History &
Highlights
Our co-founders are a dynamic duo with a heart-warming story to share about how and when the Zip Zap magic all started.
Born in 1961 in Cape Town, Brent van Rensburg started learning daring aerial skills at the Circus School YMCA Observatory, Cape Town, in 1973. It wasn’t long before he spread his wings and he left South Africa in 1978 to take to the world stage. For the next 15 years Brent lived his dream and performed in Italy, Holland, Denmark, Norway, France, Monte Carlo, and America. His career took an untimely turn after an unfortunate accident. He resumed his love for circus as an acrobatic instructor at the Ringling Brothers Clown College in Florida, and subsequently started hosting circus workshops for Club Med Holiday Resorts.
Laurence holds a B.Sc. and a Masters in Sports Management. She was Knighted of the National Order of Merit by the French President and was a runner up at the BBQ Awards. In 2017 she was the president of the jury at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris, France. In 2019 she was a finalist at the African Women Innovation Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) awards for her social work. Estève also received the Paul Harris fellowship from Rotary International.
In 2008, Brent was awarded the title of Men’s Health Best Man (Public Service). He also received the Mayor’s Medal for Youth Affairs for “his great contribution towards developing youth affairs in South Africa” in 2011. In 2012, Brent was the recipient of the Western Cape Government prize for contribution towards the promotion of the performing arts and was a guest speaker at TEDx Cape Town on “Your failures are our Superstars”. Brent also received the Paul Harris fellowship from the Rotary. He brings over 30 years of experience and passion for the circus to training young performers from all walks of life. He has done a great deal of rigging and stunt work in addition to his Zip Zap responsibilities.
International Highlights
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1995
President Nelson Mandela’s 77th birthday
Johannesburg, South Africa
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1996
Images of Africa Festival
Copenhagen, Denmark
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1999
Houston Arts Festival
Texas, USA
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2002
Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival
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2004
14 cities tour
Holland
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2005
Hosted 4th Social Circus Instructors Conference led by Cirque du Soleil
Cape Town, South Africa
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2006
Commonwealth Games
Melbourne, Australia
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2007
Notte Bianca
Rome, Italy
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2008
TEDGLOBAL Conference
Tanzania
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2009
Ikarus Night at Hanger7 for Red Bull
Salzburg, Austria
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2010
4 cities tour
Germany
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2012
Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain
Paris, France
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2013
Gala Fundraiser
London
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2014
Inauguration of the Indoor Sports Centre
Swarkopmund, Namibia
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2015
African Cup of Nations
Lagos, Nigeria
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2016
Barack and Michelle Obama Halloween at the White House
Washington DC, USA
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2017
Match for Africa #3 for the Roger Federer Foundation
Zurich, Switzerland
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2018
African Circus Arts Festival
Ethiopia
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2019
RICA
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
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2020
Match in Africa #6 for the Roger Federer Foundation
Cape Town, South Africa
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2021
MOYA, an Acrobatic Art Film
Cape Town, South Africa
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