What the (circus) world can learn from sex worker Sabine Maringer #circolo2023

"I think you can apply this idea of consent culture to families, friends, leisure groups, anywhere, if you want." On Friday 13 October 2023, Tilburg's Circus Festival Circolo will open with a seminar on the premises of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences. Keynote speaker at that seminar is Sabine Marringer. She comes with a special message, she announces: "I sent a friend the outline of my speech and he said, 'Whoa, you'll shock those people.'

Now, some will already be shocked by Sabine Marringer's CV. After college, she became a circus acrobat, but now has a thriving practice as a professional sex worker. As a 'dominatrix' in a practice run and staffed by women, she is the one who can tell the circus world about 'concentricity'. Because there is quite a lack of that, it turns out: "I spoke to someone who organises sex-positive parties in Vienna. There I give workshops to introduce newcomers to BDSM. When I told about my previous life as a circus performer. He was stunned to hear…