Dare to dream. That’s what Zip Zap Circus School is all about. Founded in 1992, Zip Zap began with a powerful vision. Founders Brent van Rensburg and Laurence Estève wanted to bridge divides between children. They aimed to unite kids from all backgrounds and cultures. Their goal was to teach them to live and work together in the new South Africa. Nelson Mandela dreamed of a Rainbow Nation and Zip Zap wanted to help make it a reality.
Zip Zap is more than just a circus school. It’s a non-profit that relies on performances for income. Shows and tours bring in about 45% of their revenue. This allows the children to perform often. They even perform at private functions in their dome tent on the Cape Town foreshore.
When Zip Zap started, there were only 15 children. Today, over 2000 children participate in 11 programs. All attend for free. The only requirement is dedication and a willingness to work hard as part of the team.
Brent van Rensburg’s history is deeply rooted in circus arts. He attended the first circus school in South Africa. It opened in 1971 and closed in 1978. From then until Zip Zap’s opening in 1992, the country had no circus school. Brent spent 15 years as a trapeze artist. He returned to Cape Town for a 6-week holiday. He wanted to show his girlfriend, now his wife, his birthplace. They never left and Zip Zap was born.
Many Zip Zap children come from difficult backgrounds. This makes it a social circus school. Some students make a career out of circus arts. They also learn valuable life skills. No matter how long they stay, Zip Zap hopes to serve them well.
Zip Zap’s outreach programs are essential to their mission. The oldest partnership is with Doctors Without Borders. They work with children living with HIV in Khayelitsha. Some of these children are now teachers at Zip Zap. Another partnership is with the SOS Children’s Village. This international organization cares for children who have been removed from their families. Outreach provides healing benefits.
Any child can join Zip Zap. It doesn’t matter how tall, short, rich, or poor they are. There is a place for everyone at Zip Zap. If you can’t be a trapeze artist, be a juggler. If not a wire walker, then be a clown. It takes hard work and dedication. You sacrifice weekends and holidays for practice. But for those who stick it out, Zip Zap is a safe, fun, and family-oriented place.
A proud moment for Zip Zap was performing for Nelson Mandela on his 77th birthday. Children hugged and chatted with him. He told Brent and Laurence to “keep up the good work.” They have tried to do just that for over 20 years.
In 1994, the name “Zip Zap” was created on the way to a tour in Grahamstown. They were considering “Dare To Dream”. But they wanted something catchy. The children came up with Zip Zap and it stuck.
All permanent instructors grew up at Zip Zap. They went through the various programs. There is also an intern program. It welcomes 40 interns a year from all over the world. They stay with the students. They learn about each other’s cultures. They cook and eat together. The interns also bring their skills to the school.
Tens of thousands of children have passed through Zip Zap’s doors. Brent and Laurence are proud to have guided them. They hope to inspire young people and build a new culture of peaceful coexistence in South Africa.
When Zip Zap started, there were 10 social circus schools in the world. Now, there are 600 in 75 countries. They reach over a million children. This proves that circus magic works. Zip Zap continues to transform lives through circus arts.