Arte circense: espetáculo, cultura e educação no reconhecimento da identidade formativa

Abstract

Based on my experience as a human being, educator, woman, and student, I believe in the power of example and role modeling. The more we meet people who align with what we seek in life, the more confident we become in our own journeys. Therefore, the autobiographical methodology proved appropriate for the objectives set forth in this Final Project, allowing the narrative of my experiences to be used as a tool for critical reflection and social transformation. Thus, the research was developed based on an immersion in authors such as Ailton Krenak (2019, 2018), Daniel Munduruku (2020), bell hooks (2013), Veronica Ester Tapia (2022), among others who approach popular education from diverse perspectives and decolonial worldviews, in opposition to Western, capitalist, and hegemonic models. In addition to engaging with these theoretical frameworks, the research enabled the observation and analysis of knowledge and practices experienced in real contexts, demonstrating how popular education materializes into transformative actions. In Act 3, the narrative focuses on raising awareness of individual differences, symbolized by each person's dreams. The clown Bambolina, the story's protagonist, leads the audience through a reflection on their most intimate desires, which are often stifled by social impositions and capitalist logic. The act concludes with the revelation of Bambolina's deepest dream: to be a runway model, which serves as a metaphor for the search for autonomy, selfesteem, and freedom. This moment concludes the show poetically, inviting the audience to look within themselves, recognizing their own dreams, and understanding that personal fulfillment need not be linked to social or monetary advancement, but rather to the ability to live authentically and collectively. In my final remarks, I understand that art, especially the circus and popular culture, are powerful tools of resistance and education. The show, like this research, reaffirms that popular education must be built collectively, considering the diversity of knowledge and valuing individual and collective stories. By uniting art and pedagogy, it is possible to create experiences that not only teach but transform, awakening in people the courage to dream and act to build a more just and pluralistic society. This journey reaffirms that education is also a political and poetic act, capable of generating profound changes in both those who teach and those who learn, strengthening the hope for a future where freedom, creativity, and solidarity can flourish.