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Creative ID: 503

Art form(s): Dance, Multi-disciplinary, Theatre
Language(s): English
Based in: Wellington
Where I'm available:
Wellington
Wellington region: Kapiti Coast, Hutt Valley, Wellington Central, and Wanuiomata. We are interested in delivering this program in the wider Wellington region including Upper Hutt and Porirua.
When I'm available: We want to offer this programme once a week, for an hour or two, in a slot that best fits with the schools timetable for a term or longer. We can be available for any day of the week. We will be going to schools for most of the programme and as an option, we can hold the final session at our location. We want to best suit the needs of the school and their budget so we can offer a variety of options in terms of the number of hours we teach and the number of trainers we provide (1 to 4).

My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)

Circus is a creative and physical practice that promotes personal and social development. Within circus is a range of disciplines that develop fitness and coordination, such as aerials (trapeze, aerial silks, aerial hoop), acrobatics (handstands, partner balancing and tumbling) and object manipulation (juggling, hula hoops and more). One of the advantages of circus is that it is a non-competitive and inclusive alternative to traditional sports that will appeal to even reluctant movers. With such a variety of skills, there is something everyone can excel in.

One part of circus involves developing the self-discipline to practice skills again and again until you succeed (understanding the learning process), and another part involves working as a team. Our focus would be to spend time with students on individual and group skills, combining elements of drama and performance; integrating physicality with their creativity. For example, circus skills can be incorporated into a school drama show. We want to foster a safe environment where young people can express themselves, share their creativity with their peers, take risks and build confidence. Our teachers are highly skilled and experienced in working with young people. Find out more at our website (link available on request). 

My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with 

We are a contemporary circus company who specialise in making interactive, accessible and exciting shows that combine physical theatre, dance and circus. Our three co-founders are passionate about creating shows and demonstrating the value of circus in Aotearoa’s creative landscape. As independent artists, we have performed at events across Wellington such as World of Wearable Art Awards Show, Newtown Festival, Cubadupa, Highlight Carnival of Lights and alongside Orchestra Wellington. Through the New Zealand Fringe Festival, we have won two international touring awards. One took us to the San Diego International Fringe Festival to perform our debut show. In San Diego we won awards for “Outstanding Ensemble” and “Best Family Fringe Artists”.

Our most recent show won the Adelaide Fringe Festival Touring award and “…was a great start to this year’s New Zealand Fringe. It was a neat package of fun stuff that made me want to go out dancing, with a side of sweet self-love” (quote). Our work has been described as “jaw-dropping” and “an hour of circus satisfaction” (quote).

Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes

Our teachers have all been instructors at a Circus Hub, teaching kids and young people from 3 to 15 years old and adults. One was the Director of a pre-professional training programme, producing showcases and mentoring young people. Another facilitates social circus programmes, working with people with disabilities. Our team also has experience teaching circus arts in a workshop format at local high schools. While travelling, we always connect with local communities; teaching workshops at studios and schools as well as collaborating with local artists. When we were in San Diego on tour, we had the opportunity to hold workshops for kids as part of the Family Fringe day, at an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico and for local elementary schools.

Recently when we toured a show to Christchurch, we taught workshops in local studios and circus spaces. Our most recent show, focused on themes of coming of age, empowerment and finding confidence in yourself. We often work with themes such as identity, self-discovery and inclusion. We want to enable students to use circus skills as tools to create and express themselves. 

Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice

The programme is a way for us to bring circus, an art form on the rise in Aotearoa, to children and young people who may not be able to access it. We are passionate about sharing how empowering circus can be as a way to develop physical skills and creativity as well as collaborating with others. From our teaching experiences, we’ve seen kids develop new skills over the course of an hour, reinforcing their confidence and giving them a sense of achievement. Circus is often perceived as unconventional, when it’s actually an exciting way to explore the learning process. Circus fosters a willingness to try new things, self-awareness, concentration and perseverance – skills we need throughout our lives. In Quebec, schools have successfully integrated circus programmes. In our own experience, it would’ve been influential to have experienced circus at a young age and had access to different opportunities. We want to uplift young people and show them that a creative career is within their reach. This links to our creative practice as we want to make work that looks to the future. It’s important to connect with the next generation and see how they interpret the skills we teach them; bringing a fresh perspective to us. 

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