Description

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is an internationally-renowned Centre of Excellence for Circus Arts based in Melbourne, Australia.  We are a not-for-profit organisation offering both recreational and tertiary-level education and training in circus arts. We provide performances, research, leadership and talent to the local, national and global performing arts industry.

NICA is housed across two adjacent award-winning, purpose-built facilities on our Prahran Campus. Our Sidney Myer Circus Studio was designed by Bates Smart Architects and opened in 2001. Our facility was then expanded with the foyer and additional studios.

The Guang Rong Lu OAM National Circus Centre (NCC), designed by COX Architects, launched in 2007. The NCC is a 14-metre-high venue that is transformed into a professional performance space with a 240+ seating capacity. Flexible and efficient structural design supports numerous rigging configurations and catwalk systems to enable the facility to attract and conduct a myriad of events.

Awards include Architectural Steel Design—Large Project, Australian Steel Institute VIC 2008 and an award for Community Facility Design—Sports and Recreation Industry Award 2003.

After a tour of our purpose-built facility for circus training, you can experience the joys of circus for yourself! Our expert trainers will guide you through a series of skills relevant to your choice of workshop. Our trainers have extensive experience working with students of all ages and abilities so don't worry! You are in the safest of hands.

What's On

Start with NICA’s circus trainers giving you a first-hand insider tour of our main training facilities: the National Circus Centre and the Sidney Myer Circus Studio. You will gain insights into our history and hear about some unique points of interest about the facilities and the organisation itself. You will then be invited to experience the joys of circus in a guided workshop inside our bespoke facilities.

For families, NICA will offer a:

Children and their guardians can learn new skills together, which you can take home and continue to enjoy for weeks to come.

For adults, you’ll be able to choose from two workshops:

Learn the basics and have fun in the air on a variety of aerial equipment, including static trapeze, aerial hoop and tissu (silks).

Try beginner tumbling on the floor, FastTrack and on NICA's pit trampoline. Try some dynamic moves including straight jump, front saults and much more!

Children's Activities

With the participation of their guardian, children will be invited to join a partner acrobatics workshop. In this workshop, children and adults will learn how to create pyramids, balances and other fun human formations with their parent or guardian in a safe and guided environment. The skills you will learn, you will take home forever, offering endless fun and family bonding.