Vertical Circus Northern Beaches Youth Circus

Northern Beaches Youth Circus is dedicated to providing young people with access to positive circus arts experiences. Through a well structured program covering creativity, self-expression, strength, flexibility, story telling and safety, young people experience the joy of becoming young circus artists in training.

COME JOIN IN THE FUN!

The adventure begins here.

At Vertical Circus our child will enjoy a thorough physical warm up, covering strength, flexibility, balance, co-ordination, concentration, fun and joy.

The learn, through step by step progressions, to jump safely and skillfully on the mini-tramp and to execute different acrobatic manouveurs. Your child will learn to climb and move creatively with a focus on technique on the trapeze and aerial silk.

We will also cover ground and manipulation activities such as juggling, plate spinning, diablo, feather balancing, uni-cycling and balance beam walking. Tumbling such as cartwheels, forward rolls, jumping and handstand training will also be central to our circus program.

The most essential element for any little circus performer will be plenty of creativity, performance skill activity and opportunities to create and make group and solo acts. Acts which you as parents, family and friends can enjoy watching in the final week.

Your child's well-being, safety, joy, friendship and sense of achievement are the most important factors of our Northern Beaches Youth Circus's program.

ABOUT THE TRAINERS

* CATHERINE DANIEL (BA, BSci) has been a member of the arts community for the last 25 years. Participating in youth theatre for 10 years at the Australian Theatre for Young People, Sydney, lead her to a circus creation course changing her life forever. Catherine has been working as a professional circus artist and teacher for the last 18 years. Touring throughout Australia, Europe, Africa and India.

She has worked in a variety of capacities including teacher, director, performer, mentor, inventor and rigger with Opera Australia, Legs on the Wall, The Movement Academy, Aerialize, Katkids (Berlin), Vox Pop Dancers (India) Circus Oz, The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Dulce Compania (Italy), The Lennon Bros family Circus, Jumbo Circus & Gemini Circus (India), Sarakasi (Kenya) and in remote Indigenous Australian communities with Theatre Kimberley.

The last 9 years have seen a shift of focus for Catherine from mainly performing herself, to creating projects to give others, usually young people from marginalised sections of society, the opportunity to learn and perform in the circus and music arts and most importantly, to tell their stories.

Through her co-founded company Vertical Circus, Catherine has successfully directed projects in Kenya, India and Australia. The sold-out shows have consistently, brought highly entertaining and quality contemporary circus theatre to diverse audiences.

Most recently Catherine has been building circus literacy and skills on the Northern Beaches through The Northern Beaches Youth Circus, which has run very popular weekly and holiday circus and performance classes at the Dee Why PCYC and the German International School Sydney. Soon Catherine will be offering classes in collaboration with other highly skilled circus mentors out of the Collaroy Plateau Community Centre.

Catherine is proud to have performed at the very well attended circus on the Sand 2020 & 2021.

“I continue to work and train in this field building on my existing experiences and qualifications. I strive to bring students, audiences, artists, creative teams and all those with whom I am collaborating, exciting and nourishing experiences of the circus arts.”

* JOHN NYAGAH (Government Accredited educator, social worker and Diploma Level early childhood educator) enjoys pushing and bending people to their boundaries so that, they discover new and exciting aspects about themselves, their community and their surroundings.

John is co-founder and head of development at Vertical Circus, with vast experience on projects in both Kenya and India.

John is well known for his unique projects in art and music which he implemented for mixed behavioural groups, at the Montessori Gemeinschaftsschule, Berlin. He has also been instrumental in the delivery of all Northern Beaches Youth Circus classes and holiday programs to date.

John is also an accredited theatre in education practitioner.