Circus Classes
Half High Circus
Half High Circus is a community of young people, trainers, parents and volunteers who share a passion for circus, a belief in diversity and individuality, and a love of circus skills training.
We run classes for children aged 2-25, providing opportunities for over one hundred and forty young people each week to learn circus skills. Half High Circus is inclusive; we are committed to ensuring that children of all shapes, sizes, religions, ability levels and socio-economic backgrounds are welcomed and valued within our circus community.
What skills will my child learn at circus classes?
Our kids classes cover a wide range of contemporary circus skills, including trapeze, hula hooping, tissu, juggling, acrobatics, tumbling, staff twirling, clowning, performance craft, and human pyramids! All classes are carefully planned to increase strength, flexibility, co-ordination, body awareness, concentration and focus. Every class incorporates a warm-up, warm down, games and skill development.Even more important than these skills are the attitudes and values we promote in our classes. We want our children to develop self-esteem, an awareness of themselves as part of a group, an appreciation of individuality and the ability to make safe, responsible decisions. We teach these values, attitudes and skills through a wide range of games and activities that allow children to learn through play, while having a lot of fun.
What culture do we want to create in our kids’ classes?
The culture of contemporary circus is a delight to teach and work in. Half High has created a very supportive, non-competitive and non-elitist approach that focuses on having fun, trying your hardest, and allowing everyone to find the particular skill and style that suits them. Diversity and individuality are a fundamental part of what makes contemporary circus so exciting and unique, and there are so many different skills on offer that everyone can find the area in which they shine. Circus differs from many other organized children’s activities in that there are no exams to pass, games to win or eisteddfods to compete at. Instead, performances allow children to show what they have learned to the world.
Who are the Half High trainers?
Jane Davis is the head trainer and Director of Half High Circus, and Associate Director of Circus Monoxide. Jane specializes in aerials and adagio (otherwise known as standing on other people). She is a fully qualified teacher (B.Teach, Early Childhood, Grad Dip Sp.Ed), and has been teaching kids and adults circus classes for six years.
Wendy Regan is a physical theatre, circus and dance artist. She is a founding member of Circus WOW, and has worked with WOW as a Training Co-ordinator, teacher and choreographer. Wendy has recently returned from Brisbane, where she worked as Head Trainer for Circa. Wendy has a BA in Dance from the University of Western Sydney and a Certificate 4 in Community Cultural Development from the NSW Community Arts Association.
Ro is trained in drama (Bachelor of Creative Arts – Drama (performance) and loves teaching circus at Half High. Her favourites are unicycling, stilts, trapeze, and her fantastic teenagers improvised performance crew!
Charlotte Bell (aka Charlie) ran away with Circus Monoxide in 2008 and is currently working as a coach and training as a performer, as a member of Harveys Troupe a group designed for Half Highs emerging circus artists. Charlotte is also in her 2nd year at Wollongong University studying Creative Arts in Performance. Her interests are in circus performance, physical/childrens theatre and screen acting. Previously Charlotte trained as a gymnast in Canberra for 12 years, and coached for 8. She has taught national and state levels, competed at state and nationals levels and taken her own teams interstate to compete at the National Titles. As a performer, the land of aerials, particularly trapeze and tissu, fascinate her the most, as well as hoops and acrobatics.
Natalie Harris is a NSW based aerialist who has been touring, performing and teaching worldwide for the past 13 years. Natalie first hit international fame when she performed in Cirque Du Soleils' "Quidam" in 2001 and continuing on their European, Usa and Japan tours until 2003. Natalie remains to be one of the worlds best on her apparatus known as "Cloudswing" having recently competed at the International Festival du Cirque, Monte Carlo 2008 where she was awarded the Premio Speciale Gesellschaft Circusfreunde prize from the Germand Circus Fans Association. Natalie performs and teaches cloudswing, swinging, static, dance and double trapeze, tissu, aerial ring, bungee.
Heidi Hillier is a Hula Hooper and circus artist with a background in visual arts. She is well known for her cast of characters including Sugar Candy Australias Only 2 Headed Hula Hooper, Heidi Hodeos One Woman Rodeo, Sweet Mystery, and H.M.A.S Heidi Hoops. Heidi has a honours degree in Creative Arts and broad skill base which includes hula hoops, trick rope, lasso, whip, acro, trapeze, silks, clown, and costume design. She teaches circus skills to kids and adults at Circus Monoxides Youth Circus, Circus WOW, CIRCA!, Flipside Circus, Circus Arts Sydney/Byron, WEA, IPAC Drama Studio and Carriageworks.
Erin Masters teaches a huge range of circus arts from juggling to rola bola to acrobatics to fire twirling. She has taught all around Australia and internationally. Erin combines her circus skills with extensive experience in youth work, and has a Diploma in Youth Work, and a B.Arts (majoring in Sociology/history). Erin has also completed Social Circus Training at the National Institute of Circus Arts (N.I.C.A). in Melbourne.
Fees and Money Things
The majority of Half High Classes are $96 for an eight week term with the exception being the Friday 4:45pm aerials classes which are $136 for an eight week term. Fees are payable during the first two weeks of term. There is also a twenty-five dollar annual membership fee. This membership fee only needs to be paid once per family per year.
We also offer discounts for families with children attending three or more classes as well as sponsored positions for low income families.
What is Serious About Circus?
Serious About Circus is a program for children who want to take circus more seriously! Serious About Circus (SAC) members train a minimum of three times per week, including a private or small group class, and group SAC training on Saturday afternoons. As well as having lots more opportunities to do extra sit-ups, chin-ups and some hard core training, SAC members also have opportunities for extra training projects (such as attending the Flying Fruit Flies National Youth Training Project in April 2007) and extra performance opportunities. Entrance to this program is based on commitment and interest in becoming more highly skilled, rather than existing skill level.
Adult Classes
Circus Monoxide offers adult classes for a range of skill levels from beginners through to professionals. All classes are taught by highly experienced trainers, who can cater classes to meet the needs of individual participants. See attached timetable for more details.
Circus Parties!
Who wouldnt want to run away to the circus for your birthday? Circus Monoxide offers birthday parties for children (and adults!) of all ages. We offer a huge range of skills; trapeze, juggling, clowning, unicycling, stilt walking, hula hooping, human pyramids and more!
Contact us for more info.
