PRESENCE AND PURPOSE OF SOCIAL CIRCUS: AN AUTONOMOUS POPULAR INITIATIVE

Abstract

The circus, artistic patrimony of humanity, traditionally has the family as transmission model. Currently, the circus’ existence also spreads through the social circus, which uses circus art as a means for the integral development of marginalized young people. In Ribeirão Preto, there is a case of this (Sustentáculos) in the periphery, in which a circus artist-teacher-leader appropriates the circus to contribute to the psychosocial education of the youth from her community. The aim of the study was to investigate Sustentáculos, having as mainstay the social circus in order to compare the proposals. Ethnopsychoanalysis guided the method through observation and interviews; the collaborators were the leader and eight children; the meetings were held weekly. Important similarities were noted, but a more pedagogical and structured character was noted in the social circus, for working in a network and with financial support. As for Sustentáculos, there is a clear mark of the artistic itself, a politicalcontestant bias and autonomy