Students from Launceston’s Circ's'Cool have cleaned up at two recent competitions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The circus performers tumbled their way to glory at both the Australian Circus Championships in Western Australia and the Australian Circus Festival in Sydney, beating out competitors from as far as Russia.
Circ's'Cool owner and teacher, Schantal Kathriner, said it was the first time the performance group had ever competed.
“For a few it was the first time they had ever even performed in front of people, she said.”
“I am just so proud of them.”
Ms Kathriner said circus competitions are relatively new to Australia, with each girl choosing an apparatus to compete in including trapeze, silk, contortion and rings.
In Western Australia for the under-12s category, the team took out first through to fourth place as well as first and second place in the under-15s.
The group act also won first and second for their group acts and favorite overall act.
In Sydney the team earned first in the community junior category, third in star of the future and first in community team.
Ms Kathriner’s daughter Mia also earned herself a world record for the most continuous elbow rolls, achieving 54 rolls in a minute.
A sixth generation circus performer herself, Ms Kathriner said she established Circ's'Cool about a decade ago after an injury prevented her from performing.
Now based in Launceston at the former Frederick Street church, she said Circ's'Cool focuses mainly on aerial based acrobatics and offers people of all ages and walks of life something out of the ordinary.
“People come to circus school for many different reasons,” she said.
“Whether it is for fitness or to just try something different.
“Coming here it is a full body workout, and it is not just strength it is flexibility.
“It is a lot of fun as well, we always encourage people to have some fun.”
On Saturday the school celebrated their success with their end of year concert ‘Treasures to be Found’ and have also taken over the Tasmanian Circus Festival to be held January 19-21 at Swan Bay.
Held every second year, Ms Kathriner said the festival has been running for 25 years and brings together some of the top independent circus performers and physical theatre companies from around the world.
”The last one was absolutely massive so I expect this one will be too,” she said.
”It is a great couple of days.”