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Blog

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NICA Proudly Welcomes Our New Board 2025

NICA Proudly Welcomes Our New Board 2025

A new era of leadership begins..

Latest , Media
2009 Graduation ceremony

2009 Graduation ceremony

Students awarded at graduation ceremony

Alumni
2011 NICA Youth Circus Finale

2011 NICA Youth Circus Finale

The show, based on a Fairy Tales theme, brought together 140 students participating in NICA’s Community Circus classes.

Training
NICA trainer clowns around for a worthy cause

NICA trainer clowns around for a worthy cause

NICA aerials trainer Kathryn Niesche recently returned from five days in the Central Desert, touring remote Indigenous Warlpiri communities

Media , Training
NICA students shine on opening night

NICA students shine on opening night

NICA stundents performed a riveting group bike routine at the opening night of the International Congress of Paediatrics (ICP).

Media
NICA Audition interview with Hugo

NICA Audition interview with Hugo

The best thing about running away with the circus is that I have a daily schedule that I can follow and specialist trainers in my field of interest.

Training
NICA takes part in ARTS8 Transformation project

NICA takes part in ARTS8 Transformation project

The Arts8 Transformation project was hosted by AFTRS and NIDA and involved two students and one staff member from each of the eight elite arts training..

Media , Training
NICA's collaboration with the Beijing International Acrobatic Arts School

NICA's collaboration with the Beijing International Acrobatic Arts School

Leading the young artists through a series of progressive classes and creative tasks was a challenging endeavour due to communication barriers..

Media
Congratulations to the Winners of Gasworks Circus Showdown 2017

Congratulations to the Winners of Gasworks Circus Showdown 2017

The competition featured performers displaying a mixture of skills from foot juggling to Chinese pole and acrobatics..

Alumni , Media
Making a career with dance: the journey from dance to circus

Making a career with dance: the journey from dance to circus

it clear they go together rather finely, but what is it really like to be a dancer and circus artist?

Training
Graduate Highlight: Maya Tregonning Comes To You Live From London

Graduate Highlight: Maya Tregonning Comes To You Live From London

Maya took the time to answer a few quick questions about life at NICA, and where it has since taken her.

Alumni , Training
Carita Farrer Spencer directs 3rd year ensemble

Carita Farrer Spencer directs 3rd year ensemble

Indulge in the lavish and ludricrous life of the rich and famous circus elite. Directed by the esteemed Carita Farrer Spencer.

Media
Frequently Asked Questions version 2024

Frequently Asked Questions version 2024

Wondering what life is like at NICA? Got questions about what skills you will learn and hours of training? You may find your answers here.

Latest
NICA awarded Bendigo Bank grant

NICA awarded Bendigo Bank grant

To purchase circus equipment for the Community Circus program.

Media
NICA students gain from cultural exchange to China

NICA students gain from cultural exchange to China

NICA students and staff participated in a Cultural Exchange Study Tour to China, supported by Arts Victoria.

Training
Congratulations to the 2012 NICA Award recipients

Congratulations to the 2012 NICA Award recipients

The NICA Achievement Award, presented to students who strives for excellence, awarded to Tamika Ball and Liam de Jong.

Alumni
First year students perform in Alwin in E Minor

First year students perform in Alwin in E Minor

The show, titled Alwin in E Minor, is based on the seven stages of man from the famous monologue in Shakespeare’s play 'As you Like It'

Media , Training
NICA graduate to perform in ‘The Han Show’ Wuhan

NICA graduate to perform in ‘The Han Show’ Wuhan

Congratulations to 2013 NICA graduate Tamika Ball who will be joining the Franco Dragone Entertainment Group.

Alumni
Daniel Power awarded Australia’s leading male aerialist 2016

Daniel Power awarded Australia’s leading male aerialist 2016

Daniel Power was awarded Australia’s leading male aerialist at The Australian Circus Festival Awards held 16-18 April 2016

Alumni , Media
NICA and NIDA collaboration - Eurydike + Orpheus

NICA and NIDA collaboration - Eurydike + Orpheus

NICA partnered with Australia’s leading institute for education and training in the dramatic arts, NIDA

Media , Training
Reflecting on the amazing career of Jing Jing

Reflecting on the amazing career of Jing Jing

Mr Xue Jing Jing, affectionately known at NICA as Jing Jing, retired from training recently.

Media
Giving flight to artistic talent

Giving flight to artistic talent

Some of Australia’s most gifted young actors, dancers, singers, film makers and musicians spent three days developing..

Media , Training
Head of Circus James Brown is awarded a Churchill Fellowship

Head of Circus James Brown is awarded a Churchill Fellowship

James will be studying how elite circus schools and professional artists approach the challenge of balancing artistic practice.

Media
From gymnastics to circus arts: Discover your next big adventure at NICA

From gymnastics to circus arts: Discover your next big adventure at NICA

Retired gymnast? Transfer your skills into circus arts at NICA.

Latest , Training
Lécole de Cirque (Circus School)

Lécole de Cirque (Circus School)

A film by Matilda Deeble - NICA recreational student and circus advocate

Latest , Media
NICA National Circus Centre Official Opening

NICA National Circus Centre Official Opening

The Hon. Peter Costello MP officially opened the new NICA National Circus Centre.

Media
NICA hosts the first ever Melbourne Circus Festival

NICA hosts the first ever Melbourne Circus Festival

The Melbourne Circus Festival, celebrating NICA’s 10th Birthday, was a roaring success featuring circus events, nightly cabarets, comedy, magic shows, films, forums and workshops.

Media
NICA’s community circus ends on a high with the 2012 Youth Circus Finale

NICA’s community circus ends on a high with the 2012 Youth Circus Finale

Cr Claude Ullin from the City of Stonnington opened proceedings to a supportive and enthusiastic audience of over 400 at the NICA National Circus Centre.

Training
Dreams from the Second Floor director Firenza Guidi

Dreams from the Second Floor director Firenza Guidi

Milan-born Firenza Guidi is an independent, award-winning theatre/circus, film director, writer and visual artist who has developed NoFit State style of performance..

Media
2014 NICA Graduates on the World Stage

2014 NICA Graduates on the World Stage

We wanted to share with you a small selection of the destinations of our 2014 graduates who are jetting off around the world on their circus journeys..

Alumni
NICA staff Shashwat Patel selected for Australian National Gymnastics Championship

NICA staff Shashwat Patel selected for Australian National Gymnastics Championship

NICA staff member Shashwat Patel selected for Australian National Gymnastics Championship 2016 as a coach and judge.

Media
ARTS8 Collaborative project - Embodied Country

ARTS8 Collaborative project - Embodied Country

Developing artists from each organisation displayed disciplined expertise whilst working with the shared vision of the collective..

Media , Training
Congratulations to the winners of Gasworks Circus Showdown 2018

Congratulations to the winners of Gasworks Circus Showdown 2018

Congratulations to YUCK Circus. This was a terrific performance showing courage, commitment and humour from the whole cast.

Alumni , Media
A Giant Duck Wins Gasworks Circus Showdown 2019

A Giant Duck Wins Gasworks Circus Showdown 2019

Our congratulations to Jack William Wilde and Shona Conacher for taking out the top gong.

Alumni , Media
NICA Graduates Liam Dummer and Jordan Twartz representing Australia in Vietnam

NICA Graduates Liam Dummer and Jordan Twartz representing Australia in Vietnam

The festival gathers elite circus artists and arts managers from around the world..

Media , Training
How dancers can benefit from adding circus arts to their repertoire at NICA

How dancers can benefit from adding circus arts to their repertoire at NICA

Become the ultimate triple threat by incorporating acrobatics, aerial apparatus, and physical theatre into your training.

Latest , Training
Circus Shows Up Everywhere

Circus Shows Up Everywhere

Finding women in circus while looking for lost early modern drama

Latest , Media
Alumni new show ‘ Common Dissonance’

Alumni new show ‘ Common Dissonance’

Common Dissonance by alumni Harley Mann & Isabelle Champagne-Chittick.

Alumni , Media
2011 Graduation ceremony

2011 Graduation ceremony

NICA wishes these students all the best in their future careers in the circus industry.

Alumni
News from NICA trainer in Indonesia

News from NICA trainer in Indonesia

Andrea Ousley in Jakarta, Indonesia working for a not-profit organisation called The Red Nose Foundation Hidung Merah.

Media , Training
NICA graduates to perform in world premiere of King Kong

NICA graduates to perform in world premiere of King Kong

Congratulations to NICA graduates Lincoln Barros, Adam Davis, Brett Franzi, Nathan Kell, Russell Leonard and Tayo Wilson who will perform as The King’s Men..

Alumni , Media
2014 Melbourne Fringe Festival Award Winners

2014 Melbourne Fringe Festival Award Winners

NICA graduates and current students were recognised with three awards in the categories of Best Emerging Indigenous Artist, Original New Circus and the People’s Choice Award.

Alumni , Media
Congratulations to Mr Lu who was awarded an OAM

Congratulations to Mr Lu who was awarded an OAM

Congratulations to Mr Lu Guang Rong who has been honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Media
Mr Lu takes on a new role in the International Circus Arena

Mr Lu takes on a new role in the International Circus Arena

Mr Guang Rong Lu OAM has taken on an exciting new position as Director (International Engagement)

Media
Shaping Future Leaders in the Performing Arts

Shaping Future Leaders in the Performing Arts

Students studying circus arts, acting, directing and design come together to make new work.

Media , Training
NICA hosts ARTS8 community of practise

NICA hosts ARTS8 community of practise

Four of our NICA students workshopped and presented a stunning performance devised around the idea of ‘flight’ with students from..

Media
Graduate Highlight: Lewie West And His Varied Career

Graduate Highlight: Lewie West And His Varied Career

Since completing his Bachelor of Circus Arts, Lewie has worked with some of Australia’s most notable contemporary circus companies.

Alumni , Training
NICA Alumni shines in Cirque du Soleil's 'Luzia'

NICA Alumni shines in Cirque du Soleil's 'Luzia'

Cirque du Soleil's 'Luzia' is set to captivate Melbourne, featuring NICA Alumni Nelson Smyles

Latest , Alumni , Media
How to avoid a boring life: Become a professional circus artist

How to avoid a boring life: Become a professional circus artist

Does working a regular nine to five make you feel uninspired? Become a professional circus artist and experience career fulfilment.

Latest , Training
The Ultimate Balancing Act: mastering parenting and performing

The Ultimate Balancing Act: mastering parenting and performing

NICA Alumni Hannah Cryle proves that parenting and performing can coexist - on and off stage

Latest , Alumni
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