In riggers’ shoes by Jan Naets and Noé Robert

Venue: MAD Festival (Asiadok-Westkaai, 2030 Antwerp)

Content & format

In this workshop you will be immersed in the daily work of a rigger. Guided by expert riggers, participants will be divided in groups and will take part in a practical task (for example the installation of a flying trapeze). They will get a grasp on what riggers must take care of when doing their work. Later, there will be an open discussion about the role of the rigger in circus productions.

Learning outcomes

  • raised awareness about the role of riggers in any circus environment
  • basic knowledge on how to install circus equipment

Riggers

jan en noé

Noé Robert (left) is a high-level swinging trapeze artist graduate of the Ecole Nationale de Cirque de Montréal. He has toured the world over the last 15 years. Passionate about rigging since childhood, he has developed himself to become one of the leading experts in Acrobatic Rigging in Europe. He uses his knowledge of high-level acrobatics combined with his expertise in Rigging to provide advice in various fields, such as Dance, Circus, Entertainment, and Sailing. He works at the Fontys Circus as Head Rigger and is responsible for the Rigging course embedded in the Circus Bachelor. Since 2021, Noé Robert has been the CEO of INR Rigging, a company based in the Netherlands that specializes in Acrobatic Rigging. Jan Naets (right) works since 20 years as a circus-technician with different companies. To name some of them, in order of appearance, Les Arts Sauts, Dragone, Buren cirque, Studios de cirque de marseille (now known as Gratte Ciel) and then later as a technical manager with Cirkvost and since 10 years as co-artistic director and technical manager for Compagnie Basinga. During these 20 years, aerial disciplines and rigging have always been around.