social circus
Circosis value their relationships and feel very honoured to learn from, share knowledge and visit places belonging to some of the oldest continuing cultures on the planet. They acknowledge the traditional owners past and present and future of the land they live and the places they visit.
What is Social Circus?
Social circus is a participatory community development and circus pedagogical approach which uses circus skills as a tool to promote equity and social justice. The benefits of social circus include tangible outcomes such as skill-building, goal acquisition and healthy, physical activity. However, outcomes such as self-empowerment, confidence, teamwork, solidarity, and self-discipline are far more reaching. The confidence gained through learning and performing circus skills collectively reinforce healthy role modelling within the community as the participants become mentors and performers within the program, and beyond the program. Creating a safe space for the mutual interchange of ideas and the sharing of diverse cultural experiences, promotes cultural safety and celebrates cultural identity. The performance component encourages communication, expression and leadership skills, offering a platform for young people's voices.
As the longest-running social circus program of it’s kind, Circosis have been privileged to witness the many positive stories that have emerged from multiple generations of participation in the social circus in remote communities in Australia.
Beyond Circus: Circosis Social Circus
History
Circosis have delivered over 100 circus education programs to more than 50 remote Indigenous communities in Australia, Costa Rica, South Africa, Madagascar and India. Their strength lies in their experience of working with marginalised youth in remote areas, and they have gained widespread respect through their culturally safe approach, integrity, flexibility, openness, commitment, continuity and of course humour.
Between 2004 - 2018, Circosis worked alongside communities using community development principles and circus skills to develop healthy role modelling and leadership roles. Working from a strength-based approach, their social circus program was used as a framework to build upon the existing social capital from within communities. The program integrated Indigenous worldviews and culturally appropriate constructs of success and value. The highlight of the program was the inter-generational celebration through performance, that positively reinforced young peoples strengths and capacity within the community.