Charles R. Batson

Charles R. Batson is an Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Union College. His research bridges Circus Studies, Queer Theory, and Interdisciplinary Performance, focusing on Quebec’s cultural identity through circus, theater, and dance intersections.

• B.A., Furman University
• M.A., University of Virginia
• Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

His work examines how Quebec circus reconfigures cultural boundaries, with emphasis on gender performativity and postcolonial expression. Articles span 2001–2021, addressing topics from Nijinsky’s gendered performances to Cirque du Soleil’s global influence.

Scientific contributions include:

• SSHRC-funded Circus and its Others research (2014–2024)
• Co-organizer of international circus conferences (Montreal, Prague, Davis, Bogotá)
• Co-editor of Cirque Global (McGill-Queens, 2016)

As Past President of the American Council for Québec Studies and co-chair of Union’s LGBTQ+ Affairs Committee, Batson integrates activist scholarship with artistic practice, including collaborative dance projects and circus translation work.