The Women's Circus, a feminist not for profit organisation, provides circus performance training and social arts projects for women in the western region of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Training programs focus on the physical and imaginative potential of the human body, self-awareness and self-esteem. It has a history of original productions with social, educational and health themes related to women's lives.
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History
The circus began in 1991, as an initiative of the Footscray Community Arts Centre, offering training and performance projects. Women recognised as founders include Donna Jackson, director; Sally Forth, trainer and Elizabeth Walsh, director of the Footscray Community Arts Centre. The inspiration was built on the work of an earlier Wimmin's Circus, Australia's first women's circus established in Melbourne which ran from 1972-1979. The Wimmin's Circus was supported in its early days by access to the facilities and expertise of CircusOz. Feminist Jean Taylor who joined the Women's Circus in 1991, went on to establish the Performing Older Women's Circus in 1995.
The Women's Circus toured Beijing in 1995 as part of the United Nation's Conference on Women, and performed and ran workshops in regional France in 2012. It has won several awards from Arts Victoria and the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
In 2006, the organisation moved to the Drill Hall, West Footscray, and receives support by the Maribyrnong City Council.
Training
In addition to intermediate and advanced training programs, the circus also offers a women’s program for people who have no experience in circus training. Participants learn a range of skills including hula-hooping, juggling, trapeze, swings, acro-balance (making pyramids), climbing and tumbling.