NICA Melbourne Circus Festival

From 26 September to 1 October 2011, NICA will present the NICA Melbourne Circus Festival celebrating the work of NICA’s alumni and others as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations this year.

Melbourne is widely regarded as Australia’s circus capital with long established companies such as Circus Oz and the Women’s Circus being formed and based in Melbourne. Over the past decade, Melbourne’s international reputation as a centre for excellence and innovation in contemporary circus arts has been consolidated by the presence of the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) which has delivered professional training to over a hundred young artists from across Australia and overseas. Graduates of NICA have gone on to pursue exciting careers both locally and internationally, as well as contributing to the development of Melbourne’s vibrant circus arts industry.

Catering for circus lovers of all ages, the week-long NICA Melbourne Circus Festival will feature cabaret style entertainment celebrating the artists who have graduated from NICA since 2001 as well as shows for children during the day. The festival will also showcase the wide range of small independent performance companies which have been formed by former NICA students and others, many of which have earned impressive reputations at international arts festivals.

Says NICA Director Pamela Creed of the inaugural Festival,“what better way to say thanks to all who have made NICA’s ten years possible, than to celebrate by giving our alumni performers a stage to entertain, inspire, and delight us all!”

With a diverse program of ticketed and free performances and events, the festival will take place at the National Institute of Circus Arts on the Prahran Campus of Swinburne University, utilising NICA’s custom-built performance facilities and other venues across the campus.

NICA is Australia’s Centre of Excellence for training in contemporary circus acts. It is one of seven national arts training institutes, offering Australia’s only Bachelor of Circus Arts. The course is accredited by Swinburne University of Technology and attracts applicants from across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, USA, South Program information and ticketing details will be announced shortly and tickets will be available from www.nica.com.au

National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) presents the NICA Melbourne Circus Festival - 26 September to 1 October 2011- NICA National Circus Centre Green Street, Prahran

Photographer: David Wyatt.

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