Meet Clarissa Matter

Somehow being an artist requires so much self esteem and “hard skin” that along the way, the many harsh challenges and obsacles in life almost succeeded in making me belief, that I would never be able to live from my art. And I`m still not quite there yet. But I believe in it being possible again and I believe in myself again- but let`s start a few months back: I am a trained movement artist, but my income depended on two as-possible-as-normal jobs, one being a dance teacher in a local dance school and the other being a social educator in a correctional facility for minors. I was trying to fit in, but I never did.

Having studied Physical Theater, people have been asking me literally all my life what I am planning to be living from. Living from being an artist is not something presented as achievable in our society.

I had a lot of passion for both mentioned workplaces, specifically for the children and adolescents I was working with. But the work ethics I was surrounded by, were slowly killing me from the inside. Also the fact, that those jobs ate a lot of my energy and time from my personal artistic training.

DimensionArte is a project I had in my heart since a long time. It was growing slowly and silently in the back of my head, without me knowing that I would be able to start realizing it so soon by opening my own studio: DimensionArte brings together art with trauma informed pedagogy and education. My work partner is a trauma specialized educator and consultant in social work. Our dream is to make dance and circus available for everyone and especially those who need it the most. He assists most of my movement classes and thereby assures, that also children with and ADHD/ASD or people with disabilities can easily participate. We are convinced, that trauma pedagogy and art can not exist without each other. Movement is healing, healing is art, fantasy is healing. We want to create a safe space for everyone to explore their inner child, dancer or teacher, however you want to call it.

Our work gets completed by our performances, where live violin meets aerial silks and dance. Performing not only enhances our visibility but is a very important inspiration source. I also collaborate with other musicians, comedians or other movement folks.

Nina Dipla, a former Pina Bausch Dancer and very appreciated friend and teacher of mine sums it up in the following quote: “The place that will heal your heart, will make your body shine.”

You can find all my current work on my website: www.clarissamatter.ch/dimensionarte

I think what really keeps me going is not a specific skill or area of knoledge. It is my instinct, that little flame burning whitin me. Artistic and creative work does surely involve discipline and a lot of hard and consistent work, but what makes the difference for me is my passion. It is through my passion that I find the dedication to follow my purpose. Knowing that art nowadays is a scare and precious part of our social life and individual developement, makes me want to nourish, create and spread as much of it as one lifetime allows me.

Also, knowing that sadly many people are not willing to value artistic work with actual money. It does feel like a calling for me to fight for the rights and incomes of artists, as well as spreading awareness of the importance of supporting art. I am tired of hearing that it is normal for artists to life on the edge of poverty, or even that it is important for them as they will take a lot of inspiration out of the dark days. Or that they don`t need the money because they love what they do. Believe me, an artistic soul has enough hardship in their lives anyways. We don`t need to push artists at the edge of surviving to make them thrive. I find this point of view quite disturbing, to be honest.

Something I have learnt with time is, that there is a very special kind of fear, maybe respect, which actually equals the excitement and importance something has for us. This feeling of something being so scary and big often just signalizes us, that since we are following our soul path. Our every cell feels how important this is to our heart. Use this energy to make something sacred of your practise. This feeling is prooving you, that you are doing the right thing for yourself. In that sense: If something scares you, it is the right thing to do.

All those things get easier of course, when being shared and talked about in a community. I feel very lucky for having found Circus With Purpuse Retreats, a project by my dear friend Saffron Van Rossem. It was also during this retreat in Nicaragua in January 2023 that I met Bri Basco. Having a loving and supporting community in which I feel safe, heard and hold is very precious and inspiring to me.

Advice I would give anyone who feels called to follow an artistic life is to always, and I mean always listen to their heart. Don`t let yourself be misguided by money. This is about setting boundaries and expressing needs, which will eventually attract the kind of customers and friends or collaborators who will also value your work financially.

Listen. To. Your. (HE-)Art.

Are you a professor/ teacher at a university / higher technical school or any other educational facility and your goal is to have your students (future teachers, social workers, social educators or similar) to learn easy and accessible ways to include more art practice in their daily routine with children or adolescents? We provide workshops for practical trauma pedagogy, which is nothing else than movement and art. Our workshops offer a differnt playful approaches to make children or adults play, move and laugh. This includes movement and coordination excercises and games, breath work, musicality and rhythm, improvisation games, basic juggling, basic inversions, ball games and much more. Joy and Safetly are the most important tools when it comes to healing from trauma.

Our workshops are lead by a professional dancer and a trauma specialized educator, which gives our participants a holistic understanding of the connection of art and trauma in a pedagogic environment.

For more information, please contact us via Email: [email protected]

We will create a unique act for your event, following your wishes and needs. We offer a fine package of dance, aerial, clown, movement theater and violine skills and are happy to learn more about your visions.

Ready- to -buy Acts:

COCOON, by Christian Lauber and Clarissa Matter, an aerial silks and live violin (20min)

AERIAL DRAGON SISTERS, by Saffron Van Rossem and Clarissa Matter. A unique duo aerial sling act with an LED or fre Dragon Staff in the air. (15min)

Videos are available on request, contact us: