Dr. Jon Burtt

Biography

Jon Burtt is a performer, director, teacher, and scholar in Creative Industries, serving as a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney. He holds the position of Course Director for the Master of Creative Industries and has been recognized with the Vice Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. Jon's artistic career began with work as a performer and artistic director across various interdisciplinary art forms, achieving significant public success and touring extensively in Australia and Asia. His Master’s thesis focused on ancient yogic practices through fieldwork in India, while his Doctorate involved a thorough study of innovative cognitive approaches to physical training at the National Circus School in Montreal. He has published in the areas of Creative Industries, circus studies, and social circus in several academic journals including New Theatre Quarterly and Theatre, Dance and Performance Training. His co-authored book, “Contemporary Circus,” was published in 2019 by Routledge and has been translated into Chinese, with a Korean version scheduled for release in 2025. His latest publication, “Circus Social Change: Social Circus in Context,” is set to explore how social circus practices influence societal responses to social, political, and cultural contexts.

Research Interests

Experience