Our Beginnings
It all started when…
In 2003, Thomas Hinz and Frances Kelliher started the Circus Kumarani project working with Kauriland Skills Centre, Greenways Trust (service providers for people with disabilities) and the Dargaville Little Theatre. As experienced circus performers with a background in social work, they were able to use these skills to create something amazing in the small town of Dargaville, Northland.
In a short period of time a Creative Centre was established for the local community and Kumarani performed a number of Circus, Stilt, and Fire Shows in Auckland, Dargaville and Kaitaia including working with Cirque de Soleil! The feedback and response was extremely encouraging and the demand for workshops and shows overwhelming.
It quickly built from Dargaville and spread throughout Northland, establishing the Whangarei Community Circus, the Northland Circus Festival and the first Community Circus Convention in New Zealand. We also attend events and run workshops in other communities throughout Northland and are always being asked to travel to spread the circus joy.
When people first learn about us they are always curious about the long term benefit of circus skills and astounded that we are based in the rural setting of Dargaville rather than one of the main art and cultural centres of New Zealand. Circus skills of course include juggling, acrobatics, unicycles, stilt walking, clowning, it also promotes creativity with music and dance.
In addition to the proven artistic value it encourages the development of skills in sound, light and stage techniques, costume and prop design/creation, as well as designing posters and websites, film and editing work for teaching and documentation purposes. The concept of Circus Kumarani evolved around the talent of the team members based in the small Northland town of Dargaville. Whilst positive feedback received from audiences, visitors and workshops has seen the team grow we have retained Dargaville as our base.
This programme provides benefits in health, education, art, community and corporate development opportunities. With support, this project continues to inspire not only participants and the local community, but receives interest from national and international groups as a model for community programmes.
Thomas and Frances moved on to manage Circability, another social circus program based in Auckland, which Kumarani still collaborates with. Under the directions of the following managers, Jenny, Abbe and now Tania, Kumarani has continued to build and maintain connections throughout Northland, Aotearoa and the world.
Passionate circus performers and travellers have flocked to Kumarani, bringing their skills, instructing and performing. Some have stayed in New Zealand in part becuase of the connections they have built here, and continue to contribute to Kumarani to this day.
Kumarani Gallery
