COLLECTIve COMMON GROUND

We, Common Ground, are organized as a collective. We take decisions together about artistic choices as well as about all organizational questions. Tasks are shared between us and every one of us supports the group in the best way possible, doing what each is best at. We all met at the Academy for Circus and Performance Art in Tilburg, the Netherlands, where most of us did our circus studies. For quite some years we have performed in different shows, projects and companies as solo or duo artists. In 2015, we decided to bring together our experiences, visions and skills to create a performance based on the common ground of this specific group. 

Andreas Bartl

Germany • Chinese Pole • The Nit-picker

After finishing high school easily with the best grades, I had the academic world at my feet: I could have become whatever I wanted: a lawyer, a doctor, but luckily I found myself a serious job and became a circus artist! Specializing in handstand during my studies at ESAC, I struggled some years with this discipline but then fell for Chinese Pole and dove with all my energy into yet another career within the circus world.

As I never stopped being curious about learning something new, I joined professional trainings in acrobatic rigging and social circus training. Temporarily, I had a look at university, graduating in social anthropology and education, I worked as a circus lecturer and did stage organization over the years. Recently, I also resumed my musical endeavour, as I had trained clarinet and saxophone in the past. Together with Lisa I have travelled the world producing shows and acts under the label of Circus unARTiq.

Evertjan Mercier

Belgium • Hand to hand • The Force

Destined to become an archaeologist, I landed in the circus… I discovered it all on the go, from my first hesitant steps at the academy where choosing a discipline was no easy matter, passing from juggling to banquine and even taking a very short shot at the tight-wire. I was very lucky to meet an amazing bad-ass flyer. It is the most exciting life I could have imagined, traveling to all continents, performing in all kinds of places for so many different people.

As duo Zinzi & Evertjan we shape our imagination performing our act, the street show in summer and - only recently - MEMO, a duo piece about identity and (in)dependence. After experiencing collective work with the French Company XY, we wanted to make it our own and the next step in our development is a fact: Common Ground is born!

Zinzi Oegema

Netherlands • Hand to hand • The Architect

I started doing circus when I was four and just never stopped. When I graduated at sixteen, I was in doubt about what to study: biology or chemistry? In the end, I decided to chase my dream of becoming a circus artist. Together with Evertjan I’ve been performing as a hand-to-hand duo for ten years now as Zinzi & Evertjan and it still feels as if in every new project there is more still to discover.

In my opinion circus can include many art forms, it enriches physical exceptionality with everything it needs to express what it wants. Strict expectations are missing and the non-existence of rules is its strength. I love performing with live music as well as to sing and accompany myself on the guitar. I discovered a great interest in dance and have a minor in choreography. Recently, I have taken my first steps as a circus director for others with the projects Barstool Bound and PIT with TENT. I hope to inspire people with my work, to get them to open themselves up to more possibilities than they ever imagined thinking of.

Emma Laule

Germany • Vertical rope • The Utopist

Growing up I wanted to do something out of the ordinary and change the world, at least a little bit. Becoming a circus artist seemed to be the perfect match, guaranteeing never to become too rich and too much part of the system and never to get stuck in routine. After one year at Die Etage in Berlin and another 4 years at ACaPA in Tilburg, Netherlands, where I specialised in vertical rope I am now traveling and performing in many different projects from Varieté over street show to theatre and experimental performance. Next to my work as a performer I am also developing my own productions in which I take over dramaturgical and production tasks. I am also active in the German “Feminist Circus Initiative”. 

I love traveling, learning languages, inventing new recipes, reading philosophical texts, even though I have to look up all the termini, singing, sewing costumes, drawing, lazy Sundays and my latest project: learning how to play the Accordion. 

Lisa Rinne

Germany • Swinging Trapeze • The One Over the Moon

At a some point in my life after high-school I decided to get up in the air. I said: “Fly high or go home!” Well, I haven’t seen home in a long time… Instead, I just worked my way through the whole circus world and won price after price, without really going for it. It just happened. The press says that my work is extraordinary and unique. This might be because nothing makes me happier than working on 33 feet of height and just be!

I want to not only impress with the technical and innovative quality of my performances but also share the joie de vivre open-heartedly with my audiences through my love for flying. And even though I am a grown up, professional and experienced human being… I just can’t stop being youthful, fearless and curious. I love circus arts as much as coffee, and beer. So, by the end of the day, you find me at the bar still hungry to create new projects, all the time devoted and committed, in these last years together with Andreas under the label of Circus unARTiq.

Marius Pohlmann

Germany • Banquine • The Team Player

Ever since I was young, I was passionate about circus and street theatre. Through circus classes and the annual street culture festival in my town, I was inspired to learn tricks, develop shows, and perform them on stage. After high school and a free social year of culture in a children's circus institution, I decided to apply to circus schools and to become a circus artist. A future as an artist seemed more exciting and joyful to me than studying a technical profession and working in an 'office job'.  

At circus school I quickly became passionate about partner acrobatics and working in groups. The concentration in training, creating and performing shows fascinate me. I have been working as a performer since 2012 under the name of Company Satchok, we have mainly been working in the street theatre scene and performed on many festivals. Recently I entered the other side of the scene and I became the artisic director of the street culture festival in Nordhorn, the city where I grew up.