Soaring brought together a dynamic cast of young people ranging in ages from 8 to 12 years from two of South Australia youth art companies, contemporary youth circus Cirkidz and Kurruru Youth Performing Arts.

Originating from an idea by Sally Chance, Director of the 2005 Come Out Festival, a cast of more than 20 Aboriginal and non-Indigenous young people took part in the show performing stilt walking, acrobatics, dance and explosive movement. Some of the highlights were the children walking on 2.4 metre stilts and climbing black ‘tissues’ (fabric) hanging from the ceiling.

Over the course of two years, beginning in 2004, the Soaring project developed and honed participant their circus and performance skills, specifically mastering stilt-walking, under the guidance of a team of artists from both Kurruru and Cirkidz.

The project grew from ancient stories told to the performers by Aboriginal elders, exploring ideas of cultural power, dreaming images and important life lessons. Images and themes from the stories were then the inspiration for the creation of the piece.

Soaring explores the theme of ‘flight’, using the concept as a metaphor for dreams and aspirations, and uses the language of movement and circus to communicate the transitional journey from childhood to adolescent through the eyes of the shows young cast.

Soaring was very much a reconciliation project fostering an environment that saw Aboriginal and non-Indigenous young people working together to develop a sense of pride in their joint history rather than focusing on the negative aspects of the recent history of Aboriginal people in Australia. The success of Soaring was its role as a source of pride for the Aboriginal community, particularly given the investment the community made in its success and the part it and Kurruru play in giving the youth a source of purpose, confidence and pride. The young people, when evaluated their impressions of the project all expressed the desire to keep working together as a team and by the final performance – seeing them working together and doing each other’s hair and makeup – they were truly united a cast.

Premièring as part of the Come Out 2005 Australian Festival for Young People, Soaring was performed in the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Space Theatre for three shows on from March 15 to 19, 2005.

Soaring Cast

Emma Bovoro, Salote Bovoro, Jascha Boyce, Lucca Boyce, Krystal Brown, Charlotte Dunn, Rosey Leach– Absalom, Joanna Main, Alexander Miller, Tjimarri Sanderson Milera, Mervyn Sansbury, Misty Sparrow, Sydney Sparrow, Isabella Sykes, Cassandra Townsend, Cameron Weetra, Kirsty Williams, Robert Young

Soaring Crew

Director: Sasha Zahra, Co-Director 2004: Ursula Beaumont, Assistant Director/Choreographer: Aidan Munn, Lighting Designer: Nic Mollison, Costume Designer: Louise Dunn, Design Consultant: Gaelle Mellis, Musical Director/Musician: Catherine Oates, Co Composer/Musician: Robert Champion, Guest Artists: Dalisa Pigram, Aaron Walker, Tara Sanders, Stage Manager: Kym Sparrow, Assistant Stage Managers: Eli Green & Sophie Hill, Mechanist: Nivven Barlow, Trainers: Shezza Malik, Kieran Beaumont, Christopher Zaluski, Franky Charman-Green, Felix Kerry, Alexander Stevenson, Support Workers: Les Sparrow, Kamahi King, Kristen Kahn, Bus Driver: Les Sparrow, Dramaturgy: Diat Alferink & Sally Chance, Elders: Aunty Josie Agius, Aunty Stephanie Gollan, Uncle Buck McKenzie.