Journey Beyond – A Symphonic Circus is an extraordinary artistic collaboration between Zip Zap Circus and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra.
After two immensely successful runs in Cape Town in 2017 and 2018, Journey Beyond – A Symphonic Circus will be performed for the first time ever at the Joburg Theatre in September, as part of Heritage month. Journey Beyond – A Symphonic Circus artfully blends mesmerising choregraphed circus acts with orchestral masterpieces, amplified by soloist Zolani Mahola from Freshlyground. This Symphonic Circus will captivate, thrill and transcend audiences beyond their imaginations.
Zip Zap Circus School was inspired by a daring dream and began their journey in 1992 from humble beginnings. This dream was to use circus performance art as a powerful tool for social transformation, youth empowerment and community upliftment. Today, Zip Zap performs at 65 shows nationally every year, have undertaken 30 world tours, gained local and global recognition and impact 2000 youth each year through their free social programmes. Many of their students have joined the world stage as professional performers.
The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra is a full symphonic orchestra comprised entirely of children playing stringed, wind and percussion instruments. Established in 1976, they are acclaimed throughout the city and further afield, providing training and performance opportunities for over 600 young people. Several young musicians who graduated from this project now work with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
Both non-profit organisations, this is a pioneering collaboration that merges world-class circus acts with classical orchestral renditions on one stage to create magic.
These are ordinary children who, through sheer determination and hours of hard work, have cultivated their enormous talent. This showcase is an exploration of talent that is set to break all boundaries, and free the imagination. It will instil belief that those who dare to dream can transcend their social circumstances. This show is a celebration of the heritage of all South Africans.
What makes this partnership even more remarkable is that the different elements of the production will rehearse independently at their home bases. The directors then have just two days in Johannesburg to combine the unique elements of the show and create a spectacular event.
Audiences can anticipate a mesmerising musical and visual journey that pushes boundaries and reaches a crescendo of classical entertainment. A talented group of circus dare-devils will jump, fly and soar effortlessly through the air in gravity-defying aerials and extraordinary acrobatics. The captivating beauty of these daring acts will be performed in concert with stirring symphonic performances and the hypnotic voices of Zolani Mahola and soprano, Zita Pretorius. This is what one can expect at Journey Beyond – A Symphonic Circus.
“This is an authentic celebration of our country’s talented youth and cultural diversity. These are ordinary kids accomplishing extraordinary feats. Witnessing this world-class talent on one stage will reinforce your pride in being South African. Journey Beyond – A Symphonic Circus will be a show that will amaze and delight the entire family.” say Brent van Rensburg, Co-founder and Artistic Director at Zip Zap.
Journey Beyond – A Symphonic Circus will be performing at the Johannesburg Theatre on Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September.
Tickets: click here
For more information about Zip Zap visit their website or to find out more about the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, visit their website.
Visit Joburg Theatre website for more.
About Zip Zap Circus School
Zip Zap Circus is a social circus that was founded in Cape Town in 1992, to inspire young people and help build a new culture of peaceful coexistence in South Africa. Working with a diverse community of children from all backgrounds, Zip Zap helps kids to ‘dare to dream’ and learn to make those dreams a reality. Zip Zap’s programmes are all free to participants, with financial and material support coming from individuals, organisation, corporations and foundations. In South Africa and the world, Zip Zap is recognized across Governments, Ministries of Education, Tourism, Arts & Culture and private societies, as a major contributor to the development within the iconic ‘Mother City’ and providing sustainability of the circus arts in South Africa.
