Verein Freifall
Contemporary Circus
About Freifall
Freifall is an a cultural association fostering the creation of international, collaborative artistic projects, exploring the boundaries between circus, dance and performance. Based between Vienna and Toulouse, we create and curate projects that connect movement, space, and social reflection.
Freifall was founded by Verena Schneider in 2018 with the aim of developing interdisciplinary projects focused on circus, dance, and performance. The association produces, supports and curates projects working across disciplines to advance the emerging field of contemporary circus. Freifall operates internationally, with a particular focus on developing projects in Austria and France. Furthermore, the association strives to connect acrobatics, dance, and installation with intellectual disciplines such as sociology, landscape architecture, and ecology. This is achieved by working with various formats, including collaborations, stage productions, workshops and different forms of site-specific curation.
Cie Kumquat – the collaborative project between Charlotte Le May and Verena Schneider – represents a major milestone for Freifall, as with it the first long-term artistic partnership and development of a stage piece and satellit projects came to fruition successfully.
Artistic Direction: Charlotte Le May, Verena Schneider
Artistic Collaboration in various projects: Jana Kilbertus, Alexander Iwanov, Tobias Dankl, Martina Stapf, Florinda Fürst, Sarah Sternat
Contemporary circus – out of the Niche!
A Growing Movement for Contemporary Circus and Interdisciplinary Art
It combines acrobatics, juggling, handstands, trapeze, Chinese pole, and tightrope walking with acting, dance, music, visual arts, and new media.
The result is a cross-genre art form that explores personal, social, and political issues — and opens up new perspectives on what performance can be.
Why Austria Needs More Contemporary Circus
Contemporary circus in Austria is not (yet) part of established high culture — which is precisely why it can challenge conventions and create space for experimentation and new ideas.
“I founded Freifall in 2019 to bring together artists from different disciplines and realize joint, cross-genre projects.”
— Verena Schneider
From early initiatives like Plateau Partagé (with Alex Iwanov) and Indigo City (with Jana Kilbertus) to the long-term collaboration from Charlotte Le May & Verena Schneider , Freifall has grown into a vibrant art association that connects Austria and France through the language of movement, art, and performance.
Our goal is not only to produce performances or organize events, but to build a living network — a platform for artistic exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of contemporary circus.
Current Projects and Vision
We are currently working on Erde & Plastik and Holding on to everything I’ve got by Verena Schneider and on the international distribution of Alter (Cie Kumquat).
Upcoming Dates
10-11 April, 2026
French Premiere: Alter – cirque introspectif, Cie Kumquat
Projects
Erde & Plastik
A contemporary circus performance from Vienna exploring the fragile relationship between body, environment and material. Combining dance, choreography and performance art, it reflects on balance, vulnerability and transformation.
Erde & Plastik: Begegnungen
A site-specific contemporary circus and performance installation, where space, bodies, materials and audiences interact—merging choreography, sculpture and artistic research on connection and detachment.
Alter
A contemporary circus performance from exploring friendship, empathy, and the human condition. Blending acrobatics, dance, and handstands, it transforms shared life philosophies into poetic, physical expression.
Augenblicke
A cinematic video installation from translating the language of contemporary circus and dance into moving images. Featuring short films from Cie Kumquat’s creation Alter, it offers poetic insights into artistic process and motion.
Layers
A contemporary circus duo performance from exploring connection, distance, and self. Through acrobatics and dance, the two performers navigate the fragile balance between harmony and tension.
Steinsgebilden
A poetic dance film and contemporary circus project inspired by the Tyrolean legend of Frau Hitt. Blending choreography and performance art, it explores transformation, rigidity, and the softening of perception.
Social Media
Verein Freifall
freifall.office@gmail.com
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