Cirkidz
Encyclopedia
Cirkidz is a youth circus school based in Bowden
in the South Australia
n capital of Adelaide
.
It was originally founded by Tony Hannan and Michael Lester in 1985 as a workshop project to provide alternative opportunities for recreation for disadvantaged young people in Adelaide’s industrial inner-western suburbs. An initial 6 month project was so successful it was continued, to the point where in 2010, Cirkidz celebrates its 25th Birthday.
Cirkidz has been an integral part of the arts fabric ever since and is South Australia's circus centre. Numerous Cirkidz alumni have gone on to careers in the Circus Arts at Circus Oz
, NICA
or by forming their own company (Rambutan Circus Collective, Gravity & Other Myths).
Cirkidz teaches circus and performance skills
to children and young people (as well as adults) through three core programs: Circus School, Performance Troupe and Community Workshops.
Circus School classes are available to anyone from 21/2 through to 18 years of age. Adults can also attend an adults only class. In these classes, age appropriate skills are run in a wide range of circus arts. Juggling, Unicycling, Stilts, Trapeze, Hula, Trampoline, Pyramids, Tissu, Barrel walking, Acrobatics, Skipping, Hula, Mini-Tramp, Flowersticks, Poi, Acrobatics, Cloud swing, Teeterboard, Clowning, Cord, Slapstick, Table sliding, Plate spinning, Cigar boxes, Globe, Manipulation, Slack Wire, Flower stick, Mini Tramp, Staff Twirling, Contact Juggling, Tumbling, Hoop diving and Fast Track; as well as movement, acting and related performance skills.
The Performance Troupe are Cirkidz participants who create high quality artistic work in the form of in theatre & roving performances. They are regularly booked to perform at a range of iconic South Australian events, including the Adelaide Fringe Parade, the Credit Union Christmas Pageant, the Tour Down Under
as well as a range of other events. They recently performed Freaky, a sold out co-production with Circus Monoxide as part of Come Out 2009.
The Community Workshop Program takes the circus arts into schools, workplaces, health organisations, child care centres, or partners with events such as Tunarama in Pt Lincoln as part of Cirkidz brief to provide circus experiences for a rnage of disadvantaged, or isolated young people.
Bowden, South Australia
Bowden is an inner northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-History:The 'Village of Bowden' was established in 1839 by James Hurtle Fisher, who named it after his native village in Northamptonshire....
in the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n capital of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
It was originally founded by Tony Hannan and Michael Lester in 1985 as a workshop project to provide alternative opportunities for recreation for disadvantaged young people in Adelaide’s industrial inner-western suburbs. An initial 6 month project was so successful it was continued, to the point where in 2010, Cirkidz celebrates its 25th Birthday.
Cirkidz has been an integral part of the arts fabric ever since and is South Australia's circus centre. Numerous Cirkidz alumni have gone on to careers in the Circus Arts at Circus Oz
Circus Oz
Circus Oz was founded in December 1977, with its first performance season in March 1978. Circus Oz was the amalgamation of two already well-known groups - Soapbox Circus, a roadshow set up by the Australian Performing Group in 1976, and the New Ensemble Circus, a continuation of the New Circus,...
, NICA
National Institute of Circus Arts
The National Institute of Circus Arts is the only government-accredited institution that provides professional training in contemporary circus arts in Australia. It is a subsidiary of Swinburne University of Technology and is based at the university's Prahran campus.NICA is a registered cultural...
or by forming their own company (Rambutan Circus Collective, Gravity & Other Myths).
Cirkidz teaches circus and performance skills
Circus skills
Circus skills are a group of pursuits that have been performed as entertainment in circus, sideshow, busking or variety/vaudeville/music hall shows. Most circus skills are still being performed today. Many are also practiced by non-performers as a hobby....
to children and young people (as well as adults) through three core programs: Circus School, Performance Troupe and Community Workshops.
Circus School classes are available to anyone from 21/2 through to 18 years of age. Adults can also attend an adults only class. In these classes, age appropriate skills are run in a wide range of circus arts. Juggling, Unicycling, Stilts, Trapeze, Hula, Trampoline, Pyramids, Tissu, Barrel walking, Acrobatics, Skipping, Hula, Mini-Tramp, Flowersticks, Poi, Acrobatics, Cloud swing, Teeterboard, Clowning, Cord, Slapstick, Table sliding, Plate spinning, Cigar boxes, Globe, Manipulation, Slack Wire, Flower stick, Mini Tramp, Staff Twirling, Contact Juggling, Tumbling, Hoop diving and Fast Track; as well as movement, acting and related performance skills.
The Performance Troupe are Cirkidz participants who create high quality artistic work in the form of in theatre & roving performances. They are regularly booked to perform at a range of iconic South Australian events, including the Adelaide Fringe Parade, the Credit Union Christmas Pageant, the Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under
The Tour Down Under is a cycling race in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounding area. The race starts on the third Tuesday of January each year and attracts riders from across Australia and the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the...
as well as a range of other events. They recently performed Freaky, a sold out co-production with Circus Monoxide as part of Come Out 2009.
The Community Workshop Program takes the circus arts into schools, workplaces, health organisations, child care centres, or partners with events such as Tunarama in Pt Lincoln as part of Cirkidz brief to provide circus experiences for a rnage of disadvantaged, or isolated young people.