OBSERVER: NICA Anniversary
Congratulations to the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) which celebrates its 25th anniversary from November 20-21 (preview November 19) with Coming Home, a special performance and fundraising event, curated by NICA’s Head of Circus Studies Juliana Neves.
Coming Home brings generations of alumni, trainers and current students together on stage for a journey through the Institute’s history.
From humble beginnings in a shed in Docklands in 1999, where a pilot project was initiated, through to the present-day in NICA’s purpose-built campus in Prahran, Coming Home celebrates the thousands of stories that have shaped NICA over the past quarter century. Brought to life through circus including aerials, wheels, hoops, bikes, foot juggling and more.
So, what makes a place feel like home? NICA answers: the people. The teachers who have passed on their knowledge. The students who have taken risks. The graduates who have carried NICA’s spirit out into the world. The supporters, audiences and circus community who have filled NICA’s spaces with energy for a quarter of a century.
“It has been a pleasure to see the school grow and continue to produce elite graduates that I have worked with all over the world,” says Hazel Bock, member of NICA’s first Bachelor of Circus Arts cohort in 2001. Some 25 years later, Bock will return to NICA to perform as part of the anniversary celebrations, bringing her generation’s story back to the place where their journey began.
Coming Home also looks to the future. Proceeds from every ticket will go directly to NICA’s Excellence Scholarship Fund, investing in the next generation of circus artists. The Fund currently contributes up to 30 per cent of tuition fees, with the goal of growing this support towards full-fee scholarships.
NICA’s international relationships are also continuing to evolve. Students from Shanghai Circus School will join NICA on stage for the final iteration of international exchange project, Beyond Our Boundaries, reflecting NICA’s ambitions for the future.
Season: November 20-21 (preview November 19). Time: 7 pm evenings and 2pm matinee. Venue: NICA’s Guang Rong Lu OAM National Circus Centre, 39-59 Green St , Prahran. Duration: Approx. 1 hour 45 mins (includes 20 min. interval) $15 – $49 plus booking fee. Discounts for groups, concession, Mob tix, under 30s..
nica.com.au/performs
Cheryl Threadgold