Welcome to the Zip Zap Circus

Inspiring & Empowering Kids for Life

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I can Fly!

Welcome to our uniquely South African circus family.
A social and professional circus that is filled with hope, promise, daring dreams, and extraordinary talent.
Come and dream with us…

Zip Zap was born from a simple dream, a tree, a trapeze bar and a rusty old truck 29 years ago. Established by South African born Brent van Rensburg and his French wife, Laurence Estève, their dream was to use the circus as a tool to bridge socio-economic gaps and to inspire and empower young people to build a new culture of peaceful co-existence in South Africa, inspired by the late Nelson Mandela.

As the Zip Zap story was founded on an initial love story between the two co-founders, so it continues to unfold as one. The love can be felt in every corner of this extraordinary social circus. It is felt on stage, on the training floor, throughout nine programmes and between every beneficiary, alumni, staff, international intern, board member and show audiences. Once you join the Zip Zap family, you are embraced by a sense of belonging, that lasts a lifetime.

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Our shining stars

Read their incredible stories

We are dreamcatchers

Beneficiaries from the Zip Zap programmes have performed for presidents, princes, sporting stars and world leaders. They have completed more than 30 international tours and numerous international media showcases. The proceeds from these performances in turn fund training and are pivotal to the sustainability of Southern Africa’s largest social circus.

Kids who began as six-year-olds swinging from a trapeze tied to a tree, are now professional performing artists working in Europe and North America. Young people who grew up on the streets are now skilled and valued artists and technicians in the entertainment and film industries.

Best of all, these kids have become teachers themselves. They are ambassadors and role models for others, demonstrating the possibility of a new way of treating each other.

We are trail blazers

Established by South African born Brent van Rensburg and his French wife, Laurence Estève, their dream was to use the circus as a tool to bridge socio-economic gaps and to inspire and empower young people to build a new culture of peaceful co-existence in South Africa, inspired by the late Nelson Mandela.

As the Zip Zap story was founded on an initial love story between the two co-founders, so it continues to unfold as one. The love can be felt in every corner of this extraordinary social circus.

It is felt on stage, on the training floor, throughout nine programmes and between every beneficiary, alumni, staff, international intern, board member and show audiences. Once you join the Zip Zap family, you are embraced by a sense of belonging, that lasts a lifetime.