Circus celebration: Zip Zap celebrates World Circus Day – Saturday April 15, 2023
Cape Town’s Zip Zap Circus is celebrating World Circus Day, today, Saturday, April 15, 2023. Zip Zap is currently flying high, after the success on it European tour in 2022/23. Zip Zap dazzled audiences with its symphonic circus, Rhapsody. Zip Zap is currently rehearsing its new show, VOOMA!, which will be on at Artscape on May 27 and 28 and June 3 and 4, 2023. Read on for more about World Circus Day, today, April 15, 2023:
Today, Saturday, 15 April, 2023, is World Circus Day. It is a day where Zip Zap gets to celebrate all things circus with the international circus family and reflect on the impact of its programmes, shows and events.
The Fédération Mondiale du Cirque launched the first World Circus Day (WCD) in 2009. The 3rd Saturday of April has been nominated for the festivities. The aim of WCD is to raise awareness of circus arts and to elevate the prestige of circus.
For some the word “circus” conjures up an image of a space for outcasts and the extraordinary, one of carnivals, sawdust and travelling tents. However, circus worldwide has evolved. In South Africa Zip Zap Circus uses circus arts to empower and inspire young people. It offers six outreach and three youth programmes as well as a vocational programme called Dare2Dream, free of charge.
Laurence Esteve, co-founder, and CEO of Zip Zap shared the following, “Zip Zap offers a space where regardless of your background, you can find a place to grow, belong and challenge yourself. For many this provides a host of opportunities.”
Zip Zap has a rich tradition of upskilling young people in performing arts and its associated industries. Through its Dare2Dream programme young people are not only trained in circus artistry; they are also trained in lighting, rigging, sound, sewing, make-up as well as teaching. 96% of Dare2Dream graduates are currently employed: 64% in the performing arts and 36% in other industries.
In addition to being a social circus Zip Zap is also a professional circus that delivers high quality performances locally and abroad. “Over the past 31 years it has been a privilege to accompany our alumni and showcase local talent on a world stage” Co-founder and Artistic Director Brent van Rensburg enthused.
Here is a look at what the Zip Zap Circus family got up to on stage this past year: from side-splitting Slapstick to the moving narrative of MOYA and the roller-coaster adventure of Rhapsody.
Later this year Zip Zap will be staging a high-energy circus show called VOOMA! at the Zip Zap Dome, next to the Artscape Theatre, on the of May 27th and 28th and June 3rd and 4th 2023. Trapeze, acrobatics, unbelievable juggling, and outrageous comedy will be performed by a courageous cast of ordinary kids (from Zip Zap’s advanced Zappers and Dare2Dream programmes) doing extraordinary things. This show, suitable for all ages, promises to take the audience on a journey into a world of magic, fun, and excitement. VOOMA! Tickets are priced at R125 per person and are available at Quicket.
Zip Zap is equally excited to announce the return of its award-winning production, MOYA. This circus narrative, recently nominated for two Naledi Theatre Awards,will be staged at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town from August 3 to 6, 2023, before it travels to Johannesburg for a run at The Teatro at Montecasino from September 31 August to 10, 2023.
For more information on Zip Zap Circus and its shows, please visit www.zip-zap.co.za
✳ Featured image: Zip Zap staged its season of its production of Rhapsody at Artscape, Cape Town (November 2022) before the show toured throughout France (November 2022 – February 2023). Pictured is the cast of Rhapsody doing the finale pyramid at Artscape. Photo credit: Joan Ward). Sponsored content. Images supplied.
Related coverage on TheCapeRobyn :https://thecaperobyn.co.za/theatre-news-zip-zaps-new-performance-hall-in-cape-town-building-fund-is-gaining-traction/ and https://thecaperobyn.co.za/preview-vooma-the-new-high-octane-show-by-zip-zap-circus-may-and-june-2023-in-cape-town/
