PETA STEWART
From the time Brent van Rensburg was 10 (he turned professional when he was 16!), he knew he would start a circus school and pass on all he knew. That circus is Zip Zap, and it is Zip Zap that is taking a Journey with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at Artscape. This Journey encompasses music from the classics to the space age, and showcases not only the tumblers, spinners and fliers of the Zip Zap Circus, but also the dynamic songstress Robin Botha and the New Apostolic Church, Kensington Bishop Area Choir.
From the age of 16, the young Brent toured the world as a trapeze artist, stopped only in his tracks in the Dominican Republic 28 years ago when he met Laurence Esteve. He taught her the art of flying trapeze and she too fell in love with the magic of circus. Of course they also fell in love, married and eventually came to South Africa in 1992.
Raising funds for a Salt River academy
Brent comes from the first circus school in SA which was started by Keith Anderson in 1971. “It changed many children’s lives, mine included. The school closed in 1978 and there was no circus school in SA until we started Zip Zap in 1992 in the townships on the outskirts of Cape Town. In 2008 it moved to premises at Artscape into a Dome, funded by a generous supporter, and closer to the city centre and larger audiences. Not that it has been limited to performances in the Dome – Zip Zap performers have toured to more than 25 countries and give performances all over the city and the country. Now it is raising funds for its new academy in Salt River.
“Since 1992, thousands have passed through our doors as performers, and we hope for thousands more in the future. Currently, we have seven different programmes running at Zip Zap – three outreach programmes and three youth programmes, as well as a vocational training programme for young adults. Over the past 25 years, the Zip Zap kids have performed live shows for hundreds of thousands.”
Aerials, tumbling, juggling, trampoline, handstands
At Zip Zap the youth learn a variety of circus skills: aerials, tumbling, juggling, trampoline, handstands and more. They also learn important life skills, making them employable and participative members of society. They also gain in other fields of expertise such as rigging, sewing, sound and lighting. Zip Zap continually adds to the beginner programme and all programmes are free of charge.
Van Rensburg and Esteve are passing the torch not only to those hundreds of performers, but to their own daughters as well. Both are trapeze artists. Sabine, now 21 is currently in her final year in ENC – a circus school in Montreal, and Saskia, 19, has been accepted into a law and politics course at Sciencès Po (Paris Institute of Political Studies).
For the Zip Zap family, performing for President Nelson Mandela for his 77th birthday was a highlight. And Van Rensburg still holds the world record for the highest flying trapeze at 55m. That’s 15 storeys high!
Zip Zap brings children from all backgrounds and cultures come together to train, perform and travel. They form bonds and are true representatives of our rainbow nation, says Van Rensburg. “We believe that whatever they take from Zip Zap – and that includes a sense of worth, a fulfilment of a wish, independence, discipline and a range of valuable skills, it will help them in whatever they do, not only performing.”
Zip Zap has succeeded in Van Rensburg’s vision to provide a career for talented young people, most of whom just needed a second chance in life. This success is apparent, as seen by the alumni of Zip Zap circus school: two have been chosen for Cirque du Soleil. At least 10 more are performing around the world in many shows. Two others have started, or direct their own circus schools – in the US, Germany and in Stellenbosch, and others were accepted at some of the top circus schools in the world.
The words of a school principal in Cape Town where Zip Zap did one of their first shows in the school hall perfectly epitomises the meaning and value of Zip Zap: “The lessons these children have learnt here today will last long after the lessons from text books are forgotten.”
Show: Journey
What: Zip Zap Circus, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra with Robin Botha, New Apostolic Church KBA Choir
Where: Artscape Opera House
When: 10, 11 November at 7.30pm, and 12 November, 2017 at 3pm
Tickets: R180/R240/R300 are available at Computicket
VIP Tickets: R1000 – contact Zip Zap directly 021 421 8623 or jillian@zip-zap.co.za
Info, book: http://bit.ly/CPOZipZapJourney. VIP packages jillian@zip-zap.co.za
Web: www.cpo.org.za, http://www.zip-zap.co.za
WS
