Zip Zap's Going Places

Since its inception in 1992, the Zip Zap Academy has been inspiring young people through the art of circus acrobatics. The academy recently relocated to Salt River.

- Jaye-Dee Jansen

Zip Zap is a social circus in Cape Town founded in 1992 by Brent van Rensburg and Laurence Estève. The couple established the circus to inspire young people and help build a new culture of peaceful coexistence in South Africa.

For the past 25 years, Brent and Laurence have been working with young people from all walks of life. Dedicated to supporting development and conducting training in circus arts, they use circus performance as a vehicle for social transformation, youth empowerment, team building and community upliftment.

Zip Zap has been recognised as a major contributor to the development and sustainability of circus arts in South Africa. The organisation has changed the lives of nearly 15 000 students for the past 25 years, with 72% of their learners coming from the Cape Flats area.

Children as young as seven are invited to join the academy. “Except for when we have outreach programmes, then we can get even younger circus enthusiasts,” says Laurence.

JETSETTERS

While the academy operates predominantly in the Western Cape, the circus has participated in many national and international tours, including performances and skills transmission programmes.