level | Writing of an educational file for the 1st cycle of secondary school level.

Reports

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