Indigenous & Outreach Programs

NEW! Gallery of Alpurrurulam Primary School Workshops

Indigenous and Outreach Program

Since opening our doors in 2001, NICA has been committed to not only provide professional contemporary circus training, but to also work on a grassroots level and take circus to the community. NICA does this by conducting Social Circus workshops and outreach programs, as well as providing training for Social Circus Instructors in conjunction with Cirque du Soleil’s social circus arm, Cirque du Monde. In particular, NICA provides support for Indigenous organisations and marginalised groups utilising circus as a tool for empowerment.

Social circus is the common term for using circus as a tool for social change. Circus can be used in working with:

•	youth at risk
•	marginalised groups
•	Indigenous groups
•	the mentally or physically disabled
•	juvenile offenders
•	survivors of assault

NICA’s Social Circus programs aim to build an environment of inclusivity, where individuals and communities can develop a strong sense of self through the sharing of skills and experiences.

Social Circus Instructor Training

The 2009 Social Circus Instructors' Training workshop will be held at NICA from 2 - 6 November. This session is fully booked and applications have now closed.

Social Circus Instructor Training is run annually and is open to Social Circus practitioners or those wanting to use circus as a social intervention tool, from around Australia and South East Asia. Programs are run by the Social Circus team at NICA and representatives from Cirque du Soleil. Please visit the Teaching Courses page for more information and to download the application form.

If you are interested in participating in our next training program or running an outreach program in your community, please email your enquiry to communitycircus@nica.com.au

Read about this year's week-long workshop led by Andrea Ousely and Jose Sermeno Rosales in Latest News.
To view photos visit the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) Facebook Group Page

Deadly Serious Training Project

NEW!

Monday 7 - Friday 11 December 2009

NICA is currently seeking expressions of interest from potential participants for the Deadly Serious Training Project.

After 2008's successful Deadly Serious training project we are seeking expressions of interest from potential participants for 2009.

This one week project will train young indigenous people currently involved or interested in youth circus from across Australia, (16 yrs +) and will take place over a week in the NICA training facilities (in Prahran) in December.

Participants need not have done circus training before but a background in physical training such as sport, dance, gymnastics, martial arts or similar is necessary as the training is intensive.

Objectives:

To provide an opportunity for leaders within the indigenous youth circus community to advance their circus and teaching skills
To raise the profile of Indigenous Youth Circus companies and projects
To enable indigenous youth leaders to make connections with an educational institute and in particular with professional circus trainers and tertiary circus students
To provide participants with the opportunity to create networks, collaborations and lasting partnerships

MAXIMUM PARTICIPANTS: 10

Cost: Workshop participation is free for successful applicants through sponsorship by NICA. Participants will need to cover the cost of their travel, accommodation, incidentals and meals.

If you are interested in participating in the Deadly Serious Training Project, please email communitycircus@nica.com.au or call Andrea Ousley on 03 9214 6054.

Click here to download the Registration Form.

NEW! Gallery of Alpurrurulam Primary School Workshops

In May 2009, NICA conducted workshops for the Alpurrurulam primary school, four hours from Mt Isa. These workshops were part of the school's innovative reward project for those who had attended school more than 80% of the time. Over 110 budding circus artists aged 4-16 and their teachers participated.

Check out the photos here.