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<\/p>\nShe\u2019s not running away exactly but 11 year old Chelsea Smith is about to join the circus \u2013 the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.<\/p>\n
The rising talent is set to relocate, with her family, to Albury, home of Australia\u2019s National Youth Circus, for an adventure like no other.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has always been flexible,\u201d Kristi said.<\/p>\n
It is the past three years that have really cemented what looms as a dream to ultimately join Cirque du Soleil.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe tried dance, calisthenics, cheerleading and gymnastics but when she tried aerial she loved it,\u201d Kristi said.<\/p>\n
That has seen Chelsea hone her craft for three years at Air Intensity \u2013 the aerial offshoot of MJ Dance Studio \u2013 and she has already secured national titles at La Folie Aerial Championships.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
They are always on the hunt for competitions and have travelled extensively to compete \u2013 more often than not with impressive results.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just keep an eye on Instagram and places like that for opportunities,\u201d Kristi said.<\/p>\n
That has seen Chelsea compete in Bend The Air and Inversion \u2013 two major aerial competitions in Australia \u2013 and also heading to nationals on the Gold Coast every year, as well pole dancing competitions.<\/p>\n
With opportunities in the field of aerials are more scarce than other genres, Chelsea has also entered online competition.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s daughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought why not do it \u2013 it would be such a great experience,\u201d Kristi said.<\/p>\n
That meant heading to the auditions in September with Chelsea really being put through her paces.<\/p>\n
She showcased her acro, went through strength and conditioning tests, trapeze, hoop and silk work and also had to show off their best tricks.<\/p>\n
Then came the agonising wait for two weeks before Chelsea got the call she had been waiting for \u2013 she had been selected to join the circus.<\/p>\n
\u201cMum always said to me I would end up in the circus,\u201d Chelsea said. \u201cIt has always been my dream and now I am doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also has her future mapped out if all goes to plan.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For now, though, it is all about settling into life as a circus kid.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the kids basically spend every day together \u2013 we go to training together, we go to school together and it\u2019s all there at the one spot,\u201d Chelsea said.<\/p>\n
She is certainly looking forward to not just the Monday to Friday training but also the performances \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
It is also a chance for Chelsea to put her name in front of Cirque du Soleil officials \u2013 they visit the school to take workshops.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
She\u2019s not running away exactly but 11 year old Chelsea Smith is about to join the circus \u2013 the Flying Fruit Fly Circus. The rising talent is set to relocate, with her family, to Albury, home of Australia\u2019s National Youth Circus, for an adventure like no other. The Mount Gambier North School student was selected […]<\/p>\n