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Bachelor of Circus Arts

Course Overview
NICA’s core program is a three-year Bachelor of Circus Arts incorporating a Diploma of Circus Arts and an Advanced Diploma of Circus Arts. The course provides specialist training in contemporary circus arts. It offers intensive tuition with highly experienced training staff from a diverse range of nationalities, backgrounds and circus genres. NICA strives to produce highly employable, skilled and creative artists who will be respected nationally and internationally in the global circus and physical theatre industry.

Read about the Bachelor of Circus Arts for local or international students in the Swinburne University Course Search.

Subjects
The topics studied during the course may include:

circus basics: tumbling, handstands, flexibility, aerial, manipulation, balance and partner work
group acts: adagio, group aerial, group juggling, hoop-diving and teeterboard
fitness, strength and conditioning for circus performers
performance skills: acting, improvisation, mask, clown and voice
movement skills: ballet, contemporary dance, hip-hop, jazz, tap and contact dance
performance practice in NICA’s public ensemble shows, cabarets and final year showcase
history and culture of circus
circus business and career management
rigging, equipment and safety in the circus environment
basic anatomy, physiology, nutrition and sports psychology.

Students study two specialties during the course, which are generally determined in the first year. Specialities offered may include, but are not limited to, skills such as static and swinging trapeze, tissu, rope, hoop-diving, handstands, tightwire, contortion, Chinese pole, German wheel, risley, rolla bolla, juggling, meteors and hoola-hoops. There is no guarantee that students will be able to train in specialty areas nominated in their application.

Students will also be required to complete a first aid course. NICA will make arrangements for students to undertake this unit prior to commencing Semester 1.

About NICA
The course is based at NICA, on the Prahran campus of Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. The vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Melbourne is a cultural and sporting mecca with a strong focus on the arts. NICA boasts purpose-built circus studios located close to the café, design and fashion precinct of Chapel Street. The course is delivered in English by highly experienced training staff from the world's leading circuses. Their diverse nationalities, backgrounds and circus genrés reflect the world's major traditional and contemporary circus styles and draw on expertise from Argentina, Australia, China, England, France and Russia.

NICA has purpose-built circus training studios, performance spaces, drama and movement studios, equipment and costume storage spaces and dressing rooms. NICA students also have access to the range of facilities and services of Swinburne University.

Course Fees
Information about course fees is available for local or international students in the Swinburne University Course Search. Also see the fee information for TAFE and Undergraduate students. Students enrolled in the first and second year of the program may be eligible for VET FEE-HELP and students enrolled in the third year may be eligible for FEE-HELP.

Contact
For further information about the Bachelor of Circus Arts, contact the NICA Student Administration Officer on +61 3 9214 6537 or elouden@swin.edu.au

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Photo: Jess Ward performing in 2009 Showcase. Photo by Scott Hone.