Running away to the circus

She’s not running away exactly but 11 year old Chelsea Smith is about to join the circus – the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.

The rising talent is set to relocate, with her family, to Albury, home of Australia’s National Youth Circus, for an adventure like no other.

The Mount Gambier North School student was selected to join the program in 2025, where she will spend 30-plus hours in circus training, with traditional school built in around that training schedule.

Given Chelsea taught herself to do a back bend when she was very young, mother Kristi Fairchild-Smith perhaps should have predicted a career in the circus arts was always beckoning.

“She has always been flexible,” Kristi said.

It is the past three years that have really cemented what looms as a dream to ultimately join Cirque du Soleil.

“She tried dance, calisthenics, cheerleading and gymnastics but when she tried aerial she loved it,” Kristi said.

That has seen Chelsea hone her craft for three years at Air Intensity – the aerial offshoot of MJ Dance Studio – and she has already secured national titles at La Folie Aerial Championships.

She has still been taking ballet and stretch classes and continuing acro lessons but since aerial became her passion, mother and daughter have been leaving no stone unturned.

They are always on the hunt for competitions and have travelled extensively to compete – more often than not with impressive results.

“I just keep an eye on Instagram and places like that for opportunities,” Kristi said.

That has seen Chelsea compete in Bend The Air and Inversion – two major aerial competitions in Australia – and also heading to nationals on the Gold Coast every year, as well pole dancing competitions.

With opportunities in the field of aerials are more scarce than other genres, Chelsea has also entered online competition.

The Flying Fruit Fly Circus opportunity came through a friend who noticed the call out for auditions and knew it was perfectly suited to her friend’s daughter.

“We thought why not do it – it would be such a great experience,” Kristi said.

That meant heading to the auditions in September with Chelsea really being put through her paces.

She showcased her acro, went through strength and conditioning tests, trapeze, hoop and silk work and also had to show off their best tricks.

Then came the agonising wait for two weeks before Chelsea got the call she had been waiting for – she had been selected to join the circus.

“Mum always said to me I would end up in the circus,” Chelsea said. “It has always been my dream and now I am doing it.”

She also has her future mapped out if all goes to plan.

Once she graduates from this youth circus opportunity there is the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), here in Australia, or a similar opportunity in Canada.

For now, though, it is all about settling into life as a circus kid.

“All the kids basically spend every day together – we go to training together, we go to school together and it’s all there at the one spot,” Chelsea said.

She is certainly looking forward to not just the Monday to Friday training but also the performances – the circus performs locally, goes on a tour of schools and also has a date with the Sydney Opera House on the calendar. Overseas trips are also part of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus experience.

It is also a chance for Chelsea to put her name in front of Cirque du Soleil officials – they visit the school to take workshops.