Zip Zap Circus and High Commission of Canada to Present Two Performances of BOREAL in Cape Town This December

Zip Zap Circus, in association with the High Commission of Canada, will present BOREAL at the Zip Zap Dome in Cape Town for two shows only this December. The production promises to be a sensorial experience that is not to be missed.

Inspired by the various textures and colours of the north of Canada, BOREAL will interpret choreography that illustrates powerful ocean tempests, vast tundra, sumptuous forests and extensive plains. BOREAL will depict a journey through the vast wilderness of Canada, an area with a subarctic climate that is extreme, where nature is wild and dramatic landscapes are of a humbling magnitude.

This production will be directed by Brent van Rensburg from Zip Zap, with choreography by Claudel Doucet from Canada. Her compatriots Samuel Renaud, Louis Joyal and Marilou Verschelden, all acrobats from Canada, will perform alongside outstanding artists from Zip Zap such as Jemma Rose Nelson, Jacobus Claassen, Jade Palmer, Sabine van Rensburg, Saskia van Rensburg, Jason Barnard and Phelelani Ndakrokra. This dynamic mix of performers from across the globe will enthral audiences with a production that will include circus acrobatics in a fusion of lighting, sound and daring displays of aerial artistry.

Choreographer Claudel Doucet hails from Quebec. She started in the circus arts when she was only 12 years old and found right away that she had a passion for the German wheel. In 2011, Doucet moved to Montréal to study at the National Circus School where she graduated in 2015. Since then, she has been working on different artistic projects and doing artistic residencies in Europe and Chicago.

Samuel Renaud, formerly an ice hockey player, hung up his skates to pursue artistic gymnastics and graduated from the National Circus School of Montréal earlier this year, as did Louis Joyal, who stumbled upon the circus arts after years of competitive sports, specialising in Russian cradle and hand-to-hand porter.

Marilou Verschelden has worked for Cirque Éloize in the USA and Circus Monti in Switzerland and is now travelling around with her wheel, looking for new adventures to share her passion.

In South Africa and the world, Zip Zap Circus is recognised as a major contributor to development within the iconic Mother City of Cape Town, providing sustainability of the circus arts in South Africa. Zip Zap was founded in Cape Town in 1992 and works with a diverse community of children and youth from all backgrounds, helping kids to "dare to dream" and learn to make those dreams a reality. Zip Zap's programs are all free to participants, with financial and material support coming from individuals, organisations, corporations and foundations.

South Africa and Canada's official relationship dates back to 1939 and is based on the shared values of equality, democracy, peace, security and prosperity. Says Sandra McCardell, High Commissioner of Canada to South Africa:

This year we were delighted to share our 150th birthday celebrations with South Africa! Our year of Canada 150 events - including cultural collaborations like this show - have proven that a distance of half a globe is no match for the human connections between our two countries.

BOREAL will be performed at the Zip Zap Dome next to Artscape on the Foreshore on 15 and 16 December at 19:00. Tickets cost R100 each and are available from Quicket.

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