Circus excitement comes to town

THE circus is coming to Bass Coast and South Gippsland.

Maxine Gigliotti will be sharing her circus expertise as part of a school holiday program set to be held in Loch, Newhaven and Dalyston during January.

The program will run over two days for an hour and a half at each location.

The first day will introduce participants to a range of circus skills including hula hooping, acro, tumbling and juggling.

Their newfound skills will be put to the test on the second day, as they will be tasked with creating their own routines.

“I find some children really thrive during this activity. They love putting on their own performances,” Maxine said.

“However, if there are children who are feeling a little more reserved, I will be there to help them put together their sequences.”

Family and friends will be invited along to watch the performances during the last 15 minutes of the second session.

A former Cowes local – and soon to be a resident of Loch – Maxine discovered her passion for circus arts during a school holiday program held in Frankston.

“I’ve been involved in circus arts for the last 15 years,” she said.

“I went on to study circus arts at the National Institute of Circus Arts, gaining a Bachelor of Circus Arts degree. Once I knew it was an option, I decided it was something I wanted to pursue. I’ve loved developing new skills and meeting friends with similar interests.”

Maxine has been running circus workshops for the last 10 years, but this will be the first program in the local area. 

These workshops will gauge the interest in circus arts.

From there, Maxine hopes to run regular after school and holiday programs. 

The Loch and Newhaven sessions have already sold out, but there are still places available for the Dalyston sessions.

The workshops are aimed at children aged between eight and 14, costing $30 per child.

Loch’s session will be held on January 15-16, followed by Newhaven on January 18-19 and Dalyston on January 22-23.

Those interested in attending the Dalyston sessions are urged to contact Maxine via maxinegigliotti@gmail.com to reserve a place.