Women's Circus in West Footscray, Victoria | Community organisation

Women's Circus

Locality: West Footscray, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 9687 3665

Address: 395 Barkly St 3012 West Footscray, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.womenscircus.org.au

Likes: 3726

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• Community organisation
• Performance art theatre
• Circus

25.01.2022 A little good news! We're extending our amazing unlimited FREE access to Live Stream Classes offer until the end of 2020. All you need to do is become a Women’s Circus Member! Annual membership starts from as little as $25. Spread the good word with your pals! A great way for you to connect with community, create and play #togetherapart during these #isotimes. Psst...Women's Circus members get a whole bunch of amazing offers including ticket discounts, first access priority... to events, exclusive community days and more. Sign up now for classes: https://www.womenscircus.org.au/live-stream-classes/

25.01.2022 A warm welcome and intro to our new Board Member Chantal Wynter! "I first came across the Women’s Circus as an audience member watching a series of performances in an obscure warehouse setting. I loved it. Since then, I have collaborated with the Women’s Circus to produce events and have admired their story telling through a feminist lens. I’m thrilled to be part of the Board and hope to contribute as a person of colour, feminist and my experiences as a producer." Chantal is... a creative producer based on Kulin Nation Country who curates interdisciplinary work in collaboration with artists, arts organisations, galleries, festivals, Educational Institutions, Local Government, community and businesses. She is the founder and producer of West Projections Festival, and has worked as an artist and producer for MESS, Due West Arts Festival, One Night in Footscray, Gertrude Street Projection Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Women’s Circus, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, Local Councils and Educational Institutions. Welcome aboard Chantal! Photo credit: Matto Lucas.

25.01.2022 Powerful words from Senator Sarah Hanson-Young about the lack of support to the Arts Sector in the budget. Please watch. Please listen. Please continue to support and lift the work of artists and creators. It is one of the hardest hit sectors in the pandemic and is a $12 billion industry that brings so much meaning and vitality to peoples lives. Solidarity to all artists and arts orgs working through this time. #IBELIEVEINARTISTS

22.01.2022 We are so thrilled to introduce our new Board Member Dr Melinda Smith, who some of you may recognise as one of our regular Artists in Residence. We have had a long and wonderful creative relationship with Melinda over the past 5 years, and look very forward to her expertise and input in helping guide our organisation. Melinda has over 30 years experience in disability and education. In 2008, she began promoting the health and wellbeing outcomes of dance for people with disabi...lities. In 2018, Melinda created her first solo work, Spasmotive. The next phase of her work sees her creating a series of audio-visual expressions of life in social isolation. Melinda lives with cerebral palsy and is an advocate of disability inclusion. In 2019 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Deakin University. Melinda recently became a member of the Deakin University Disability and Inclusion team as a lecturer in Inclusive Arts. Welcome aboard Mel! We <3 your work. <3

22.01.2022 A little something to brighten your day while we’re on a short break due to lockdown in Melbourne! Repost @circusaroundtheworld of amazing 8 year old @milla_bells doing some bounce juggling.

22.01.2022 Phew! What a year 2020 has been. A year of tremendous change, challenges and adapting to new ways of being. While we've weathered the storm of 2020, the future still remains uncertain particularly for arts organisations like ours.... Normally at this time of year we'd be celebrating with our End of Year Cabarets and shows, which help us fundraise to keep creating and making our programs accessible to people from all walks of life.With the loss of live entertainment due to Cov...id-19 restrictions that's a big hit. For those who can, please consider helping us future proof through an end of year donation. All funds will go a long way to continue delivering accessible programs and keeping the Women's Circus spirit alive. All amounts over $2 are tax deductible. We know it's been a tough financial year for many so we really mean it when we say EVERY dollar is greatly appreciated: https://www.givenow.com.au/womenscircus Image: a woman with grey hair is lying on the floor resting with her shoulders above her head. Her feet are lifted just off the ground and her eyes are closed. Above her on the blackboard wall are the words acceptance, vulnerability, transparency, truth written in chalk. Credit: Marie Watt

21.01.2022 Livestream Classes available! Us promo code 5OFFLIVE to get a taste of our livestream classes for $5 concession or $7 full this week. Use this promo code as many times as you want so you can try every online class this week (offer finishes 16 February). Live outside Melbourne? Like keeping moving at home? These classes are for you! Acro Conditioning, Gentle Conditioning on Sunday mornings, Flexibility and more available! Full info + book: https://www.womenscircus.org.au/live-stream-classes/

21.01.2022 Happy Bi+ Visibility Day to all those in our WC community AND everywhere! <3

21.01.2022 Spotlight on: Gentle Circus Conditioning & Stretch Livestream Class. Looking for gentle exercise without pushing yourself too hard? This class is for you! Start your Sunday mornings with our awesome trainer Franca taking you through gentle cardio, stretching and conditioning. A great way to keep moving and stay in tune with your body from the comfort of your own home! Use promo code 5OFFLIVE to get a taste of our livestream classes for $5 concession or $7 full this week. Use... this promo code as many times as you want so you can try every online class (offer finishes 16 February). Gentle Circus Conditioning & Stretch: Sunday mornings online from 10:30am AEST. Full info + book: https://www.womenscircus.org.au/live-stream-classes/

18.01.2022 Still working from home? Need a little spring in your step to start your day? Check out our live-stream Morning Blitz Class with the amazing Emily Ross (pictured)! Wednesdays at 9:30am. Part of our suite of Live Stream Classes. Perfect for those who are still dipping their toes back in to IRL hangs... https://www.womenscircus.org.au/live-stream-classes/

18.01.2022 Topping off our Sunday Circus Cinema: Pope Joan edition is our Q&A with Musical Director Kim Baston, hosted by our wonderful long time trainer and all round legend Sal Frances!

18.01.2022 TOP PICKS FOR Melbourne Fringe! While it may look very different from the usual fringe times there are so many excellent show and experiences to check out (some you can see while staying in your pyjamas!)... The People of Cabaret bring you a cavalcade of glitter, a rallying cry of fabulousness, and a constellation of superstars in this variety spectacular. The People of Cabaret are dedicated to amplifying, uplifting, nurturing and supporting artists of colour who work in caba...ret. Go check them out! One of our favourites - Yana Alana is getting out of bed and bringing you the very Worst Of Yana Alana. An evening of queer empowerment, worst original songs, poetry and her bum puppet, Scat Morrison. Past masterclass host and new board member Chantal Wynter of Wynter Projects join forces with Women's Circus member Gen Djune for a free self-guided audio tour traversing the radical side of Sunshine with Renegades of Sunshine. Matriarch, written and performed by Sandy Greenwood is a one-woman show full of hardship, hope, and humour, spanning four generations of Indigenous women. Through a combination of drama, dance and music, Matriarch explores cultural identity, the effects of intergenerational trauma and what it means to be a fair skin goori woman in modern Australia. Finally - Riot Stage Youth Theatre (run by our amazing Training Manager Morgan and past A Room of One's Own recipient Kat Cornwall) brings you Riot Stage Gets Famous. We can't recommend enough just heading to the Facebook event to read the description and booking in! Check out the guide. Book in tickets and most importantly support all these amazing artists!

18.01.2022 The main event has arrived! 'Pope Joan' - Women's Circus 1997 show is now up on our Youtube channel. Head on over and stay tuned after the show for the Q&A with Musical Director Kim Baston.

17.01.2022 #Repost from our awesome member @ailsawild. Please have a read because we are so proud of these two! This is my friend @sim_sheridan standing on my shoulders. We built a friendship doing acro together. The layers of trust and communication you need to train acro is part of what I adore about it - the way doing acro creates a relationship.... Last year we suddenly couldn’t train together. Sim threw herself into her job as a nurse. The amount of work and the number of roles she performed as cases rose in Melbourne was next-level. Early on I asked if she wanted to call me to debrief and could I please write down her stories. The result is The Care Factor. A book about Sim and nursing in a pandemic and the many levels of care humans need. At my first acro class in 11 months, I got to give her the hard copy of our book. In the land of acro, this trick is pretty basic. But we hadn’t been on the training mats since last March. In the meantime, we found a different way to practice trusting and communicating with each other. Thanks @rabbit_burrows for the picture @hardiegrantbooks

17.01.2022 A little #TBT of these legends performing Superhero School at our 2017 End of Year Cabaret. 2020 has been a wild and weird year. So a quick shout out to all our amazing members, trainers, staff, board and supporters who have kept us cranking along through lockdown with your enthusiasm, playfulness, hard work and dedication. YOU ARE ALL SUPERHEROES IN OUR EYES! Image: Marie Watt

17.01.2022 Just a lovely hypnotic bit of aerial inspiration to brighten your day! <3

16.01.2022 Have you checked out our new YouTube channel? Your chance to see past performances, hear from peeps why they love us and see some of our amazing resident artists in action! Head on over, hit subscribe and the bell to get notifications. :)

16.01.2022 LGBTQIA+ friends and followers! Have you checked out Campfire Stories - queer online gathering? Tell ANY story, on ANY topic, using ANY medium - as long as it can be recorded on video! Created by the powerhouse team Artemis and our amazing Board Secretary Teddy Darling, Campfire Stories is a space to build kinship and nourish creativity through the exchange of stories. To find out more and submit check out the link below... https://www.campfirestories.com.au/submissions See more

14.01.2022 Book in now for our upcoming Online Masterclass: Musicality and It's Place in Movement Practice. This Saturday 20th from 1-3:30pm. Expand your movement practice, and connect with amazing circus and sound artist Winter Cyan!

11.01.2022 What's up with Circus in Australia? Presented by CircusTalk, Women's Circus Creative Producer Devon Taylor joins Lauren Eisinger (CIRCA), Kim Campbell (Circus Talk), Dr. Kristy Seymor (Lecturer & Researcher Griffith University), Deb Wilks (Cluster Arts), Antonella Casella (Circus Arts Hub), Fez Fa'anana (Briefs Factory) to discuss how the circus sector in Australia has been adapting to pandemic lockdowns and restrictions. Grab a cuppa and settle in to hear from this amazing ...line up of leading Australian Circus artists, producers, directors, educators and researchers. https://circustalk.com//circus-and-changing-realities-2020

11.01.2022 Looking for a unique gift this Christmas? Surprise your loved ones with a Women's Circus gift voucher and you'll have them smiling like this happy acro Christmas tree! Grab one today: https://cutt.ly/RhHuMdg Image: nine people in green t-shirts make a human pyramid. They are wrapped in green tinsel with a red star on the top person's head to look like a Christmas tree. Credit Marie Watt.

10.01.2022 Some wonderful cabaret #bitesizedhistory for your day, curated by the ever-talented Mama Alto for the The People of Cabaret. Head on over and check out the work of The People of Cabaret! This collective is made by, and for, artists of colour, and is dedicated to ensuring diversity and inclusion in the performing arts sector. Incredible work and resources! <3

08.01.2022 Want to work circus into your busy life? Have an ever changing schedule? Feel a bit shy about interactive classes? Our new On Demand Video Series is just for you! Your chance to learn a great range of new circus skills or keep up with your training between classes. These videos are for anyone, anywhere, anytime! Take things at your own pace and learn a wide and wonderful range of skills. From circus classics like juggling and hooping, to strength and conditioning, rigging an...d knots, and so much more.Our expert trainers will have you moving, laughing and feeling empowered. Open to all genders, this is your chance to get amongst the Women's Circus action today! To find out more and get moving: https://www.womenscircus.org.au/on-demand-videos/

08.01.2022 Sunday Circus Cinema: Pope Joan is up and running with our pre show entertainment from Gayvid & Margay (AKA Sal Frances and Gen Djune). Join us for an afternoon of good times!

07.01.2022 Introducing our new Digital Artist Devika Bilimoria who will be in residence with us for at least the next three months with the goal of experimenting and creating in the digital space with our membership. Some of you may remember Devika as the host of our July Online Masterclass Emit and Emulate: Tactility and Mimicry in the Digital Space. Devika is an artist based in Narrm/Melbourne who contributes to shifting dialogues of bodies and cultures through dance, performance, ima...ge making and interactive installation. Trained in Bharata Natyam and Odissi, film and fine art photography (RMIT), their practice explores live and digital explorations of time, memory, place, and presence. They teach at Photography Studies College and freelance as a photographer while attempting intimacy with the void. WELCOME DEVIKA! Check out Devika's extensive work: https://www.devikabilimoria.com/h//www.devikabilimoria.com/

06.01.2022 Please note: Women's Circus staff are taking a much needed break for the festive season from C.O.B Thursday 17 December 2020, and will be back online Monday 11 January 2021. To finish off the year, checkout this great video made by our awesome Circus Tricks At Home class that ran during lockdown performing 'Hats Off'. We wish you a safe and relaxed break. Stay tuned for more circus adventures in 2021!

05.01.2022 Circus + sexual health/consent/relationship education!! A brilliant idea and shows how much circus can be used so to inform AND entertain in fun and exciting ways.

05.01.2022 We are thrilled to share this good news! Women's Circus has received an inaugural Triennial Arts Partner grant thanks to Maribyrnong City Council (Arts and Culture Maribyrnong). This grant will play a vital role in our recovery out of the pandemic times. As we all know, the Arts is one of the hardest hit areas, so we are particularly thankful for this timely support. Shout out and congrats to the other West orgs who received funding. We love your work and being part of such a wonderful community that bring creativity, joy and celebration to the West!

04.01.2022 We interrupt your daily doom-scrolling to bring you this adorable juggling video!

04.01.2022 It's Trans Awareness Week! A chance to celebrate our trans mates, learn about gender equality and take real action to support the trans and gender diverse community. The awesome team over at Minus18 have put together a great page on how to be a trans ally that we highly recommend checking out. Shout out and big love to all the amazing trans and gender diverse pals in the WC community!

04.01.2022 What's going on here? Why are these nuns climbing all over each other and performing acro moves? To find out you'll have to tune in to the premier of our 1997 show 'Pope Joan' over on our Youtube channel this Sunday 27th September at 4pm: https://www.youtube.com/playlist This afternoon of circus delight from the archives includes a Q&A with Musical Director Kim Baston and pre show antics from our very own film critic darlings Gayvid and Margay (AKA Sal Frances and Gen Djune).

03.01.2022 #Repost from WC member @luca.trim.boli A short piece which explores movement using shadows and reflections around the house. Created for NICA’s online cabaret ... Music: Otis by Lambert

03.01.2022 Aaaaand we're back! In-person Term Classes start today! After eight loooong months we are pumped to fling open our doors and get you finding your circus groove again. Things will look a little different as we settle into ‘Covid normal’, but classes will still have the same Women’s Circus spirit that’s been thriving for 30 years. Class capacities are very limited due to Covid-safety protocols so get in quick! https://www.womenscircus.org.au/term-classes/

03.01.2022 Please note, due to the current Covid-19 situation the following is effective as of 2pm Friday 12 February 2021: - All activities in the Drill Hall are cancelled from today (Friday 12 February) up to and including Wednesday 17 February. - All Term One classes from Friday 12 February up to and including Wednesday 17 February are cancelled in line with government regulations. ... - Make up classes will be rescheduled at the end of term one. In the meantime, stay moving at home by checking out our Live Stream Classes. Acro conditioning, flexibility, gentle stretch and strength and more! Get a taste of our live stream classes for $5 concession or $7 full this week. Use the promo code below as many times as you want so you can try every online class (offer finishes 16 February). Use promo code: 5OFFLIVE https://www.womenscircus.org.au/live-stream-classes/

02.01.2022 We are delighted to announce that all in person classes and scheduled programming will begin again starting this Thursday 18 February. Please note: everyone will need to wear masks when entering the Drill Hall and at all times, except when undertaking strenuous exercise. For members who had a class cancelled over the last 5 days, a make up class will be rescheduled at the end of term one. ... We look forward to having you back in our Drill Hall home! Image: Five people doing handstands against a blackboard wall.

02.01.2022 We are still floating after being announced as the recipients of the Arts Centre Melbourne and Metro Tunnel commission. This fantastic opportunity for Women’s Circus includes assistance from Performing Lines to create a work championing artists with lived disability and will utilise the public realm of the Melbourne Arts Precinct. Read more about the project here: http://ow.ly/WcAg50CHsfM. We can't wait to share this new work with you all! ... Image: Aerialist Mahla Bird in a beige leotard hangs by their right arm from a trapeze above a stage at the Melba Spiegeltent. They are being watched by a crowd. Photo credit Adrian Carmody.

01.01.2022 Amazing work Senator Lidia Thorpe