Meet the Geelong performers who ran away to the circus

THREE former CircArts Geelong students have returned home as professional performers with Circus Royale, bringing Elmo’s Circus Dream to local audiences.

Bethany Lovell, Dea Tassalini and Zoe Armytage have reunited under the big top after taking different paths into the travelling circus.

While life on the road has taken them away from home, the trio say they have found a second family in the circus.

This community has been important, especially when the performers’ safety depends on these trusting relationships.

“We have a family here and we are very close,” Armytage said. “It is cool living with this family and working at the same time.”

 

In one of her acts, Armytage performs a solo trapeze routine suspended by five fellow performers rather than fixed rigging, making trust essential.

“I have to put all of my trust into them that everything is going to be fine, and because they are my family, I do trust them,” she said.

All three performers honed their skills at CircArts Geelong before taking different paths into professional circus.

Armytage and Tassalini both began in gymnastics, while Lovell also trained locally before joining Circus Royale.

Armytage was the first to join the travelling troupe, with Tassalini following after performing at private events.

For Tassalini, the biggest adjustment has been the constant pace of touring with a full-time circus.

 

“I’m just constantly doing stuff; I’m constantly show ready,” she said. “You sleep and breathe [circus], essentially.”

Returning to Geelong has made the tour especially meaningful, giving the trio the chance to perform in front of family, friends and the coaches and fellow performers who watched them develop at CircArts.

“It is not a usual job,” Armytage said.

The performers remain show-ready year-round, with daily performances throughout the school holidays.

That commitment extends well beyond the performances themselves, with every cast member helping pack up and move the travelling circus from town to town.

“Move week is hard,” Lovell said. “But travelling is fun, [as is] going around Victoria, seeing all the different places I would have never thought to go to.”

The physical demands of moving and maintaining the circus help keep the performers strong, but Lovell said looking after their bodies was just as important.

 

This includes knowing when to rest, and making sure to properly warm up and cool down before and after shows.

“An injury can stop your entire career,” Lovell said.

Elmo’s Circus Dream will be in Waurn Ponds until 2 August, and Armytage hopes as many locals as possible will get a chance to see the show.

“The Geelong community is such a lovely place, and it has been one of the loveliest audiences we have had so far,” she said.

Tickets are available at sesamestreetcircus.com.au

NYAH BARNES

//SPONSORED CONTENT