Zip Zap Circus off to Paris
Jason Barnard (back) and Jacobus Claasen (front) performing a bounce juggling act. Picture: Supplied
Local acrobat circus troupe Zip Zap Circus has its sights set on the world stage after they jetted off to Paris this week for a three-month run at the Cirque Phenix.
Hot off their performance of the Rhapsody: A Philharmonic Circus showcase at the Artscape Theatre, the Zip Zap crew will perform at one of the most popular big tops in Europe, a 5500-seater tent.
The 17-member ensemble has given several performances on the world stage over the past three decades, including the Commonwealth Games, the Houston Arts Festival in Texas, and the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival.
Vuyani Lottering, 22, has been part of team for the past eight years as a participant in the Zip Zap Dare2Dream youth programme, performing acrobatics and juggling.
Through circus arts, Dare2Dream gives young people access to opportunities.
Lottering said forming part of the circus has brought him joy and was a lot of fun.
“Everything we do at Zip Zap is exciting, and it only makes me want to do more,” he said.
The 22-year-old acrobat is part of the group performing in Europe and said this was his first time travelling abroad.
“I am so excited and nervous, especially because of the weather and leaving my family for such an extended period,” he said.
“I love the excitement of being on stage and bringing joy to people,
Lottering described the opportunity to perform in Europe as a momentous occasion for his career.
“Having this opportunity to perform on a world stage like the Cirque Phenix in Paris will help further my career,” he said.
Jason Barnard, 29, has been part of the Zip Zap team for the past 15 years. He is a professional circus performer who does bounce juggling and hand-to-hand acrobatics.
Barnard said he thoroughly enjoyed performing as part of the Zip Zap team.
“It has been wonderful. Zip Zap has brought health, fitness, family, happiness and lots of love to my life,” he said.
The Cape circus performer is part of the team currently performing in Paris.
“I feel excited but also nervous. This is my first professional contract overseas doing a full three-month long season,” he said.
For Barnard, rehearsals typically take place five days a week, from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays when necessary.
“Our rehearsal hours depend on the schedule of what we have to do for the day. If we get everything done early, then we leave early,” he said.
Barnard said there are many things that he loves about being a professional circus performer.
“I get to meet cool people along the way, and there is always something you can learn. I love the adrenalin on stage,” he said.
What started as a trapeze bar in a tree in Langa, with 15 children in 1992, now sees around 1 800 children walk through its doors annually.
The Zip Zap Circus has six outreach and four youth programmes and operates as a school which offers its programmes free of charge to participants. The circus relies on donations to operate.
The circus’ primary goal is to inspire and empower young people from all walks of life by creating opportunities by transferring skills to them.
Co-founder and artistic director Brent Van Rensburg said reaching the 30-year mark has been affirming.
“When my wife, Laurence and I, established Zip Zap in 1992, our dream was to use the circus as a tool to bridge socio-economic gaps,” he said.
“Celebrating this 30th-anniversary milestone has not only brought back many memories; it has confirmed that we must carry on daring to dream and teach our children to do the same.”
Cirque Phenix will run from November 19 to January 15, 2023.