Clowning around for laughs

KAHLIA BEICHERT

Circus Wow performers are laughing all the way to the bank.

The not-for-profit group has launched its Women who Laugh program after receiving a $2000 community grant from Wollon-gong City Council last year.

Council is inviting applications for this year’s grants program, with an information session to be held at the Wollongong City Library on March 24 from 5.50pm.

The eight-week circus program is aimed at women aged 45 and older and includes juggling, trapeze, clowning and performance, hoola hooping, and acro balance.

Circus Wow director Cheryle Moore said the program was about meeting new people as much as learning circus tricks.

“It encourages older women to become part of the circus but mostly it aims to investigate the possibilities of circus training as a way of meeting other people, strengthening, and sharing a sense of humour,” she said.

Women Who Laugh is all about having a sense of humour.

“We like to inject all our classes with fun ­– having a go at something you might not have tried before in a really supportive environment,” Ms Moore said.

She said the program aimed to meet the needs of older women.

“It’s challenging but quite different from anything you might see in a gym,” she said.

The course costs $50 – a reduced rate due to the council subsidy.

Ms Moore said the program might not have been possible without the extra funding.

“I don’t think it could have gone ahead because the funding makes it possible to hire trainers at a subsidised price,” she said.

“Normally it would have cost hundreds.”

Ms Moore said the trainers enjoyed seeing the progress made by their students.

“It brought a lot of women into performance who hadn’t been here,” she said.

“It’s really heart-warming to see people take on something they’ve never done before.”

Ms Moore said community grants were vital to the survival of not-for-profit groups in the Illawarra.

“Without assistance, the arts can just cease to exist,” she said.

“The arts are the first to go in this sort of economic climate.”

For more information on the program, email circuswow@gmail.com or phone 4267 1233 or 0410 510 915.

Applications forms for Wollongong City Council’s cultural grants can be downloaded at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au. Applications close on April 30.