Our Circability Team

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Thomas studied Rehabilitative Pedagogy in Berlin in the late 80’s and set up 'Circus Fantasia’™, with its circus tent in the city of Rostock in 1995. Thomas discovered the magic of social or applied circus and set out to teach circus and inspire people of all ages and all abilities. Thomas founded Circus Kumarani in Dargaville in 2003 and has initiated and actively developed community circus over the last 20 years in Aotearoa New Zealand and is a founding member of, and on the board of, ANZCA (Aotearoa New Zealand Circus Association).

CULTURAL ADVISOR

Ōtautahi-born Kahuraki Bronsson-George has always been surrounded by creativity, coming from a musical whānau, with Te Kotahitanga Kapa Haka, Suzuki violin and Rudolf Steiner school forming the eclectic triangle of his learning foundation. At age 16, he joined the Circus (without needing to run away) at Circo Arts, and there was no turning back.

Kahuraki has trained and performed in many spaces, including the Wellington Circus Hub, the Dust Palace, Spin Circus Academy in Melbourne, and is now one of the few Aotearoans to hold a degree in Circus, from the Whitireia Circus and Dance Course at Te Kāhui Auaha in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

He has trained in Mau Rākau with Te Whare Tū Taua o Waitaha for 5 years, and is currently a pou rua. He has worked with Circability as a Kaitohutohu Tikaka and Kaiako Mau Rākau for 2 years and counting and is enjoying the journey with te ao Māori to guide him. He is passionate about growing a stronger presence of te reo, tikaka, toi, and mātauraka Māori in the Circus industry of Aotearoa.

OFFICE COORDINATOR

As our new office coordinator, Marília has brought a wealth of experience and expertise to our administrative and office management tasks. With her exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, Marília has quickly become an integral part of our team. Whether it's managing schedules, coordinating events, or handling day-to-day operations, Marília always goes above and beyond to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

FUNDING ADVISOR

HUB MANAGER

Mark “the catching machine” Williams is an award-winning juggler from Auckland, New Zealand.

With over 20 years of experience as a professional juggler, he has performed, taught, and competed all over the world.

In 2013 he won the supreme award in the inaugural New Zealand circus awards with duo The Blingling Bros. In 2016 the Blingling Bros placed third in the international jugglers’ associations World Stage Championships in Quebec City, Canada.

Since then Mark has shifted focus almost exclusively to hoops. Riding a wave of new hoop juggling, Mark has been creating cutting-edge hoop manipulation, blurring the lines between hooping and juggling.

Contact Mark: aucklandhub@circability.org

LEAD TUTOR

Born in Germany, Achmed has over 30 years of circus training and performance. He has trained with Cirque du Soleil, Community Circus Teacher Training programmes, and began teaching in Northland with Circus Kumarani in 2005, before becoming the Creative Director of Circool Circus in 2007.

Achmed has been a Lead Tutor with Circability since 2011 in various school programmes throughout Tāmaki Makaurau, in addition to our busy, summertime Circus in Parks events.

TUTOR

Artemis started working for Circability in 2022, primarily teaching aerials. She grew up in the circus - both of her parents and her brother are also circus performers.

As a performer, she specialises in hula hoops and has been performing in a Big Top since she was a child.

Artemis is very passionate about professional and community circus in Aotearoa. Alongside working for Circability, she has been studying at Auckland University since 2020 and is currently completing her Master of Arts, researching circuses in Aotearoa and internationally!

LEAD TUTOR

Ayden has been with Circability since 2016, specialising in teaching our disability groups, as well as working with our wide range of other groups.

Ayden has a strong skill base in clowning and functional juggling.

Ayden studied at CircoArts in Christchurch over 20 years ago, specialising in clown comedy and character, but also developed skills in double static trapeze, unicycling, stilt walking, physical theatre and a range of juggling and manipulation skills.

In 2010 Ayden was lucky enough to gain a position with Clown Doctors Australasia, working at Auckland’s Starship Children's Hospital and at a range of rest homes through the Selwyn group. During his time with Clown Doctors, he also gained a qualification in Medical Clowning through Steinberg University in Berlin. This helped not only with his skills as a clown, but his understanding and practice of using clowning as a complementary medicine.

In 2023, Ayden completed his qualification in diversional therapy, enabling him to go beyond
just teaching skills and into the realm of therapeutic stimulus utilising circus skills.

Ayden truly loves the work he gets to do with Circability, and the opportunity it affords him to use his skills and talents to bring something unique, engaging and enjoyable to people from all walks of life.

LEAD TUTOR, SUMMER IN PARKS LEAD

Originally from a gymnastics coaching background, Tobias started circus as a hobby in 2014, then began teaching with Circability in 2019. Tobias specialises in diabolo, passing clubs and juggling balls. He has enjoyed engaging in a wide variety of object manipulation props, aerial skills and equilibrium disciplines.

HUB MANAGER, TUTOR

A mixed-skills Circus Performer and teacher, Rowan studied and taught at New Zealand’s own circus school, CircoArts from 2007 - 2010, before founding his own circus entertainment company, Circus in a Flash, over a decade ago. Rowan is a leader and connector, whose favourite part of his job is seeing people's faces light up when they arrive at circus class. At the age of 18, Rowan was diagnosed with Irlens Syndrome after leaving high school without any qualifications, and was later diagnosed with ADHD at 35. Rowan’s specialties are teaching circus and acrobatics.

Contact Rowan: bophub@circability.org

TUTOR

Charlie studied in the performing arts and is a founding member of Flames of Plenty, a local fire and flow performance group. Charlie has also worked in schools teaching cycle safety and producing school productions.

TUTOR

Charlotte has performed with Tauranga Musical Theatre and also Total Entertainment Company in the Bay of Plenty. Until late 2023, Charlotte taught at a Montessori Preschool.

TUTOR

Danni works in horticulture as a AVOCO technical advisor and was awarded 2018 Young Grower of the Year
A talented juggler and stilt walker, Danni worked for Circability Trust in Auckland over 10 years ago.
Danni also works for Circus in A Flash teaching and performing circus.

TUTOR

Ella is a gymnastics trained teacher who has taught in a range of schools in the Bay of Plenty; she is currently working with Impact Gymsports and Circus in a Flash.

TUTOR

Katie taught circus and social circus at the Wellington Circus Hub before returning to the Bay of Plenty, where she grew up. Kate teaches aerial and acrobatic pole at Altitude Pole Studio and has been teaching and performing with Circus in A Flash since moving back to the bay.

TUTOR

Nathan has a background in martial arts, massage and surf life saving. Through martial arts Nathan discovered the flow arts, which led him to his work in the circus arts and fire performing. Nathan has been working for Bay of Plenty-based performance organisations Circus in a Flash and Flames of Plenty for over five years.

TUTOR

Regina is from the Netherlands and was a rhythmic gymnast as a child. Since then, she has worked in event management, event promotion and performance work.

HUB MANAGER

Flair McKay is the new regional Christchurch hub manager for Circability. She has a strong connection to the joy Circus brings people, and has been enjoying practising circus skills since she was 18 when she learned how to fire dance in Thailand. Recently she has become an avid Acro Yoga practitioner and teacher and is now learning how to play with a rope dart.

Flair brings with her a strong background in business management, as well as event work and community-focused music festival creation. She loves problem-solving, working with people, building relationships and connections and has a strong drive to support and grow the community that surrounds her. Flair is excited about what the future entails now that she is part of Circability Trust, and feels that she is one step closer to running away with the circus.

Contact Flair: christchurchhub@circability.org

TUTOR

Calvin is a seasoned circus performer and instructor with over a decade of experience in the circus world! With a focus on juggling and rola-bola, Calvin has honed their skills and developed a unique approach to teaching these disciplines. Calvin's expertise and passion for circus will inspire and challenge you to reach new heights.

TUTOR / CULTURAL ADVISOR

Ōtautahi-born Kahuraki Bronsson-George has always been surrounded by creativity, coming from a musical whānau, with Te Kotahitanga Kapa Haka, Suzuki violin and Rudolf Steiner school forming the eclectic triangle of his learning foundation. At age 16, he joined the Circus (without needing to run away) at Circo Arts, and there was no turning back.

Kahuraki has trained and performed in many spaces, including the Wellington Circus Hub, the Dust Palace, Spin Circus Academy in Melbourne, and is now one of the few Aotearoans to hold a degree in Circus, from the Whitireia Circus and Dance Course at Te Kāhui Auaha in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Kahuraki has trained in Mau Rākau with Te Whare Tū Taua o Waitaha for 5 years, and is currently a pou rua. He has worked with Circability as a Kaitohutohu Tikaka and Kaiako Mau Rākau for 2 years and counting and is enjoying the journey with te ao Māori to guide him. He is passionate about growing a stronger presence of te reo, tikaka, toi, and mātauraka Māori in the Circus industry of Aotearoa.

TUTOR

Relatively well-known South Island entertainer MulletMan, aka Nathan, is a 17-year stalwart of the World Buskers Festival for the past 10 years is a regular performer in the Edinburgh Festival. Nathan brings a trove of juggling and performance experience and general good vibes to the Circability team.

TUTOR

Originally from Chile, Pablo has been in Aotearoa since 2019. He started balancing balls on his head during football practice, which led to balancing chairs, bikes, knives - you name it, he can balance it!

Pablo has always loved juggling, but he realised once he started traveling that juggling is a great way to connect with others.

Pablo is passionate about juggling, passing clubs and slacklining. He’s excited to be part of Circability, and loves putting his energy into creating a fun and challenging environment for everyone.

LEAD TUTOR

Valentina discovered circus in 2010 and never looked back. With a background in artistic swimming, she specialises in aerial silks and aerial rope. After completing a Masters Degree in Social Work, Valentina found social circus, the perfect fusion between her passion and her academic background.

Having collaborated in various projects in remote areas around the world, Valentina is very enthusiastic to be part of Circability as lead tutor in Christchurch.

HUB MANAGER, TUTOR

April Atkinson (known in the Far North as ‘April May’), is the Northland Regional Manager for Circability.

April has been involved in circus for more than 30 years. After suffering a brain bleed and a stroke at the age of 23, she used ball skills to regain her coordination and strength, creating new pathways to cognitive function. After a year of rehabilitation and some surgery, she wanted to further her skills. Inspired by a childhood memory of a juggler from the Webber Bros Circus, she practiced six hours a day for three weeks, finally teaching herself to juggle three balls! And so her circus journey began.

In the mid 90’s April’s first performance was in Whangarei with a crew of local circus artists; she moved to Dargaville soon afterwards and met Thomas Hinz through an adult education juggling workshop. They started a circus group in a little church hall at Bayly’s Beach in Dargaville, which very quickly outgrew that little hall, and Circus Kumarani was born.

April returned to Kaitaia in 2010 and started a circus community class first in Mangonui, and then in Kaitaia, as well as a class for children with disabilities who attended from different schools.

Working with Circability for the past five years has enabled April to share her passion and the benefits of circus to thousands of people of all ages, all abilities and all cultures. She loves to bring the fun, the laughter, the joy and the togetherness to the multitudes. Working with Tāngata Whaikaha is what brings April the most joy.

Contact April: April@circability.org

TUTOR

Ziah is of Pākehā and Māori descent and lives in the forested hills of the Kaitaia region. She has been working her dream job with Circability for one year.

Born in Tāmaki Makaurau, Ziah moved to Australia at 10 years old. Her journey in circus started when a strange sideshow performer named the Space Cowboy visited her high school and performed a wild act of juggling dangerous objects while unicycling and bending spoons with his mind. She was in awe that this could be a profession which can take you around the world and touch peoples lives so deeply.

Ziah left home at 16, taught herself to juggle and learnt the art of contact fire twirling. She learned more skills and performed throughout the Melbourne art scene. After many years of travel and festivals, Ziah returned to Aotearoa, reconnecting with te ao Māori, Papatūānuku and her whakapapa.

The role circus played in Ziah’s life as a youth gave her purpose and freedom of expression. Although she experienced various mental struggles she always had a place to belong within the circus artist communities. She has a passion for youth work and mental health awareness, finding circus to be an incredible platform to create a supportive environment for people to thrive.

Through Ziah’s mahi with Circability she finds strength in togetherness/kotahitanga, joy in the moment and purpose in encouraging people of all ages, cultures and abilities to try something new.

TUTOR

Nina is a lead tutor for the Circability team in Northland. She was born in Kaitaia and grew up in a coastal village called Ahipara in Te Tai Tokerau.

Growing up by the ocean with horses and a motorbike, she was a free spirit with a love of singing. After schooling in Katai, Nina moved to Auckland for her final year of high school at Western Springs College. When she completed school, she continued to live in Auckland, was introduced to Circus Arts, went to fire dancing gatherings and learned to juggle, use flowersticks, poi, staff and double staff. She then gained a degree in Performing and Screen Arts from Unitec.

After running her own fashion label for six years, Nina moved to Japan to teach English, using mime to communicate. Returning to Aotearoa, she received her Post Grad in Primary Teaching, then moved to Berlin, Germany to teach English.

Upon leaving Germany, Nina returned to her hometown, Ahipara, working in Early Education as a fully registered teacher and returning to flow arts.

In 2022 Nina met Thomas and April, changing her life for the better. She joined Circability as a circus tutor and has grown as a teacher, ring master, performer, entertainer and a creative. She considers herself lucky to be part of the magic that is Circus!

CHAIRPERSON

Erwin has worked in the NGO community mental health, education and arts sectors for most of his life. Whilst managing Toi Ora Live Art Trust, he was asked to join the Circability Board. He’s proud to be a part of an organisation that has such spirit, passion, and the ability to make a real difference in people’s lives. Erwin and the team are singularly focused to ensure the best possible outcomes can be achieved and securing a funding environment that will sustain and enhance the valuable mahi and service that Circability provides.

CHILD PROTECTION PORTFOLIO

Angela is a secondary school teacher with a passion for youth development and engaging young people in opportunities to allow their qualities to shine. Angela has a BA in Journalism & Literature and Grad Diploma in Education. She’s taught in Australia and the UK as an enthusiastic Drama / English teacher, Angela also worked as a Director of numerous musical and theatrical productions. Upon moving to New Zealand in 2015, she became involved with Circability through circus workshops and discovered the incredible impact circus can have on young people.

HEALTH AND SAFETY PORTFOLIO

Chris serves as the Venue & Events Manager at Victory Convention Centre. His love for people has manifested in the strong relationships he has forged with clients, the corporate community, and support staff. He first encountered Circability in 2014 and was inspired by the impact they made in the lives of so many through the power of inclusion. It was an absolute privilege to join the board in June 2019. Navigating through many challenges over the years, it is very satisfying to see how Circability has grown in leaps and bounds and continues to have a tangible social impact through circus arts and intervention-based activities that directly address social needs.

FINANCE PORTFOLIO

Ron is a Dutchman who has 25 years of experience in the global pharma and food industry in various multinationals. He has traveled, lived, and worked in many countries and his expertise covers a range of disciplines, geographies, and cultures.

Since landing in New Zealand in 2016 with his family he has focused on his own advisory business that supports, mentors, and coaches for-profit and non-profit enterprises and especially the people that make them work.

DISABLED COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE

Circus artist and representative of the disabled community, Roka has been a Circability student for many years. She has developed her performing skills and talents and has been involved in many Circability shows.

Roka enjoys spending time with friends and whānau and having a good laugh.

CULTURAL ADVISOR

Ōtautahi born Kahuraki Bronsson-George has always been surrounded by creativity, coming from a musical whānau, with Te Kotahitanga Kapa Haka, Suzuki violin and Rudolf Steiner school forming the eclectic triangle of his learning foundation. At age 16, he joined the Circus (without needing to run away) at Circo Arts, and there was no turning back.

Kahuraki has trained and performed in many spaces, including the Wellington Circus Hub, the Dust Palace, Spin Circus Academy in Melbourne, and is now one of the few Aotearoans to hold a degree in Circus, from the Whitireia Circus and Dance Course at Te Kāhui Auaha in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

He has trained in Mau Rākau with Te Whare Tū Taua o Waitaha for five years, and is currently a pou rua. He has worked with Circability as a Kaitohutohu Tikaka and Kaiako Mau Rākau for two years and counting and is enjoying the journey with te ao Māori to guide him. He is passionate about growing a stronger presence of te reo, tikaka, toi, and mātauraka Māori in the Circus industry of Aotearoa

CIRCUS ARTIST, YOUNG CIRCUS ARTIST REPRESENTATIVE

Alysha has been a circus performer for many years, and is currently a student at Mt. Albert Grammar School. A natural leader, she is involved with the Circ.Us youth group, growing a thriving circus together which informs the development of the annual Youth Circus Festival.