In a society increasingly full of adversity, It is not always easy to maintain joy. In order to discuss what we can learn from the circus arts, with its poetics and playfulness, this panel brings together researcher and circus artist Ermínia Silva, director and clown Bete Dorgam and psychoanalyst Christian Dunker.

“The question of laughter is extremely important for life, and artists, in general, have a different sensibility in bringing this to people,” says Ermínia. “To bring joy, to bring magic is to guarantee that life is worth living.”
Clown and director Lu Lopes, the Rubra Clown, mediates the panel. Lúcia Nascimento, from GEAC (Cultural Action Management of Sesc São Paulo), makes the introduction.

Bete Dorgam is an actress, director and clown, with works in cinema, theatre and television. Since 1991, she has been researching the clown language. She studied at the University of Navarra, in Spain, and did her master’s and doctorate at USP (University of Sã Paulo), with a thesis on the use of clown’s mask in the actor’s process.

Christian Dunker is a psychoanalyst, lecturer at University of São Paulo’s Institute of Psychology and coordinator of the university’s Laboratory of Social Theory, Philosophy and Psychoanalysis. Among other books, he is the author of “O Palhaço e o Psicanalista” (The Clown and the Psychoanalyst) – written with clown Cláudio Thebas.

Ermínia Silva is a researcher, historian and circus artist. She researches the history of the circus in the country and is one of the leaders of Circus – Group for the Study and Research of Circus Activities. Her master’s thesis gave rise to the book “Respeitável Público… O Circo em Cena” (Ladies and Gentlemen… The Circus on Stage).

Lu Lopes is a clown and creator of the character Rubra. Among her shows are “Rubra Pop Show”, “O Carnaval da Rubra” (Rubra’s Carnival) and “Escalafobética” (Scalafobetic). She worked as an art educator at the Teatro Escola Celia Helena and at the Casa do Teatro, and also took part in the NGO Doutores da Alegria.

Watch here.