Children Fly Through The Air For Free At South Africa’s Zip Zap Circus School
South Africa’s Zip Zap Circus School is celebrating a milestone year of inspiring the young and underprivileged to juggle and fly...all for free.
1,500 students participate in the school every year with programs like “dare to dream” — which teaches students everything from performing to behind the scenes stagecraft.
For students like Aviwe Shaun Mfundisi, joining a circus has been a long-time goal, “For me like circus has been like my dream ever since I was young, growing up in the streets of Khayelitsha or doing acrobatics in the streets and all that, but now I'm actually living the dream, he said.
The troupe has also taken 27 trips abroad, bringing new opportunities and broadening horizons for the amazing students.
Here's to another 25 years of zipping and zapping.
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ZipZap - From Cape Towns Streets to the Circus
1992, a township in Capetown, a box full of constumes and a big dream: a circus school, which unites Southafrican kids from all kinds of different social backgrounds. The Nongovernmental Organization “ZipZap: Inspiring kids for life” offeres kids a new home, a meaning and a place to live and learn. For many kids this means the way from the barracks to the big stages. However, the over twothousand kids and youngsters stem from different social strata and are affected from different pasts. In ZipZap they are all equal and have same chance to enter the circus family — ZipZap is free, since integration of rich and poor, black and white kids plays an important role. This way, the NGO contributes in diminishing South Africa´s social gap. “We have the vision of bringing kids together and building a society that can live together again” tells Brent von Rensburg, one of the founders of ZipZap. The NGO is financed solely by its performances — locally and overseas — grants and donations.
Kids in the circus school learn how to live, sweat and play together in a peaceful environment. At the same time they find something to hold on to, a new meaning and hope, since educated artists have the possibility to work in the circus and teach younger kids. In this way, kids here do not only find a place of coming together, of growing and learning new skills, but also new life perspecttives. This was the case for Aviwe, who came to the circus school as a youngster and returned home after years, saying “Now I am feeling like I am going into the right direction. ZipZap changed my life”
Fore more Information and how you can support the project visit
signed to the FilmConvert competition
ZIP ZAP CIRCUS School, Cape Town S.A
Reportaje de Sophie Cortina para Televisa Deportes durante el Mundial 2010 en Sudafrica. La historia de la escuela de circo de Brent y su esposa Laurence, que ayuda a niños de los townships (areas de pobreza extrema) a los alrededores de Ciudad del Cabo atraves de su escuela.
An inspiring story, the Zip Zap circus school, brings together children from all walks of life, allowing them to join the school absolutely free of charge. Throughout the years, they have changed the lived of thousands of children, particularly those of the surrounding townships in Cape Town. Sotry by Sophie Cortina for Televisa Deportes, World Cup 2010.
The ZIP ZAP Circus in South Africa
Situated in the heart of downtown Cape Town, South Africa, MSF has teamed up with The ZipZap Circus and Le Cirque du Soleil to bring joy to children suffering with the HIV virus. Zip Zap is a diverse family committed to teaching the invaluable life skills of, trust, honesty, responsibility, teamwork and discipline, giving the children the chance to overcome their illness, rekindle their self-confidence and inspire them to see that HIV is not a death sentence. SUBSCRIBE HERE:
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare.
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Zip Zap Dome, Cape Town Venue
Zip Zap dôme, the venue for your corporate event!
The Zip Zap performers are ready to dazzle, sparkle and delight at your corporate event.
Cape Town offers some exquisite venues for corporate functions, however hosting an event at the same type of venue year after year may become monotonous for those who attend. It’s always a challenge to find a venue that ticks all the boxes, AND offers something unique and special for the guests. Cape Town’s internationally recognised, award winning Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), Zip Zap, falls perfectly into this category. The Zip Zap dome near the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is the perfect central place to host corporate functions and is an ideal Corporate Social Investment (CSI) beneficiary.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Capacity: 600 PAX in the dome - this number can be raised by adding extra tents to the venue.
Entertainment: The venue is fully equipped with stage, sound, lighting, projector and screen and a technician. Circus acts can be chosen from a menu as well as buskers – roaming entertainment.
Cleaning, Service, Security: Package includes a cleaner, two security guards and one medic. Your guests are in good hands.
Bathroom facilities: outside of the venue (2 male toilets + 2 urinals and 3 female toilets)
Parking: 10’000 square meters of flat garden
Liquor license: Each client must apply for their own licence.
Noise restrictions: Because the dome is in the lower part of the city, there is no noise restriction at night – so be prepared for an all-night bash!
Open fire and gas: Gas facilities are allowed inside and outside, but no open flames are permitted inside.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
• Catering
• Decoration
• Hiring of tables/chairs
• Kitchen
• Safety officer
• Event permit
• Refuse removal
• Carpet cleaning
• Electric certificate
• Engineer certificate for extra structures
• Running water
Are you intrested? Contact us for more information and establish your quote marcelle@zip-zap.co.za
The Dome: Function Venue in CapeTown
Zip Zap Dome
Zip Zap Venue
Zip Zap Circus
Cape Town South Africa
The Story of Zip Zap Circus - 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, Grannies and Grandpas: Welcome to the Zip Zap circus! Situated in the heart of downtown Cape Town, South Africa our circus school proudly provides free circus and performing arts training for youth from all different walks of life. Zip Zap is a diverse family committed to teaching the invaluable life skills of, trust, honesty, responsibility, teamwork and discipline, while training and playing in the circus. The achievement of Brent van Rensburg and Laurence Esteve's dream is apparent by the positive effect circus has played in so many children's lives, but the opportunities to touch more are boundless. With a little bit of circus magic anything is possible. So, please sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Zip Zap Circus 21st
Top Billing attends a 21st which incorporates the Zip Zap circus!
South Africa: A Magical Day for Children with HIV
An innovative partnership between MSF and the Zip Zap Circus school in South Africa helped children from Khayelitsha township and Cape Town who are living with HIV take the stage and soar on World Aids Day.
Zip-Zap Circus Unicycles 20100807
Zip-Zap Circus School Unicycles Act. Date:-2010-08-07
Zip Zap and CPO: a symphonic Journey
The Zip Zap Circus and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) are bringing you the most breath-taking show in town. Three shows will take place on 10, 11 and 12 November 2017 at the Artscape Opera House.
With spectacular choreography, dazzling trapeze displays, sensational aerial silks and wild jugglers all set to the full symphonic sound of South Africa’s oldest orchestra, the show is set to amaze and delight.
Art of Rock - The Parlotones, Zip Zap Circus, Paul Du Toit
This unique and stunning show was a collaboration of South Africa's finest artists- the live music of the Parlotones, the painting of Paul du Toit, and the circus performance of Zip Zap. While The Parlotones provided the music to breath-taking acts, performed by 21 of the Zip Zappers, Paul du Toit drew a painting which was auctioned off towards the end of the evening.
Photography by: Gregor Rohrig
Multimedia compiled by: Gregor Rohrig
The Zip Zap Dome Showcase 2017
The Zip Zap Dome near the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is centrally-located – ideal for corporate functions.
To hire the dome contact marcelle@zip-zap.co.za
more information zip-zap.co.za
Zip Zap Circus USA - Work in Progress
A rough cut of some work I did with the Zip Zap Circus USA afterschool program in Washington, D.C.
Zolani Mahola, Freshlyground & Zip Zap Circus
Zip Zap is a registered non-profit organisation all donations are tax déductible. If you would like to help please contact zip-zap.co.za
Thanks a lot Zolani Mahola
Dome-Raising Time-Lapse
A time-lapse sequence of the arrival of the new Zip zap Circus dome in Cape Town, South Africa.
Zip Zap Thank You Breakfast
20140808 Cape Town Chinese Consulate
Celebration International Women's Day
Zip Zap Circus 2006 December Tour Rehersal @ Gateway
This is Zip Zap Circus's 2006 December Tour Rehersal @ Gateway Shopping Centre. I like the cute laugh from one of them at 1:08.
Edited with Edius 7 Trial Edition. I also used the stabiliser for the first time to see how it works, and it seems to have stabilised the footage fairly nicely..