LEME: matter is the motto for the second edition of the contemporary circus festival
Material usage possibilities are infinite, especially when we consider that matter represents all that is real. Contemporary circus, on the other hand, also challenges what seems humanly intangible. This is (not only) why this second edition is, in every way, a call down to earth. From December 5th to December 8th, in Ílhavo (Portugal), the contemporary circus starts from matter, merging back into the territory by occupying it and making its unconventional spaces very accommodating.
This year, LEME has the participation of 7 countries, South Korea as a guest country (with two featured shows and a wide follow-up to the festival), 16 shows, of which eight are national premieres and one absolute debut. In addition, there are six itinerant presentations, as a result of the application to the Navegar category, which hosts various national school student’s works, as well as three workshops, two training courses and two artistic residences.
This year’s edition kicks off with the idea of matter opening new paths and creating new languages for the circus, as is the case of FANG, by the Spanish company Animal Religion, in which the performer melts into clay throughout of the show, or the polyestirene experimentation by Andrea Salustri.
LEME keeps its creation focus through the support of the Portuguese creator Daniel Seabra. [HOSE] is an aerial acrobatics performance that uses a regional company´s various types of hoses, making them not only scenery but also part of the show, joined by Maria Trabulo 's scenography and Miguel De' s sound design.
LEME continues to emphasize the challenge of reflection and analytical thinking about the contemporary circus, dedicating one of its days to the Circus Forum, a cycle of conversations about the sector's panorama among professionals, making it a meeting point for professionals, students and sector enthusiasts.
LEME is organized by 23 Milhas, the llhavo Municipality cultural project, in collaboration with Bússola.
