Zip zap spring into action for kids
THE exciting Last Night of the Proms concert and banquet takes place at the Feather Market Centre in Port Elizabeth this weekend. Presented by St Francis Hospice, the "Proms" features a mass choir and the full Eastern Province Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of the popular and charismatic Richard Cock.
Bagpipes, soloists, dancers and an aerial ribbon dance by the Zip Zap Circus complete the feast of song and dance.
"The basis of Zip Zap goes beyond teaching children the discipline of circus, the art of performing and the respect of a skill that often has one soaring high above the ground," director Brent van Rensburg said.
"The Zip Zap children who come from all walks of life, with different cultures and beliefs, have travelled long distances together, worked hard, slept cold and have bonded to form this little family. This is the true success of the Zip Zap Circus.
"We started 22 years ago with some mats on the roof of an old car, a box of costumes and a big dream.
"By moving desks in classrooms and hanging trapeze bars in trees at a school in Langa, we managed to put our first show together with 50 students.
"Since then we have gone on to perform several thousand shows throughout South Africa. We performed for [former] president Nelson Mandela's 77th birthday in 1995, and have undertaken 26 international Tours."
Van Rensburg said some of the Zip Zap children have gone on to make professional careers in Europe and the US. Others are teaching the younger kids at Zip Zap as well as teaching in their outreach programme in Khayelitsha where they work with children born HIV positive who are currently receiving antiretroviral treatment.
"At Zip Zap, the kids not only learn circus skills but also rigging, prop building, costume making, dance and music – all free of charge."
The next part of their dream is to build a performing arts centre where children will have a permanent venue to continue learning these valuable life skills.
The concert takes place at 5pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday. Saturday's show will be followed by a black tie dinner in the Selley Hall.
Tickets for the concert are R110 and R90 with a R10 pensioner and scholar discount, while cost of the concert and dinner is R4500 for a table of 10. For further information contact Melanie Manson on (041)360-7070 (mornings only).
