About Us
Women’s Circus is a community arts company that presents innovative high quality circus performances and workshops to a diverse audience and participant base. Women’s Circus was established in 1991 as a project of Footscray Community Arts Centre and in 2003 incorporated as a company. In October 2006 the Circus relocated to the Drill Hall in West Footscray.
The critical success of the Circus rests with our strong focus on creating a safe, supportive and stimulating environment in which participants can extend their skills, build confidence and have fun, and in presenting engaging, high quality public performances of social relevance.
Women’s Circus offers a training, outreach and artistic program.
Training Program
Women’s Circus runs a variety of training for its members and the general public, consisting of weekly classes for members, and intensive and short courses open to all women. (Men participate through our Outreach Program).
Circus artists who taught at Women’s Circus over 2007 - 8 include Anni Davey, Teresa Blake, Annabel Carberry, Jodie Farrugia, technician Dawn Holland, Sista She, Monkey Brigade and international trainers Belgian AYA Contemporary Circus, ex-Cirque de Soleil performer Annie Shelper and SIROCUS trainers Sonia Ganza and Alison Fraser from Spain. Go to Training.
Outreach Program
Women’s Circus Outreach Program works to build relationships with other organizations and delivers programs to a diverse group of participants. Significant programs include programs with Parkville Juvenile Justice Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital Eating Disorders Unit, Gilmore Girls College and Art Beat. The Outreach Program has worked closely with Vic Health since 2006 to evaluate and improve its work. Workshops are taught by highly skilled and experienced members of the Circus, providing professional pathways and employment opportunities for our membership.
Go to Outreach.
Artistic Program
Women’s Circus regularly presents public performances in varying capacities at community festivals and forums, and for sixteen years has performed in various locations and venues.
In 2007 the Women’s Circus performed their sell out show ‘The Antechamber’ at the Big West Festival, directed by Anni Davey and musically directed by Bec Matthews and Sarah Ward. On 5 March 2008 the Women’s Circus performed at The Institute Of Public Administration (IPAA) for their Annual International Women’s Day Dinner. Over 1200 women attended the event which celebrated the centenary of women’s suffrage for non-indigenous women.
In 2008 the Women’s Circus presents two community productions - Off The Wall (29 June) and Revolution (21 September). These productions provide an opportunity for women to perform for the first time and to provide leadership and directing opportunities to our long time members and trainers - Sara Pheasant, Staja Hobsbawn and Bianca Sciaretta.
A large-scale public production directed by Nadja Kostich called Here will be performed at North Melbourne Town Hall from 24 -29 November. This show is part of Victoria’s centenary celebration of the suffrage for non-indigenous women.
Women’s Circus is currently funded by Arts Victoria, has received triennial funding from Vic Health (2007 being the final year of the program), and was recently funded by the William Buckland Foundation for a three-year program with Gilmore Girls College.
Other partners include Maribyrnong City Council which supports our training and office space, and Footscray Community Arts Centre which provides inkind support. We are involved in community initiatives like the Maribyrnong Refugee Committee and the 2008 Women’s Suffrage Celebration Network, and continue to develop and work with partners through our Outreach Program.
Women’s Circus acknowledges the ongoing support of our “Sisters and Supporters” and volunteers, and the support of the following organisations:
