NICA hosts Pre-Audition Workshops

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is putting the call out to people from around Australia with some background in physical training and the dream of a professional career in performing. NICA offers Australia’s only Bachelor of Circus Arts, which is a three-year university degree conducted at its Melbourne campus. Ahead of the auditions for the 2016 course in-take, NICA is currently holding pre-audition circus workshops across all Australian states to help those aspiring circus artists out there to hone their skills before the auditions begin in September.

This year, NICA’s pre-audition workshops are being held in more locations around Australia than ever before, including Byron Bay! NICA has already held workshops in Darwin (NT), Albury (NSW) and Melbourne (VIC). Upcoming workshop locations include Brisbane (July 4), Sydney (July 6), Ulverstone (July 7), Cairns (July 10), Byron (July 12), Fremantle (July 13), Adelaide (July 17) and Canberra (July 18).

The workshops focus on the audition requirements for NICA’s accredited courses, including flexibility, handstands, tumbling, strength & conditioning, movement and performance.

Past graduates from NICA, who are now professional circus performers and trainers in their own right, facilitate all workshops. They are able to answer any questions participants may have about the degree and life as a circus performer.

NICA’s Bachelor of Circus Arts is a great career opportunity for those with some background in physical training, such as circus, sport, dance, physical theatre, gymnastics, acrobatics, martial arts, diving or trampoline. Those with a flair for the physical and a desire for a challenge should consider attending a workshop. A background in circus is not necessary.

NICA graduates have established successful careers in Australia and internationally with acclaimed companies including Circus Oz, Circa, NoFit State and Cirque du Soleil.

NICA’s Executive Director Rose Stephens said, “This year, all of us at NICA are very pleased to be able to offer the pre-audition workshops to more cities around Australia than ever before. As Australia’s National Circus Institute, we want to attract the very best potential talent from around Australia regardless of background or experience. These pre-audition workshops will help us to do that by going out into communities across Australia and giving prospective students the opportunity to hone their skills with our circus professionals.”

Entry into the Bachelor of Circus Arts is highly competitive and attracts applicants from across Australia and overseas. The course is accredited by Swinburne University and training takes place in the custom-built circus facilities on its Prahran campus.

For more information and workshop bookings, visit www.nica.com.au.

Photo: Rowan Thomas, a 2014 NICA graduate. Photo by Julian Meehan.