Fiji’s only professional circus is taking its Fijian-made entertainment product to Australia, opening a new market for local creative talent.

VOU’s Fijian Flying Circus will tour Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from this month through to January next year.
The tour comes after the company performed twice at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and became the first Fijian company to headline a major New Zealand arts festival.

Behind the international performances is also a growing business supporting more than 80 Fijians in the creative sector, with ticket proceeds helping fund professional training for young artists through Fiji’s Conservatorium of Dance.

In a statement, VOU Director Sachiko Soro highlighted that taking the circus overseas is about more than putting on a show.
“Our dream is to build a world where young Fijians have access to quality creative education, allowing them to use their gifts to carve out real, sustainable careers” Soro said.

She says the company is creating a pathway for young Fijians to develop their talent to an international standard and turn it into a career.

The Conservatorium of Dance provides 20 young Fijians each year with fully funded two-year diplomas in Performing Arts, including accommodation and a living allowance.

Graduates are then guaranteed full-time employment with the VOU Dance Company, creating a direct link between training and jobs.

“We train our youth to an elite international standard so they can step onto the world stage with confidence” she added.

By: Joeli Ragoneliwa