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Curiosity without a net | Kelly Richardson | TEDxFulbright


[Music]

[Music] thank you in 2008 with the support of

thank you in 2008 with the support of

thank you in 2008 with the support of Fulbright I found myself in a district

Fulbright I found myself in a district

Fulbright I found myself in a district of rio de janeiro known as pedasi on z

of rio de janeiro known as pedasi on z

of rio de janeiro known as pedasi on z far from the glamour of the recent

far from the glamour of the recent

far from the glamour of the recent Olympics and World Cup yet

Olympics and World Cup yet

Olympics and World Cup yet geographically close to the Magnificent

geographically close to the Magnificent

geographically close to the Magnificent Maracana stadium pacion Z was and

Maracana stadium pacion Z was and

Maracana stadium pacion Z was and continues to be a struggling community

continues to be a struggling community

continues to be a struggling community where crack cocaine is rampant and

where crack cocaine is rampant and

where crack cocaine is rampant and fights break out between rival gangs on

fights break out between rival gangs on

fights break out between rival gangs on the streets that police refuse to patrol

the streets that police refuse to patrol

the streets that police refuse to patrol in one abandoned class on Z parking lot

in one abandoned class on Z parking lot

in one abandoned class on Z parking lot stood a circus an incongruous sight yet

stood a circus an incongruous sight yet

stood a circus an incongruous sight yet no more unusual than its motley crew of

no more unusual than its motley crew of

no more unusual than its motley crew of young performers each searching for a

young performers each searching for a

young performers each searching for a life apart from the drug-related

life apart from the drug-related

life apart from the drug-related violence around them that was the

violence around them that was the

violence around them that was the setting in which I began documenting

setting in which I began documenting

setting in which I began documenting their stories through film I had a

their stories through film I had a

their stories through film I had a history and circus myself a few years

history and circus myself a few years

history and circus myself a few years earlier I had I had been with a

earlier I had I had been with a

earlier I had I had been with a Brazilian circus a few states away I’d

Brazilian circus a few states away I’d

Brazilian circus a few states away I’d been an aerialist and an acrobat I’d

been an aerialist and an acrobat I’d

been an aerialist and an acrobat I’d performed on the trapeze and on the Lyra

performed on the trapeze and on the Lyra

performed on the trapeze and on the Lyra which is like a vertical hula-hoop

which is like a vertical hula-hoop

which is like a vertical hula-hoop hanging spinning in the air and in that

hanging spinning in the air and in that

hanging spinning in the air and in that circus where I was the performer there

circus where I was the performer there

circus where I was the performer there was a performance group as well as a

was a performance group as well as a

was a performance group as well as a social project for children and

social project for children and

social project for children and teenagers at risk for joining the drug

teenagers at risk for joining the drug

teenagers at risk for joining the drug trade circuses have always been places

trade circuses have always been places

trade circuses have always been places where people of different backgrounds

where people of different backgrounds

where people of different backgrounds come together circus culture has a long

come together circus culture has a long

come together circus culture has a long history of adopting into the tent people

history of adopting into the tent people

history of adopting into the tent people who need to find their way out of

who need to find their way out of

who need to find their way out of circumstances so the concept of social

circumstances so the concept of social

circumstances so the concept of social circus as it’s called is not a new one

circus as it’s called is not a new one

circus as it’s called is not a new one but rather a rebranding and repackaging

but rather a rebranding and repackaging

but rather a rebranding and repackaging of a mentality that has existed since

of a mentality that has existed since

of a mentality that has existed since the earliest circuses which were just

the earliest circuses which were just

the earliest circuses which were just simple equestrian shows punctuated by

simple equestrian shows punctuated by

simple equestrian shows punctuated by clowns coming in to entertain the

clowns coming in to entertain the

clowns coming in to entertain the audience between acts but the term

audience between acts but the term

audience between acts but the term social circus formalized that concept

social circus formalized that concept

social circus formalized that concept and expands its reach and capacity

and expands its reach and capacity

and expands its reach and capacity as I learned more about social circus

as I learned more about social circus

as I learned more about social circus and its growing popularity worldwide I

and its growing popularity worldwide I

and its growing popularity worldwide I became increasingly interested in the

became increasingly interested in the

became increasingly interested in the stories of the individuals the

stories of the individuals the

stories of the individuals the participants in these kinds of projects

participants in these kinds of projects

participants in these kinds of projects when I arrived in Rio I I didn’t take

when I arrived in Rio I I didn’t take

when I arrived in Rio I I didn’t take out my camera for two months I just

out my camera for two months I just

out my camera for two months I just trained with the performers I got to

trained with the performers I got to

trained with the performers I got to know them we practiced together and

know them we practiced together and

know them we practiced together and rehearse we we practiced circling around

rehearse we we practiced circling around

rehearse we we practiced circling around the trapeze bar and climbing up the

the trapeze bar and climbing up the

the trapeze bar and climbing up the lines we did a thing called hand to hand

lines we did a thing called hand to hand

lines we did a thing called hand to hand which is where one person is stacked on

which is where one person is stacked on

which is where one person is stacked on top of the other or hand to foot and we

top of the other or hand to foot and we

top of the other or hand to foot and we in the beginning the jokes were all

in the beginning the jokes were all

in the beginning the jokes were all about me I I had a funny accent I had

about me I I had a funny accent I had

about me I I had a funny accent I had dorky clothes and but as time went on we

dorky clothes and but as time went on we

dorky clothes and but as time went on we we sweated together side by side doing

we sweated together side by side doing

we sweated together side by side doing our push-ups and handstands and splits

our push-ups and handstands and splits

our push-ups and handstands and splits and we developed friendship and trust

the people that are profiled in my film

the people that are profiled in my film are fascinating they’re fascinating

are fascinating they’re fascinating

are fascinating they’re fascinating people with stories that are so

people with stories that are so

people with stories that are so interesting and exciting and wisdom and

interesting and exciting and wisdom and

interesting and exciting and wisdom and experiences there’s one person that

experiences there’s one person that

experiences there’s one person that stood out to me immediately when I first

stood out to me immediately when I first

stood out to me immediately when I first arrived he has an infectious laugh and

arrived he has an infectious laugh and

arrived he has an infectious laugh and his personality is as big as he is his

his personality is as big as he is his

his personality is as big as he is his name is – Jefferson Mangusta Silva and

name is – Jefferson Mangusta Silva and

name is – Jefferson Mangusta Silva and in my film the characters speak for

in my film the characters speak for

in my film the characters speak for themselves they tell their own stories

themselves they tell their own stories

themselves they tell their own stories and there’s no narration so I will take

and there’s no narration so I will take

and there’s no narration so I will take this opportunity to let to Jefferson

this opportunity to let to Jefferson

this opportunity to let to Jefferson introduce himself

– Casa Alegria de la comunidad Eugenia

– Casa Alegria de la comunidad Eugenia safe I think you be dodging a room on my

safe I think you be dodging a room on my

safe I think you be dodging a room on my heels of a crescent in each Mahdi Drogo

I choose hey Choji frassle on g+

I choose hey Choji frassle on g+ double-dealer we are the same you

double-dealer we are the same you

double-dealer we are the same you actually are forgiven fantasy

actually are forgiven fantasy

actually are forgiven fantasy instantaneously dance work at the

instantaneously dance work at the

instantaneously dance work at the Waukesha

Waukesha

Waukesha [Music]

SOT Ozma build a quesadilla

SOT Ozma build a quesadilla ochio say no solutions po l still

ochio say no solutions po l still

ochio say no solutions po l still encouraged as a teacher my decision Muto

encouraged as a teacher my decision Muto

encouraged as a teacher my decision Muto very more Yelich Martell pallava see

very more Yelich Martell pallava see

very more Yelich Martell pallava see boys and officer behalf of who have

to the Kyocera basic approach fuzzy

to the Kyocera basic approach fuzzy glazier cavity as masculine fashion to

glazier cavity as masculine fashion to

glazier cavity as masculine fashion to hollow out arriving equals vintage

hollow out arriving equals vintage

hollow out arriving equals vintage vintage gravida with the vida me of mine

vintage gravida with the vida me of mine

vintage gravida with the vida me of mine who big as a face to these ones still

who big as a face to these ones still

who big as a face to these ones still care for scale submit dividends of my

care for scale submit dividends of my

care for scale submit dividends of my time there I heard many of Jefferson’s

time there I heard many of Jefferson’s

time there I heard many of Jefferson’s philosophical takes on life and

philosophical takes on life and

philosophical takes on life and strategies for handling challenging

strategies for handling challenging

strategies for handling challenging circumstances many of which he inherited

circumstances many of which he inherited

circumstances many of which he inherited at birth in and around cabassa Anzhi

at birth in and around cabassa Anzhi

at birth in and around cabassa Anzhi there are a few opportunities for people

there are a few opportunities for people

there are a few opportunities for people to work outside of the drug trade

to work outside of the drug trade

to work outside of the drug trade schools are in disrepair and do not

schools are in disrepair and do not

schools are in disrepair and do not provide a viable path to success and

provide a viable path to success and

provide a viable path to success and rates of people surviving to adulthood

rates of people surviving to adulthood

rates of people surviving to adulthood are low circus as well as a high stakes

are low circus as well as a high stakes

are low circus as well as a high stakes game with severe consequences for

game with severe consequences for

game with severe consequences for mistakes

mistakes

mistakes so in all aspects of their lives

so in all aspects of their lives

so in all aspects of their lives the pedasi owns a circus community

the pedasi owns a circus community

the pedasi owns a circus community became highly skilled in summoning

became highly skilled in summoning

became highly skilled in summoning courage jumping through hoops and

courage jumping through hoops and

courage jumping through hoops and maintaining balance along a precarious

maintaining balance along a precarious

maintaining balance along a precarious fine line from Jefferson I learned these

fine line from Jefferson I learned these

fine line from Jefferson I learned these things as well as lessons about

things as well as lessons about

things as well as lessons about determination and perseverance and drive

determination and perseverance and drive

determination and perseverance and drive and techniques for managing stress

Lopez email him on a page in our Casa

Lopez email him on a page in our Casa NACADA Pago Pago of Cameron voltage no

NACADA Pago Pago of Cameron voltage no

NACADA Pago Pago of Cameron voltage no Pahoa vote average Vashti Marquis in ten

Pahoa vote average Vashti Marquis in ten

Pahoa vote average Vashti Marquis in ten dimensions warranty from G intended

dimensions warranty from G intended

dimensions warranty from G intended [Music]

[Music]

[Music] cuidado da da da ra da mismo

cuidado da da da ra da mismo

cuidado da da da ra da mismo Yamaha my CEO Peter present a judo

you’re finished instead of a couple in

you’re finished instead of a couple in co-op right

co-op right

co-op right so percentage carbon is over because it

so percentage carbon is over because it

so percentage carbon is over because it should I cannot breathe

what does that mean go ahead they give

what does that mean go ahead they give up

I mr. Jefferson I miss his laugh I miss

I mr. Jefferson I miss his laugh I miss his company my year with the president

his company my year with the president

his company my year with the president when the circus community transformed my

when the circus community transformed my

when the circus community transformed my life I’ve been back to visit to

life I’ve been back to visit to

life I’ve been back to visit to Jefferson and the other characters in

Jefferson and the other characters in

Jefferson and the other characters in the film several times at a time and and

the film several times at a time and and

the film several times at a time and and I followed that we stay in touch on

I followed that we stay in touch on

I followed that we stay in touch on Facebook and sometimes by phone

Facebook and sometimes by phone

Facebook and sometimes by phone I’ve watched how the performers lives

I’ve watched how the performers lives

I’ve watched how the performers lives have developed and changed since that

have developed and changed since that

have developed and changed since that time I’ve held their new babies I called

time I’ve held their new babies I called

time I’ve held their new babies I called them on their birthdays things are

them on their birthdays things are

them on their birthdays things are becoming more difficult in Rio now is

becoming more difficult in Rio now is

becoming more difficult in Rio now is the Brazilian economy tumbles further

the Brazilian economy tumbles further

the Brazilian economy tumbles further interest session and stores are closing

interest session and stores are closing

interest session and stores are closing and services that used to serve that

and services that used to serve that

and services that used to serve that services that used to be available to

services that used to be available to

services that used to be available to that community are diminishing

that community are diminishing

that community are diminishing I called to Jefferson last week to tell

I called to Jefferson last week to tell

I called to Jefferson last week to tell him about this talk he is 30 now and in

him about this talk he is 30 now and in

him about this talk he is 30 now and in the face of long odds to Jefferson I am

the face of long odds to Jefferson I am

the face of long odds to Jefferson I am happy to report continues training at

happy to report continues training at

happy to report continues training at circus and in fact he’s with a

circus and in fact he’s with a

circus and in fact he’s with a performance group at Ruth in Rio Torres

performance group at Ruth in Rio Torres

performance group at Ruth in Rio Torres in Europe

in Europe

in Europe he has shows in Stockholm in London and

he has shows in Stockholm in London and

he has shows in Stockholm in London and he sent me a picture so that if you go

he sent me a picture so that if you go

he sent me a picture so that if you go there you can recognize him in one of

there you can recognize him in one of

there you can recognize him in one of those new roles on stage now more than

those new roles on stage now more than

those new roles on stage now more than ever this type of cultural exchange and

ever this type of cultural exchange and

ever this type of cultural exchange and community building is vital to our world

community building is vital to our world

community building is vital to our world in circus it doesn’t matter you’re a

in circus it doesn’t matter you’re a

in circus it doesn’t matter you’re a narrow hood or background it’s about

narrow hood or background it’s about

narrow hood or background it’s about trust it’s about knowing that someone is

trust it’s about knowing that someone is

trust it’s about knowing that someone is there for you so you don’t fall circus a

there for you so you don’t fall circus a

there for you so you don’t fall circus a combination of sports performance and

combination of sports performance and

combination of sports performance and art brings people together across

art brings people together across

art brings people together across cultures and languages and so does

cultures and languages and so does

cultures and languages and so does Fulbright with its mission to increase

Fulbright with its mission to increase

Fulbright with its mission to increase mutual understanding between people of

mutual understanding between people of

mutual understanding between people of different cultures so when I think about

different cultures so when I think about

different cultures so when I think about it they’re dissing Fulbright Fulbright

it they’re dissing Fulbright Fulbright

it they’re dissing Fulbright Fulbright and circus they’re really about the same

and I think now more than ever this type

and I think now more than ever this type of cultural exchange and community

of cultural exchange and community

of cultural exchange and community building is vital to our world

building is vital to our world

building is vital to our world I haven’t been to gratitude to Fulbright

I haven’t been to gratitude to Fulbright

I haven’t been to gratitude to Fulbright for the opportunities that has afforded

for the opportunities that has afforded

for the opportunities that has afforded me and I will carry my experience with

me and I will carry my experience with

me and I will carry my experience with the Jefferson and pedasi on Z surface

the Jefferson and pedasi on Z surface

the Jefferson and pedasi on Z surface community and the ideals that Fulbright

community and the ideals that Fulbright

community and the ideals that Fulbright us is still with me for the rest of my

us is still with me for the rest of my

us is still with me for the rest of my life thank you

life thank you

life thank you [Applause]

”

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