Circus has always been a universal language — an artform that transcends words, cultures, and borders. In 2025, the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is proud to announce the launch of Beyond Our Boundaries, a new international cultural exchange project that reconnects NICA with two of China’s most influential circus institutions: the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe and the Shanghai Circus School.
This initiative reaffirms the power of circus as a shared language, bridging continents through physicality, artistry, and a collective love of the extraordinary.
A Shared Legacy: China’s Influence on Australian Circus
The roots of this partnership stretch back more than four decades. In the early 1980s, with support from the Sidney Myer Fund, the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe toured Australia, collaborating with local groups such as the Flying Fruit Fly Circus in Albury-Wodonga. These exchanges proved transformative, raising the standard of circus training in Australia and laying the foundation for a contemporary industry that continues to thrive today. One of the troupe’s most distinguished artists, Mr Guang Rong Lu OAM, first arrived in 1983 and went on to play a pivotal role in the establishment of NICA, where he served as Head of Circus Studies for 16 years, then a further 5 years as Director of International Engagement. His expertise helped shape NICA’s training methodology and cemented international circus collaboration as a cornerstone of the Institute’s identity.
The relationship deepened in the decades that followed. Highlights include the 2011 cultural exchange tour where NICA students visited circus schools and festivals in China, culminating with their participation in the International Forum on Circus and Education in Shanghai; the acclaimed 2011 production Beautifully Imperfect, co-created with the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe; and The Nanjing Project (2014), which celebrated the enduring legacy of the first 1983 exchange. These projects not only forged lasting ties but also embedded Chinese acrobatic artistry into the very fabric of Australian circus education. The pedagogical influence of the Shanghai Circus School has also been deeply integrated into NICA’s curriculum and training methods, strengthening the Institute’s distinctive fusion of Chinese and Australian circus practices.
About Beyond Our Boundaries
Running from October 2025 to September 2026, Beyond Our Boundaries will reignite this tradition of exchange, beginning with a cultural workshop at the Australian Circus Summit (October 2025). The program will feature:
Exchange visits: NICA students will travel to Nanjing and Shanghai while also hosting their Chinese peers in Melbourne.
Collaborative workshops: Participants will train, create, and perform together, blending Chinese acrobatic expertise with contemporary Australian circus practice.
Cultural engagement: Students will take part in immersive workshops designed to deepen understanding across cultures and lift the artform to new levels.
This initiative aims to foster global connections, inspire creativity, and open new pathways for collaboration in the next generation of circus artists.
This project is proudly supported by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, which has awarded Beyond Our Boundaries a 2024–2025 grant. Their support makes possible a reciprocal professional exchange between the National Institute of Circus Arts and the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, building on a legacy of collaboration since the 1980s, and continues to strengthen people-to-people links through cultural exchange.
Gary Cowan, CEO of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, said: “The Foundation is pleased to support the National Institute of Circus Arts “Beyond Our Boundaries” project. Collaborating with circus artists from China four decades ago had a terrific impact on the development of Australia’s own circus culture. We’re delighted to be bringing together a new generation of circus artists to create friendships, capability and spectacular shows.”
NICA also gratefully acknowledges the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for championing this important collaboration of cultures through circus, helping to sustain and grow Australia–China cultural connections.
Call for Expressions of Interest (Applications close 9 AM 29 September 2025)
NICA invites youth circus students aged 18–25 at an intermediate to advanced training level to apply for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Ideal candidates will demonstrate:
Strong skills in a discipline suited to Chinese-style circus
Creativity and performance quality
A positive attitude to training and teamwork
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