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Creative Rigging Workshop with Saar Rombout (28/09–02/10)

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

In this 5-day intensive workshop, circus artist and rigger Saar Rombout will share her extensive experience in technical and artistic rigging practices to support participants in building a solid foundation for safe and creative exploration.

Circus rigging has evolved significantly in the last decade—moving far beyond guesswork. Today, riggers work with greater clarity on the forces at play in circus systems and the suitability of materials for different types of installations. At the same time, circus continues to evolve through experimentation with new apparatuses and custom-built structures. This workshop will offer to explore both worlds: technical rigging and creative design.

The first two days will focus on theoretical and practical rigging knowledge from different industries, including equipment, knots, rope types, pulley systems, force calculations, and risk assessments. From there, the workshop will move into creative rigging—teaching safe and thoughtful methods to develop and prototype the participant's own rigging-based concepts using model-making, tension-based systems (like tensegrity), and force testing.

Participants will gain tools to evaluate and design rigging systems, understand the relationship between artists and riggers, and explore how rigging can be a vital part of the creative process. 

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DATES: September 28–October 2, 2025 (Sunday–Thursday)
TIME: Daily from 10:00 to 18:00, including a lunch break 
LOCATION: Rīgas cirks (Merķeļa iela 4, Rīga, LV-1050)
LANGUAGE: English
PARTICIPATION CO-PAYMENT: 150 EUR* 
APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 11, 2025, at 23:59

Selected participants will be notified by September 12, 2025.

* With the financial support of the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia, the workshop fee is fully covered by Rīgas cirks. However, participants are asked to contribute a co-payment to cover lunches, coffee, equipment, and other materials.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 

Participants should have prior experience in circus, aerial arts, or related fields such as stage production. While the workshop does not require advanced rigging skills, basic familiarity with rigging contexts and physical ability to handle equipment (e.g., lifting gear, climbing ladders) is expected. An interest in both the technical and creative aspects of rigging is essential, as the workshop includes conceptual development, model-making, and collaborative experimentation. Participants should be open to exploring rigging as part of an artistic process, not just as technical support. A basic understanding of knots, pulley systems, or mechanical principles is helpful but not mandatory.

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ABOUT SAAR ROMBOUT:

Saar Rombout is a circus artist specializing in Rope Design, creating installations that shape her movement and explore the dialogue between body and material. Trained at ACaPA in the Netherlands and got a Masters degree in Contemporary Circus Practices at SKH in Stockholm (formerly know as DOCH). Saar also developed a deep interest in rigging during her studies and continued to expand her knowledge through internships and courses in rescue, stunt, and entertainment rigging. Since 2012, she has worked as both a performer and rigger, currently designing for Circus Days and Nights by Cirkus Cirkör and Malmö Opera. She teaches rigging extensively—leading the 6-month “Introduction to Rigging within Circus” course at SKH Circus in Stockholm, as well as teaching at Codarts in Rotterdam and to Dutch youth circus trainers. Saar has also taught creative rigging at BA and MA levels, summer intensives, and served as an external evaluator for a FEDEC exchange project with riggers from European and Canadian circus schools. Her Rope Design practice centers on cotton rope installations that invite reflection on movement, memory, and perception through play, improvisation, and an ongoing dialogue with materials.
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Please note that the workshop capacity is limited. Participant selection will be based on motivation and previous experience.
Why are you interested in this Creative Rigging workshop?
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Please describe your experience in aerial rigging, creative rigging, aerial acrobatics, stage production, or other relevant fields. Include both formal and informal education, training, workshops, and any hands-on experience that may be relevant to this course.
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Do you have any prior experience with load calculations, pulley systems, or risk assessments?
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Are you comfortable working at height and handling rigging equipment (e.g., ropes, carabiners, pulleys)?
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Attendance Commitment
Participation in all five days of the workshop is required, as the content is cumulative and collaborative. By submitting this form, you confirm your availability for the full duration.
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By submitting the application form for participation in the workshop, I confirm that I am aware that:

1. The purpose of personal data processing is to ensure the implementation of the workshop by Saar Rombout at Rīgas cirks, hereinafter referred to as the Workshop. The legal basis for the processing of my personal data is the Law on the Prevention of Squandering of Public Funds and Property and the legitimate interests of VSIA Rīgas cirks in organizing the Workshop: registration for the Workshop and communication with Workshop participants. In order to achieve the aforementioned purpose, VSIA Rīgas cirks will process the following personal data of Workshop participants: name, surname, email, and telephone number.

2. The controller of my personal data for the aforementioned purposes is VSIA Rīgas cirks, address: Rīga, Merķeļa iela 4, LV-1050, telephone: 67213479.

3. The recipient of personal data is the Workshop coordinator.

4. VSIA Rīgas cirks will store data related to the implementation of the Workshop until 02.10.2035. (ten years after the date of the Workshop);

5. I have the right to access my personal data, correct it, delete it if it is no longer necessary for the performance of volunteer work, or if it is being processed unlawfully, as well as to restrict the processing of my personal data;

6. I have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data State Inspectorate regarding a possible violation of my personal data protection.

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