Zip Zap Circus School

6 Shannon Street
Salt River
7925 Cape Town / South Africa
+27 (0)63 043 7088
info@zip-zap.org
zip-zap.org

FEDEC member since 2025

Founded in 1992 in Cape Town, Zip Zap Circus School was born from a dream to use circus arts as a tool for social change.

Over 3 decades later, Zip Zap remains a uniquely South African social and professional circus that inspires and empowers children and youth from all walks of life. Our mission is to foster social cohesion, unlock potential, and transfer life skills through circus. We create safe, inclusive spaces where young people from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds come together, free of charge, to grow in confidence, skill, and purpose.

Today, we run 9 developmental programmes, reaching over 3,000 youth annually. These include grassroots outreach programmes, advanced youth training, and our flagship Dare2Dream vocational programme, which prepares young adults for careers in circus and the creative economy.

Our pedagogical project is grounded in experiential, learner-centred education. We blend technical circus training (e.g., acrobatics, aerials, juggling) with creative expression, teamwork, and psychosocial support.

Our holistic approach builds resilience, discipline, and self-worth—guiding youth from informal beginnings to professional excellence and personal independence. We align with several Sustainable Development Goals, including Quality Education, Good Health, Decent Work, and Partnerships for Impact.

Training offered

Zip Zap’s Dare2Dream

Zip Zap’s Dare2Dream (D2D) vocational training programme is a full-time, holistic learning journey designed to prepare youth for careers in the performing arts and beyond. Rooted in experiential education, D2D combines technical circus training (e.g., aerials, acrobatics, juggling) with life skills development, creative expression, and psychosocial support.

A key feature of the programme is its competency-based assessment model. Instead of progressing through time-based levels, participants move forward by demonstrating mastery of specific skills. This flexible, learner-paced system ensures a solid foundation at each stage of training and allows for individualised growth. As a result, participants become more confident, capable, and ultimately, industryready performers.

Our approach ensures that each young person is equipped not only with circus skills but with the discipline, confidence, and resilience needed for success in life.