Back to school for budding circus stars

Dozens of local youngsters will make an early return to the classroom next week for an education of a different kind – circus school at Cirkidz's new training centre at Bowden.

Starting next Tuesday (January 17) and continuing for three days, popular youth arts company Cirkidz is set to stage South Australia’s first ever summer school at its Bowden training centre for aspiring acrobats, jugglers and trapeze artists.

Cirkidz moved into its new home on the former Clipsal site last year through a partnership with the South Australian Government’s Land Management Corporation and the City of Charles Sturt Council. Under the arrangement, the not-for-profit organisation was granted a three-year lease of a vacant warehouse which is not due for removal until 2014 as part of plans for the eagerly anticipated Bowden development.
 
More than 100 budding performers aged 6-16 will be given the chance to learn the secrets of the big-top from professional circus trainers who will provide expert instruction on everything from spinning plates to stilt walking.
 
Cirkidz General Manager Glen Johns says the new summer school is a great way for young people to learn fun new skills and provides parents with a unique option to entertain their children during the holidays.
 
“For many of us growing up, all we wanted to do was run away and join the circus so this summer we’re giving Adelaide youngsters a chance to do exactly that,” said Mr Johns.
 
“This is the first time in our 26-year history that we’ve conducted a summer school which has been designed to give participants a taste of what we do at Cirkidz during the year.”
 
Mr Johns said despite Cirkidz’ popularity over the years, the main reason it has never conducted a summer school in the past is because it has never had access to climate-controlled training facilities until now.
 
“Jumping, tumbling and flying through the air can be pretty hot work, but our fantastic new facilities within the Bowden development site mean we’re finally able to conduct circus training all-year-round,” he said.
 
“We’re delighted to establish our inaugural summer school this year and continue to give more young people a chance to experience circus life while keeping fit and meeting new friends along the way.”
 
Mr Johns said the recent move to its new Bowden home has also helped boost regular class sizes, with participation rates nearly doubling over the past 12 months prompting an increase in the number of weekly classes this year from 20 to 32.
 
“Working with LMC to facilitate the move to bigger facilities within the Bowden development has enabled us to significantly expand the circus school, and importantly, keep up with growing demand,” he said.
 
“Every week we welcome hundreds of participants from toddlers through to teenagers, with the expansion of our training capacity and introduction of new programs like the summer school ensuring opportunities for even more local youngsters which is just fantastic.”
 
Founded in 1986 to provide alternative recreation opportunities for young people in Adelaide’s inner-western suburbs, Cirkidz is today recognised as the pre-eminent circus training centre in South Australia. It also runs circus skills workshops for schools, community groups and corporate clients across the State, while its performing troupe is well-known for its high quality roving and staged performances at festivals and events.
 
Further information
 
To learn more about Cirkidz or to enrol in this month’s summer school visit www.cirkidz.org.au or phone 8346 5735.
 
The $1 billion Bowden development incorporates a lively cultural scene and colourful street life in its vision for South Australia’s first large scale higher-density, mixed-use urban development. LMC and Cirkidz have developed a partnership to ensure facility is available for the Cirkidz group for a period of x years. The 16-hectare redevelopment of the former Clipsal and Origin industrial sites over the next 10 to 15 years will accommodate more than 3,500 people in more than 2,400 homes and 20,000sqm of commercial space in addition to 12,000sqm of retail development. First land sales to industry will commence from March 2012 while off-the-plan sales to the public are expected to commence by late 2012, depending on market conditions. Anyone wanting more information or wishing to register their interest in future land sales should visit www.lifemoreinteresting.com.au.

ISSUED BY HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS