- Chris Mayhew
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
Welcome
Hello returning circus families, students and welcome to our new families and students. We finished off Term 2 with some wonderful performances by students - Lovely to see the enthusiasm and new found abilities shown across all classes, with big improvements in children's confidence, strength and most importantly, just having fun.
Our higher level classes and performance classes blew us away with their routines and their skill level some reaching a level of skill and artistry that is right up there with performances that could have been in any fringe festival show or even professional circus show.
We are about students having fun, making friends, being active building strength and confidence by learning something they love - in a safe caring environment.
The Art of circus offers so much in terms of developmental areas in terms of physical and mental/emotional strength and resilience. Loads of studies have been done by academics on many different areas of improvement in both children and adults by practising circus skills including both general and fine motor skills, cross body line, brain hand coordination, strength, agility, mobility, creativity, musicality, confidence and empowerment through small physical successes. - We've known that for years - I like to say "Its not magic, its Circus."
Key dates and info blah blah.
Term 3 Follows WA public school dates Monday 21st of July to Saturday 27th of September.
Public Holidays - We have classes as usual unless otherwise advised.
Fees - Term fees are generally lower than casual fees and if you can please ensure they are paid before class. We offer part payments and some make up classes each term - please email the office - thecircuscentre@gmail.com We can take casual fees only if there is space in the class - for safety we have class limits.
New families when registering via our customer portal - please tick allow us to send emails (email blast) as its the only way you will get updates on classes info etc. Otherwise we can't communicate important notices/cancelations, etc.
Parking, please park carefully as front spaces are small. There is on the street parking but usually parking in other bays. We want to keep our neighbours happy.
Clothing attire for students - No jewellery, rings, watches or metal, zippers to be worn as it can tear the silk resulting in thousands of dollars to replace and re rig. Leggings and active wear is usually fine but shorts/teeshirt or track pants are okay too.
Parents watching classes - We ask parents to remain outside in the foyer area as our space is too small and may cause accidents when non participants are sitting in the space. (If your child is highly anxious, let us know and we can arrange something).
Foyer area, Please we have had too many accidents from children running in the foyer area or playing. Please supervise your children if waiting for a class.
Feed Back - We'd love your feedback, we are always trying to improve and provide a safe, fun, environment. Sometimes however, we may get it wrong, or right! - Please let us know.
Where we are as an organisation
Now In the beginning of our 3rd year of Bibra Lake operation - After we were evicted from Carrington street after 7 years for Tesla of "Elon Musk"- bah hum-bug!! with less then 7 weeks notice to be out. We got zero support from State, federal level or even local Fremantle counsel could not help even though we wrote to our State minister for Arts, sport and recreation - met with Freo counsel everything to no avail. Our partnering school the Freo flyers trampoline school - closed for good. For me, that was not an option.
As a totally unfunded Arts/community profit-for-purpose organisation/small sole-trader business, ( Yes its just one person running this "circus") operating in a very high priced end Industrial area with a commercial lease - We don't make tens or of thousands or hundreds even of dollars/month profit selling to mining industry or shipping products around Aus or to China like many of our neighbours here in Bibra Lake.
Our "product" success, is our students smiles and sense of well-being and happiness - We pay the same tax, huge insurance fees, astronomical rent (our building lease rental/outgoings takes over half our gross income) Then wages, super, equipment repairs, safety rigging etc basically take the rest - often requiring additional funds to top up from yours-truly. For myself though - the children are worth it.
Expertise missing! - If you have some time, expertise, connections, funding grant writing, management, admin exp - it might be great to chat!
Chris Mayhew 20 June 2025
