National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA)

The NICA Recreation program is proud to present a wonderful circus world of colour and imagination where you will be taken on a trip through various interpretations of the intersection of rock & roll and circus. Come and enjoy our family friendly ‘Circus Rocks’.

All eyes on this cohort of disrupters. Through click of paparazzi lights, utterly audacious characters and live-camera feeds, this final showcase of Company 22 will leave you sparkling with awe.

Join NICA's Cert IV students for a very fancy circus show made especially for very fancy kids!

Iconoclasm (the theft or wilful damage of artworks) is an age-old practice that continues to serve as a powerful modus operadni for those wanting to capture the world’s attention in a moment of meaningful cultural defiance. To this very day, Iconoclasm remains a provocative act that brings issues of the day into sharp focus – so what does that mean for the future of modern circus? Enter CIRCONOCLASM: An art-heist inspired by the infamous NGV Picasso theft by the “Australian Cultural Terrorists” and every heist movie ever… Seurat’s triptych of pointillist paintings on circus are to be gathered for the first time in a big splash for the National Australia Gallery. Though armed with a veritable fortress of high-tech security, the paintings are stolen in a daring heist during the swanky opening party..

The workshops are aimed at students planning to audition this year for entry into the Certificate or Bachelor of Circus Arts in 2023. It is also open to prospective students for 2024, who would like feedback on how they should be training over the next year and half.

The workshops are aimed at students planning to audition this year for entry into the Certificate or Bachelor of Circus Arts in 2023. It is also open to prospective students for 2024, who would like feedback on how they should be training over the next year and half.

Eclipses are harbingers of change - they usher in an evolution. Join us as we explore a story of the changing world we now face. What would we change if we could? What is this new normal we face? What world do we want ours to be like? Concept by Sally Richardson and directed by Ben Sheen, Meredith Kitchen and devised with the graduating company. Inspired by “The Pandemic is a Portal” by Arundhati Roy, ECLIPSE offers a gateway to a vision of what our future might be.

Join us for an evening of circus delight. NICA Second Year Ensemble presents 'Onism'. A circus experiment in perspectives, reflections and live-feed camera.

With a one off subscription, gain unlimited access to the Short Courses Online collection of videos recorded from live Zoom classes between April to July 2020. Expand your access to content, including Flexibility, Aerial Conditioning, Cardio Circuit and Teen Fitness classes to name a few. There are currently around 80 videos available in this collection and these will be added to as we progress through lockdown. The videos have been edited to protect the privacy of participants.

Come and celebrate 20 years as Australia's Centre of Excellence in Circus Arts! Circus Variety Showcase: 31 Aug - 3 Sept 20 years of NICA exhibition: 31 Aug - 4 Sept NICA Open House: 4 Sept 9am - 4pm

This workshop is aimed at students planning to audition this year for entry into the Certificate or Bachelor in 2022. It is also open to prospective students for 2023, who would like feedback on how they should be training over the next year and half.

The workshops are aimed at students planning to audition this year for entry into the Certificate or Bachelor in 2022. It is also open to prospective students for 2023, who would like feedback on how they should be training over the next year and half.

We are all looking at a big plan through a narrow crack. Inspired by the best-laid and ever-shifting plans of 2020, this funny and high-energy ensemble circus work features the 2020 2021 graduating class of the National Institute of Circus Arts. Cirkus 2021: Plan 47(b), directed by Mike Finch (Artistic Director, Circus Oz 1997-2015) and NICA’s own Stephen Burton, is a collaboration with Screen and Media (Animation) students and staff at Swinburne University of Technology.

We are all looking at a big plan through a narrow crack. Inspired by the best-laid and ever-shifting plans of 2020, this funny and high-energy ensemble circus work features the 2020 2021 graduating class of the National Institute of Circus Arts. Cirkus 2021: Plan 47(b), directed by Mike Finch (Artistic Director, Circus Oz 1997-2015) and NICA’s own Stephen Burton, is a collaboration with Screen and Media (Animation) students and staff at Swinburne University of Technology.

Join us for the launch of Shanghai Acrobat: the astonishing true story of an orphan who escaped Mao’s China and became one of the world’s most successful acrobatic performers. For readers of Mao’s Last Dancer comes the inspiring true story of a world-famous acrobat who escaped communist China to begin a new life in Australia.

A new CircaNICA outdoor circus work. A suburban family have travelled from the east (the Dandenongs, that is) to settle in the long-promised land of Sunshine, collecting hard rubbish along the way, but the local Ravens consider their gaudy travelling show as a territorial challenge.  A ridiculous, eclectic, absurd vaudeville face-off ensues. With an extraordinary range of circus and performance skills the battle rages.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 3: 1:00 - 2:15 pm See the world from upside down! Handstands are a foundation skill that require core strength vital for any circus activity. Find out what it takes to master handstands! Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 3: 1:00 - 2:15 pm Try the basics of the Static Trapeze! Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 3: 1:00 - 2:15 pm Learn the fundamentals of Trampolining! Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 2: 11:00 - 12:15 pm Try your hand at manipulation and have some fun juggling balls, clubs and scarves! Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 2: 11:00 - 12:15 pm Another chance to try your hand at Straps! Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 2: 11:00 - 12:15 pm Try the basics of Tissu. Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 2: 11:00 - 12:15 pm Try the basics of Tumbling! Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 1: 9:45 - 11:00 am Try the basics of Acrobatic Pole! **Flat soled shoes (ie Volleys) and jeans are compulsory** Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 1: 9:45 - 11:00 am Try the basics of Aerial Ring! Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 1: 9:45 - 11:00 am Try hula tricks for body, arms, neck & feet. Ab workout guaranteed! Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

Come & Try Circus Day Session 1: 9:45 - 11:00 am Challenge yourself and try out straps. Session includes a fun 15 min group warm up followed by an hour of class. Submit your indemnity form prior to the first session.

NICA Short Courses Summer Holiday Program. Serious about circus? These three days of intensive circus training will challenge teens with sessions in tumbling, manipulation, hand balancing, strength and conditioning, flexibility and acrobatics. Not for beginners, these sessions will suit teens with a background in circus, sports acrobatics, trampolining, diving, performing arts, dance, martial arts, gymnastics, extreme sport, street theatre etc. NB, no skill development on specialty apparatus.

NICA Short Courses Holiday Program. Intensive circus training to improve strength, flexibility and awareness through various drills and exercises. Not for beginners, these sessions are for students who wish to achieve significant improvement in their basic skills and techniques and have a background in gymnastics, dance, circus or similar. Skills include tumbling, manip, hand balancing, strength and conditioning, flexibility and acrobatics etc. NB, no skill development on specialty apparatus

NICA Short Courses Summer Holiday Program. Come along for a day and experience a selection of different circus activities. These fun-filled sessions can include juggling, tumbling, mini tramp, static trapeze, aerial ring, tissu, hula hoops, tight wire, performance presentation and more. Bring along a water bottle, lunch and snacks each day. *Children attending the NICA Short Holiday program must have turned 5 years old at the time of enrolment or have started attending school.

NICA Short Courses Summer Holiday Program. Come along for the full week of the Day at the Circus (DATC) program (9.30-3.30pm) and experience a selection of different circus activities each day. These fun-filled sessions can include juggling, tumbling, mini tramp, static trapeze, aerial ring, tissu, hula hoops, tight wire, performance presentation and more. Bring along a water bottle, lunch and snacks each day.

NICA Short Courses Summer Holiday Program. These 3 hour workshops give students the opportunity to try a number of different circus activities. These fun-filled sessions will include juggling, tumbling, mini tramp, static trapeze, aerial ring, tissu, hula hoops, tight wire and more. Bring along a water bottle and snack each day. *Children attending the NICA Short Holiday program must have turned 5 years old at the time of enrolment or have started attending school.

NICA Short Courses Summer Holiday Program. Book a full week of fun-filled 3 hour workshops (9.30-12.30pm) and give students the opportunity to try a number of different circus activities, including juggling, tumbling, mini tramp, static trapeze, aerial ring, tissu, hula hoops, tight wire and more. Bring along a water bottle and snack each day. *Children attending the NICA Short Holiday program must have turned 5 years old at the time of enrolment or have started attending schoo

NICA Short Courses Summer Holiday Program. Teen Ground & Manipulation Circus Workshop for beginners. Sample a range of ground-based circus activities to find out what you love. Introducing basic tumbling, trampolining, juggling, manipulation, tight wire and acrobalance. To try aerials, come on Monday for Teen Intro to Aerials!

NICA Short Courses Summer Holiday Program. Want to try it all? These two day beginner programs will introduce teens to a variety of circus skills. On Monday, participants try a variety of aerial apparatus including tissu, static trapeze and aerial hoop, with a focus on aerial awareness, coordination, strength and mastering basic skills. On Tuesday, sample a range of ground based circus activities to find out what you love. Introducing basic tumbling, trampolining, juggling etc.

NICA Short Courses Summer Holiday Program. After a fun warm-up game and stretch, beginners will get to try a variety of aerial apparatus including tissu, static trapeze and aerial hoop, with a focus on aerial awareness, coordination, building strength and mastering basic skills.

Special in-between term aerial top up! Not for beginners, these special one-off classes are for NICA term participants already training in the discipline and looking to keep up their aerial fitness.

Special in-between term aerial top up! Not for beginners, these special one-off classes are for NICA term participants already training in the discipline and looking to keep up their aerial fitness.

Special in-between term aerial top up! Not for beginners, these special one-off classes are for NICA term participants already training in the discipline and looking to keep up their aerial fitness.

Purchase your NICA Short Course t-shirts for kids and teens in addition to NICA tote bags. Prices include postage whilst the venue is closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.