We are excited to announce that places are now limited so here’s another chance to book
now and secure your place in our annual National Training Project. This year we have another
fantastic line up of trainers:
LOIC MARQUES – Loic is a French National sports acrobatic champion and trainer at the Ecole
de Cirque de Quebec amongst others. Loic specializes in acrobatics and is able to coach a large
range of apparatus to a high
technical level (trampoline, teeterboard Korean and Hungarian,
Russian bar, Hand to Hand, Banquine, handstand)
He possesses a vast knowledge in biomechanics and analyses of acrobatic movement,
expertise in practical and theoretic physical preparation.
He is able to combine artistic development with circus technique according to the students
and/or Organizations needs.
RUBY ROWAT – A highly skilled and creative aerialist specializing in static and swinging
trapeze.
At the age of 7 Ruby encountered the expressive power of Russian Circus. Her lifelong study of
performing began in professional children’s circus before moving to circus-rich epi-centers in
France and Montreal to hone her aerial craft. Ruby has worked with numerous companies and
festivals worldwide, including Cirque Eloize, Medrano, Soleil, Cric Cric, and Knie, she is also the
only Canadian to ever perform with Circus Oz.
JAMES HOLT - specializes in aerial cradle, petite and grand flying trapeze, Chinese pole, and
pitching at a high level, and has presented work around Australia and the world. He started
their circus career at the WA Circus School in Fremantle, Western Australia, and then moved to
Melbourne to attend the National Institute of Circus Arts, where he graduated with BA of
Circus Arts. Following this,
he furthered his training at the National Centre for Circus Arts in
London, working with internationally renowned coaches to hone their skills in Aerial Cradle
and Adagio.
SHANE WITT - specialty areas: straps, acrobatics, tumble, and teeterboard. Shane joined the
circus in 1990 when very young. He has been on many tours nationally and internationally,
including New York, Canada, Singapore and New Zealand. Since graduating in 2000 he has
been a freelance artist, establishing Tension Extreme Circus with fellow Fruit Fly graduate
Daniel Catlow in 2004. Shane has also one of the principals of hip hop circus show ‘Tom Tom
Crew’ that had sell out seasons at Sydney Opera House, the New Victory Theatre in New York
and Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2007, 09, 10).
Recently he was the senior acrobatic trainer and ensemble member with Circus Oz wowing
audiences with his hard core acrobatics.
TANYA LESTER – FFFC senior trainers -specialising in Spanish web, swinging trapeze and
cradle.
As an original Fruit Fly performer, Tanya toured Australia, was invited to Paris
to compete in
the “Cirque de domain” world children’s circus competition, where she won gold in the aerial
section, and performed and toured to Canada three times. As a performer and circus teacher,
she participated in two Nanjing International and the Russian International training projects.
Credits include World Expo 88, Rock n Roll Circus (now Circa), Circus Oz; and then “CirFunKus”.
2011 Tanya ran local circus troupes in Tallangatta and Yackandandah, teaching circus skills to
people ranging from two to 70 years of age fulfilling her passion to teach people of all ages and
to pass on the
joy and benefits of circus to all.
STUART CHRISTIE - specializes in rope and tissue.
Stuart graduated from the National Institute of Circus Arts in 2004 with a Bachelor of Circus
Arts. He is a multi skilled performer in circus acrobatics, aerial apparatus ‘Corde Lisse’ (smooth
rope) and musical performance. From 2006-08 Stuart was a full time performer with Circus Oz.
He also specialized in a high paced duo acrobatic routine and group acts such as flying trapeze,
Chinese pole, group balances and character performance.
Stuart’s other performing credits include a seven month residency in Nagoya at World Expo
2005 for the Australian Pavilion, corporate events, and producing a cabaret night ‘a little bit of
Shhh’ at the Order of Melbourne and NYE 09/10 EQ Bar/Black Box. October 2009 saw Stuart
produce his first independent full-length show ‘Dos or Duo’, to much acclaim: receiving a
highly commended nomination for best Circus Show Melbourne Fringe 2009, best circus
Adelaide Fringe Festival 2010 and a season in Gasworks Melbourne Comedy Festival 2010.
Stuart joined us in 2010. His specialty is Corde Lisse.
OLIVER SMITH-WELLNITZ - specializing in Tissu, A-Ring, Static Trapeze, Hula
After spending his last three years of school training at The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Oliver
graduated in 2009. Soon after, he began working with A4 Circus Ensemble where he
performed both nationally and internationally - taking their show "DownPour" to Montreal,
Canada. Oliver now lives in Montreal and is one year from finishing his four year circus arts
degree at Ecole Nationale de Cirque, with a major in dance trapeze and minor in hula hoops.
DONNA STEVENS - is a veteran of 10 years with Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Quidam’ she specialises in
swinging Cloudswing and German wheel.
“My circus career started at the age of 8 with the Flying Fruit Fly Circus where I trained and
performed for 10 years. Once I had graduated I travelled with a traditional circus for a year and
then became a freelance performer for 8 years. I specialized in aerial acts performing in various
venues such as casinos, festivals, clubs, special events/galas and opening and closing ceremonies
such as the Sydney Olympics. Throughout this time I spent about 2 years in Europe and Canada
in search of training opportunities. Between gigs I enjoyed passing on my skills through teaching.
I then travelled the world performing cloudswing with Cirque du Soleil for almost a decade. Since
then I have been mainly teaching cloudswing and german wheel at NICA in Melbourne and the
yearly National Training Project in Albury.”
NATHAN JONES – Cloudswing
Nathan is a graduate of The Flying Fruit Fly Circus 2012. An acrobat who has been trained in
various different circus techniques including Cloudswing, Tumbling, Pitching, Teeterboard and
many others.
After graduation he was offered a 12-month contract with the company Global Creatures,
developing and performing in the musical theatre event King Kong Live on Stage.
He is currently a student at E’cole Nationale De Cirque, Montreal and it’s great that he is able
to joins us here for this year’s NTP.
ZEB HUNTER - artist/acrobat/creator specializing in swinging cloudswing/trapeze and aerial
ring.
Cirque Du Soleil artist Zebastian Hunter started his career in circus with the Flying Fruit Fly
Circus. Upon completion of his studies he became the first Australian to attend and graduate
from the prestigious Ecole Nationale de Cirque de Montreal in Canada. An extensive career
performing for special events, European Cabarets, festivals, television, contemporary circus
companies followed his studies and culminated in a five-year contract as a featured soloist for
the Cirque Du Soleil show, Alegria. As a trainer he has taught at the Flying Fruit Fly Circus,
Legs on the Wall, Aerialize, Lee Academy, Circus Monoxide, Ecole Nationale de Cirque de
Montreal, and many European celebrities including Pippa Middleton. In 2015 he returns to
Cirque Du Soleil as a featured solo guest artist in the Korean season of Quidam.
BEN LEWIS - specializes in aerial straps, hoop diving and Chinese pole but is well known for
being an all rounder and is an accomplished acrobat with high skills in tumbling, handstands,
hand to hand and teeterboard.
He completed his three year Bachelor Degree program at the National Institute of Circus Arts.
2002 – 2004.
Graduating from NICA in 2004 Ben became one of Australia’s most prolific circus Artists
forging a successful freelance career performing all over Australia and the World. Ben has also
been a member of many renowned companies such as Circus Oz, Circa, Dislocate, La Qlique,
“The Tom Tom Crew”.
TILL CAPELLI - specializes in general acrobatics and aerial straps. He has quite a passion for
working with the beautiful students of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
Till Cappelli is a 2010 graduate of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus. He joined the company
in 2003 at
the age of 10.
Till moved steadily through the program.
He was part of many shows including ‘A Mid
Summer Nights Dream’ ‘Backyard Barbie’ ‘3 way exchange’ ‘Le Clowns Triste’ ‘Beach Party’
‘The Promise’ ‘Pirates’ and smaller shows throughout the years. His touring included multiple
trips to the Sydney Festival, ‘Out of the Box’ festival in Brisbane ‘3 way exchange’ in Melbourne
‘The Japan World Expo’ (in Japan) and also an exchange program with the world renown
‘Montreal circus school’ in Canada.
Since graduating Till has performed
in various productions from Hip Hop Injected ‘Tom Tom
Crew’ to performing the ‘Exhibition Road Show in London’,
WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU FOR THE TWO WEEKS, BUT CAN ACCOMMODATE
IF YOU CAN ONLY ATTEND ONE WEEK. PLEASE LET US KNOW.
COST:
1 WEEK
$ 595 2 WEEKS
$995
DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM FROM
http://fruitflycircus.com.au/training/national-training-project/
AND GIVE US A CALL ON
02 6043 0777