Exploring & Thinking: Head Tutor – Dublin circus project in Cherry Orchard
By Aideen O'Flaherty
When Angelica Santander moved from Chile to Ireland in 2002, she knew that her passion was performing, but a lack of confidence in her English skills led her to clowning – which she has enjoyed and practiced ever since.
Now a head tutor and circus skills facilitator at the Cherry Orchard-based Dublin Circus Project, Angelica was recently awarded the Exploring and Thinking Bursary which allows artists to develop their artistic practice by working with children and producing work for early childhood arts.
Angelica as Juanita the clown
The bursary will enable Angelica to carry out workshops at a primary school in the inner city and perhaps influence the next generation of circus performers.
She hopes to replicate the project in Cherry Orchard in the future.
Angelica told The Echo about her plans for the bursary project, how she became involved in clowning, and the Dublin Circus Project’s plans for their new location in Cherry Orchard, which they moved into last year.
What was your reaction when you found out you’d been awarded the Exploring and Thinking Bursary?
It was a good surprise. When I applied, I was hoping I’d get it. You never know if you’ll get it or not – it’s a bit of a lottery. In my application for the bursary, I said that I’d be doing some work with Cliodhna Noonan in the local community, but things have changed a bit because of Covid.
Now we’re planning to hold workshops for young artists in Holy Child Pre-School in the inner city.
When did you get involved in the Dublin Circus Project?
It was in 2013 at a particular time in my life. I’d had a theatre company, called the Kidding Ensemble, but the person that I co-founded it with went back to France.
I didn’t see myself as a circus person, I was a theatre person, but then one thing led to another and I ended up directing a show for the Dublin Circus Project.
What I love about the circus community in Ireland is that it’s very welcoming, supportive and helpful. It’s very non-competitive, we’re all there to help each other.
Angelica Santander
You’re the head tutor at Dublin Circus Project, what is circus education like in Ireland?
There is no school in Ireland for circus tutors, so it’s something you just do. We work with young people, but so far there is no qualification you can get here, you have to go abroad.
So, most people who work as tutors have been practicing for a very long time and we help them to adapt their style of teaching so it’s centred on the ‘social circus’ ethos. There will be a time when the project will go into fostering professional development.
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions people have about circus performers?
I guess that, in general for circus performers, other people think it’s just a hobby, that there’s no depth in our skills. But there is so much intellectual development, coordination and social skills.
I would argue that we need to add circus skills to the school curriculum because it will not distract, but instead complement concentration. Underneath it all, you’re developing so many things.
What’s the most fulfilling thing about being a circus performer?
The little victories, like getting better at juggling. Life is built up of little victories.
Circus performing has taught me that mistakes are a part of learning. We think that it’s the contrary of learning, but it’s not, it’s a very important part of retaining something.
And circus is about striving for the impossible, which I think is wonderful.
Your speciality is clowning, how did this come about?
Everything in my life just sort of happens. I had arrived in Ireland in the 2000s and was doing a Master’s degree, but I wasn’t confident with my English and I wanted to be involved in performing.
At the same time, I discovered clowning and when I was doing that my English didn’t really matter.
Dealing with self-consciousness can be a barrier for a lot of performers, how did you deal with this?
It takes a lot of training and development to overcome your perception of yourself. The type of clowning I do is all about honesty and knowing that it’s a part of you that’s maybe embarrassing for a regular person, but a clown enjoys it.
The role of the clown in society is to be the guinea pig, where everybody can laugh at themselves through the clown.
Looking ahead, what plans are in the pipeline for the Dublin Circus Project?
I’m hoping to do something similar to what I’m doing in the inner city, in Cherry Orchard, when things open up again. I’m so thrilled that we’ll be in Cherry Orchard, and I’m very excited to get to know the community there.
We’re planning to create a toddler group and a family group, and we want a strong relationship with the community. We’re excited to be part of the community and, as a company, grow with the community.
For more information, visit dublincircusproject.com, or follow the Dublin Circus Project on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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