Circolina's Leap

Circolina’s Leap is a showcase of skills learnt at weekly circus classes presented by Auckland Community Circus in association with the Giant Leap Foundation and Toi Ora Live Art Trust. It involves diverse groups across multi-disciplinary art forms.

Audiences can expect a raw, rich and entertaining performance that will give a fresh perspective on ability and participation.

The story follows homeless Lina... she is adopted by an eclectic circus troupe rehearsing for a new show, but they get distracted. What can she do to pull them back? Lina is played by Morgaina Mathias whose dream is to perform for Cirque du Soleil – a very ambitious dream for someone confined to a wheelchair. However, Creative Director Thomas Hinz says this is not beyond the realms of possibility. He has performed twice for Cirque du Soleil cast and crew with his former troupe Circus Kumarani.

Thomas has 20 years experience staging shows involving all ages and abilities in the circus arena. Thomas founded Circus Fantasia in Rostock Germany 20 years ago, and Kumarani in Dargaville in 2003, which won three national awards and gained Cirque du Soleil sponsorship. He started school programmes and classes for people with disabilities in Auckland last year.

Collaboration with the Giant Leap Foundation has enabled access for Deaf people to the project. For example, Rachel Coppage, her husband Eric and daughter Meghan are a fully signing family. They have been attending weekly classes since February – first at the Auckland Deaf Society and now at Kelston Deaf Education Centre. Rachel will act as a signing narrator for deaf audience members.

The addition of Toi Ora Live Art Trust artists, musicians, writers and film makers further broadens the context of disability sector engagement.

Circolina’s Leap is being evaluated as part of a two year research project ‘Developing Community Circus in Aotearoa New Zealand’. The first show is followed by a research forum led by independent researcher Rachael Trotman.

The show is being supported by the Office of Disability Issues and Auckland Creative Communities.

For more information see www.communitycircus.co.nz