Circus Kumarani is a community project working in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and social development for people of all ages and abilities.

The Kumarani Productions Trust’s Mission Statement is:
To promote and introduce Community Circus as a social art model into New Zealand culture involving people of all ages and abilities and use this concept as a pathway for community building.

Circus is for everyone! It provides a non-competitive form of fitness and a path for wellness that anyone can engage with. Circus also provides a focal point at events to bring people together and blurs the lines between spectators and participants.

Although Kumarani has a strong focus on Circus as a tool for community development, we also use other creative art forms to engage with people and are always open to new ideas and partnerships.

Internationally there is wide acceptance that teaching people circus skills has a broader effect on their lives than just giving them juggling or acrobatics skills. Research supports that learning circus arts assists in growth on a personal, group and community level.

For individuals, research indicates that they experience increases in self-esteem and self confidence. They are able to explore their abilities and overcome limitations physically and socially. Participants in groups learn to work as a team, trusting each other for support (both physically and emotionally), improving communication skills and social development.

For communities, circus arts provides a focus and increased opportunities for communication and co-operation. Many programmes offered are in the form of partnerships between those teaching circus arts and schools, parents or community organisations. The use of circus for skill development and social inclusion to develop skills for communities, including people with disabilities is beginning in New Zealand. The use of circus arts and humour is growing particularly in the field of creative therapies.

The fun and freedom of Circus Arts makes them very attractive to children and young people. This attraction combined with the many health, social and personal development benefits already mentioned means that Circus Arts are increasingly being used to reach and teach youth, particularly ‘at risk’ youth.

Research indicates that the use of Circus Arts is growing not only for traditional uses such as recreation and entertainment, but increasingly for the personal and social benefits they create. Circus Arts are successfully being used to reach those that have in the past been difficult to reach, treat or educate because they break down the barriers that have existed and give participants a non-threatening environment in which to open up and blossom

Circus is for everyone!