Hanging out to join the circus

Two of Albany’s brightest young circus performers are relocating to Melbourne this week after accepting places at the prestigious National Institute of Circus Arts.

Phoebe Carlson, 18, and Cassy Turner, 17, were two of just seven successful applicants from Australia and overseas to be accepted into NICA’s Certificate IV in Circus Arts course.

NICA is Australia’s centre of excellence in contemporary circus and is highly regarded in the industry as one of the leading institutions in the world, so it’s testament to the dedication of the two former members of Southern Edge Arts’ circus troupe.

Miss Carlson and Miss Turner have honed their craft for three and 11 years respectively at SEA and said acceptance into the year-long course was a massive opportunity to pursue their ambitions of training and performing with the industry’s elite.

“I’ve been doing circus for 11 years and it’s never really been a massive thing for me until the last four years,” Miss Turner said. “It’s become much more important for me so going to NICA is a big thing.”

Miss Turner said she was surprised to be accepted.

Miss Carlson said the achievement was a big step on the road to fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a circus performer.

“Most kids say when they are little that they want to be in a circus,” she said.

“I did and I still do.”

Miss Carlson and Miss Turner will receive instruction in all areas of circus arts at NICA, with the former specialising in aerials and hula hoops and the latter in diablo and mini trampoline.

Both paid tribute to the influence and inspiration of SEA instructor Beth O’Neill and said they would be returning in the years to come to share their knowledge and give something back to Ms O’Neill and her troupe.

“It wouldn’t have happened without her,” Miss Carlson said.

Ms O’Neill said the success of her two pupils was proof of their dedication.