Circa

Circa is a timely celebration of Circus Skills in Melbourne, as the city that has hosted the National Institute of Circus Arts for 12 years now from its first pilot course in 1999. 

Seven vibrant, talented and highly trained young artists strut their stuff at a relentless pace - backed by a loud and engulfing soundtrack. As unique individuals, who almost all trained at NICA, they are representative of their peers – many of whom are surely in the audience.

Circa is a wonderfully entertaining and moving work for a number of reasons but most particularly because of immaculate split-second timing and the focused wholly supportive, yet yielding, teamwork. 

On an unfettered and uncluttered stage the personalities and talents of individual performers shine through. There is a base honesty and sense of integrity throughout.

Circus is dangerous work and a touch of the sadomasochistic re-occurs throughout the crisp seventy minutes. This is partly thematic and reinforced in the execution, because the strain of the work is not hidden from the spectators, thus, poignantly highlighting risks taken by acrobats. There is a hint of sacrifice.

Skills exhibited include acrobalance, trapeze, ribbons, hoops, body percussion and heaps of pas de deux like mini-balances and counter tensions that deftly flow across the stage.  

Circa is in turn exhilarating, moving, touching shocking and bemusing and with many stand out moments and considerable variety it is completely engaging and highly satisfying.

Truly a treat.

Suzanne Sandow