Two sides of circus at Fringe Festival

Whangarei’s forthcoming Fringe Festival will feature two distinctly different performances featuring Dargaville’s Circus Kumarani entertainers and artists this month.

The circus arts have a long tradition stretching back to classical times, and provide not just entertainment and wonder for the young, but social insight and commentary for adults as part of the scope of their performance. On Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18 two aspects of this heritage art form will be on display as part of Fringe in Whangarei.

From 3pm it’s a circus extravaganza, as Circus Kumarani in association with friends from all over the north, including Waipu’s Circool Circus and the Northland Youth Theatre, stage a familyfriendly show with all the thrills of the big top.

Fringe Festival organisers say that this is going to be an unmissable treat for younger patrons.

“Showcasing talent from all over Tai Tokerau, this is a show that brings people together from the community to connect through circus and play. Run away with us for an afternoon and support developing artists to fulfil their dreams on stage.” Then, at 7pm, Kumarani Productions present Funkyray Cabaret, a show for an 18+ audience, which features professional circus and flow art performers, aerial arts, dance, music, burlesque, drag, spoken word and more.

It’s a showcase of the adult, evocative and perception-challenging aspect of the performance arts hosted by some of the region’s most talented. Tickets for both can be found at whangareifringe.co.nz.

October 13th 2020

Author Andy Bryenton - Kaipara Lifestyler

Thanks from circus

Circus Kumarani has offered a big thank you to all of the funding groups and organisations that have allowed them to continue their mission of fun, spectacle and teaching skills and confidence. As recipients of a disbursement from the Kaipara District Council’s community grants fund recently, the management of Dargaville’s circus took the opportunity to acknowledge all of those that have helped. This list includes the KDC’s Community Organisation Grants Scheme, Foundation North, the Ministry of Education through the Creatives in Schools project, New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, Northland Community Foundation, Sport Northland and the Whangārei District Council through Creative Communities NZ.

Support for rainbow community

A new support group for members of the west Kaiapra’s rainbow community is gathering soon, to offer support for those who identify as LBGTQIA+.

Kumarani Productions, which places inclusiveness high among its values as an organisation, is offering a space and a supportive e nvi ro n m e n t fo r members of the rainbow community at their Onslow Street premises.

Advocacy and support for all have always been a core principle for Kumarani. From its art and performance aspects to the philosophy that drives the group to help with community events, cultural celebrations and extra-curricular learning in schools.

Quite aside from their founding remit as entertainers and educators, this was something that manager Tania Whētu and her team felt was needed in west Kaipara and as a role, they could help fulfil.

“I identify as queer, and when I came here, I looked for places to connect with the local rainbow community but couldn’t find any,” said Tania. “Especially in rural communities, being different can be isolating. We want to create a space for people to be themselves and feel safe and supported. After all the ups and downs this year, we decided now is the time to start something positive.”

The group has been given the title Rainbow Connections to reflect the spectrum of self-identities in the community and the iconic flag of the Pride movement. It will also have a social media presence and portal online.

November 16th 2021

Author Andy Bryenton - Kaipara Lifesytler

New Zealand's Neighbourhood Network

The Neighbourhood Support Network (NSN), New Zealand’s new alternative to the concept of Neighbourhood Watch, is helping to empower the Dargaville community.

Kumarani Productions Trust has hired a new team member, Kelly Kerr, who is focussed on community support and connection. Kelly moved back to Northland in 2021. She has an extensive background in working for the community, including working in the prison system teaching mental health, literacy and numeracy. She has worked with men to have access to their children in the courts.

“I worked first-hand with the proverbial ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ for numerous years, and I’m now moving to preventative measures in our community,” Kelly says.

Kelly’s role is to inform the public about NSN and help people know what is happening in their community. She is also keenly involved in the upcoming Neighbours Day and has ideas about creating a parenting programme. The NSN is in partnership with organisations such as the police, Red Cross and Civil Defence, among others. The approach has been noted to have done well in the Far North.

“I will be replicating what has been done in other towns. My job is to empower and support people and know what the expectations are of being in the community,” Kelly says.

The NSN initiative is set up to empower the community to support itself. It is designed to encourage people to know the people around them and have a strong connection with what is happening. It takes the focus off crime and enables the community to be more interconnected for wellbeing

February 8th 2022

Author Amy Fifita - Kaipara Lifestyler

Matariki festivals rise

Te Kopuru’s domain lit up with fun and colour as the season of Matariki was welcomed in; next week, it’s Dargaville’s turn to enjoy the festivities.

From circus arts to fire trucks, food to share and the cultural dances of many lands, the Saturday engagement was well attended and brought out families from Te Kopuru and beyond to enjoy the fun. The fickle midwinter weather held out to provide an opportunity to play and socialise, while kapa haka, fire juggling and cultural performances entertained the crowd.

On Saturday, July 24 Dargaville will have its turn, with even more food, fun and well-tamed fire, along with an art illuminations trail in the Riverside Gardens, lit-up houses in residential streets, live music by Olly Knox, entertainment and interaction with Circus Kumarani, the Selwyn Park Primary School kapa haka group, performances by King’s School of Dance and much more.

There will be prizes for the best dressed in a Matariki theme. The fun starts at 5pm at the Northern Wairoa Boating Club and Riverside Gardens.

July 20th 2021

Author Andy Bryenton - Kaipara Lifestyler

Matariki in Dargaville

As the sun set the colours of neon, flames and bright lights came out in Dargaville last Saturday.

Crowds gathered at the Northern Wairoa Boating Club and Riverside Gardens to celebrate the season of Matariki, with art, fire performances, dance, song and togetherness. From giant bubbles and hand-painted Matariki themed stones to share, through to a sausage sizzle and children dressed in illuminated costumes, the first inaugural Dargaville festival for the traditional Māori new year was a display of colour and creativity

July 27th 2020

Author Andy Bryenton - Kaipara Lifestyler

Lighting up your Matariki

A free Matariki fire and circus arts show is planned for the arrival of the ‘seven sisters’ star cluster in our skies, heralding the start of the traditional Maori calendar for another year. Circus Kumarani welcome all their friends and neighbours to enjoy the spectacle of choreographed music, acrobatics, skill and fire.

This year, with major Matariki gatherings interrupted by the Covid lockdown of autumn, Circus Kumarani has stepped in to ensure festivities for this important cultural occasion are both free and spectacular.

N ew l y - r e c r u i t e d circus manager Tania has been extremely busy working with both seasoned veterans of the circus arts, and also a keen bunch of kids who have been practising their skills as part of Kumarani’s free school holiday programme in Dargaville and Paparoa.

On Saturday, July 18, preparations for a multi-faceted circus-themed show based on the mythos of Matariki will come to fruition at 15 Onslow Street, near Selwyn Park’s public pools. From 4pm there will be market stalls and food to enjoy, with the ‘breakout’ kids’ performance at 4.30pm.

As darkness falls the fires will be lit, the music will play, and the Kumarani troupe will dazzle and amaze with their artistic presentation, featuring fire dancing, juggling, acrobatics and much more.

July 7th 2020

Author Andy Byrenton - Kaipara Lifestyler

High-flying new appointment

It’s one of the oldest community circus groups in New Zealand and a local treasure. Now Circus Kumarani, the entertaining and engaging troupe of performers who brighten up so many aspects of Kaipara life, have a new manager, and she’s keen to reignite the region’s passion for the circus arts.

“Many people have had input over the years, and it’s touched many lives across Northland from its homebase in Dargaville,” says Kumarani Productions’ new manager, Tania Whetu. “With a focus on providing accessible social circus for everyone, regardless of age and skill level, Kumarani has built a vibrant circus community hub in Northland.”

Tania hails from Dunedin, but her skills and experience in organizing and running circus shows have seen her travel extensively, including throughout Australia. During Covid lockdown Tania and Kumarani made the decision to work together. She attended the Northland Circus Festival in 2019 and has wanted to move up ever since.

“Stepping into this role is an exciting opportunity to connect with the Northland community, and continue to build Kumarani’s presence here. I want to invite everyone to run away and join the circus!” she said.

Wasting no time, Tania and the Kumarani team are proud to present a free school holiday programme for kids in both Dargaville and Paparoa, where young people can ‘run away with the circus’ and learn all kinds of performance artistic skills in a fun environment. Parents can register at circuskumarani.co.nz.

Following this, Circus Kumarani will be holding an open day in Dargaville on June 27 for locals to come and learn some circus tricks for free from 3–5pm and watch a fire show at 5.30pm. It is a chance to have a sample of Kumarani’s Breakaway Holiday programme, as the children will be showing off what they have learned.

Currently, Kumarani is also working on the Circademic programme — ‘where everyone catches the circus bug!’ They received funding from the Ministry of Social Development to deliver free online resources to disabled people —teaching circus and creating a platform for connecting and socialising. It includes accessible body movement and circus skills classes taught via zoom, and tutorials taught by some of Kumarani’s experienced students with disabilities who work with Greenways Trust.

June 23rd 2020

Author Andy Bryenton - Kaipara Lifestyler

Growing neighbourly bonds

Dargaville is set to have its own community garden, promoting the concept of food resilience and helping to inspire a community approach to kai collaboration

“The initial idea is to establish a community garden that’s accessible to everyone. While it may not be big enough on its own to feed the entirety of Dargaville — it can serve as an example,” said Kumarani Productions manager Tania Whetū. “We can use it as a space to educate people about what works and how easy it is.”

The garden is another example of the Kumarani team moving beyond the space of performance art, for which they have become well known, and assisting with outreach programmes. It will follow the success of other community garden projects in Kaipara towns such as Paparoa and Mangawhai.

Planning for the garden will take place at a community kai swap and seedling swap event that celebrates Neighbours Day. Tania says that with Covid-19 concerns currently high and some people being forced to self-isolate, having strong bonds with neighbours is very relevant. “Food resilience is a trend we see all over New Zealand and around the world. Sharing with each other is a big part of this,” says Tania.

“If people would like to be involved in the seedling swap or kai exchange, now is the time to make plans, sprout seeds and get ready.”

On March 26, between 10am and 2pm, the Kumarani Creative Centre on Onslow Street, opposite Selwyn Park, Dargaville, will be the site for the kai and seed swap, timed to coincide with the autumnal equinox. Right now, melons, squash and other produce are abundant. Tania suggests that this is a good way to stock the pātaka free of charge, curbing costof-living inflation.

The Kumarani Facebook page is also running a competition to find the biggest, weirdest, funniest and most artistic vegetables grown around town. It’s free to upload a photo and enter. “Those who want to be involved in the community garden project should definitely come along on the day.

“We will be making plans, and we’re grateful for expertise from experienced gardeners, donations of tools, time and material.

“Initially, we’re looking at turning the green strips down the sides of the Kumarani Centre’s front lawn into gardens, but there could be expansions in the future.”

With a green light from the generous landlords of the Onslow Street centre, the model garden will soon be up and growing, allowing those who wish to embark on their own food resilience projects to observe, ask questions and take notes.

Then there’s the obvious benefit to come; hopeful big harvests to be shared with the community. Those who are keen to get involved, or wish to suggest crops that will benefit the community garden, should contact the Kumarani team on the day or volunteer their assistance by calling 09 439 5152.

March 1st 2022

Author Andy Bryenton - Kaipara Lifestyler

Circus holiday fun

Circus Kumarani’s holiday programme has brought fun and confidence-building activities to towns from Baylys Beach to Paparoa this summer.

Circus arts tutors have been out in communities teaching skills like juggling, balance and even unicycle, with Kumarani founding member April Atkinson returning from the Far North to assist in the fun.

January 25th 2022

Celebrating the new season

Wild weather did nothing to deter the intrepid performers of Circus Kumarani in Dargaville, who helped welcome in the new season with a Matariki celebration on Saturday.

First up came a selection of performances including object manipulation (the technical term for juggling), slapstick, hoop and aerial silks, many of which were undertaken by members of Kumarani’s recent school holiday programme.

Then came live music by Olly Knox, and as the sun set, it was time to light up the glowing and flaming props to drive away the shadows of a chilly evening. Of special note was the presence of Circus Kumarani’s inaugural ‘artist in residence’.

Kit has helped run the school holiday programme, bringing talents in live performance from overseas via the Cirque Lemuria, a boat-based troupe of entertainers who made headlines by being ‘stuck’ there during lockdown, but who used the time to craft a brand new show for Kiwi audiences.

July 21st 2020

Celebrating our circus

Circus Kumarani steps up with entertainment and fun to brighten up many of Kaipara’s local events, from market days to the forthcoming river festival and A&P shows. New manager, Tania Whetu, shares the group’s creative vision.

Circus Kumarani got its start in 2003, promising and delivering circus for all ages and abilities. Tania came to the top job in the charitable, not-forprofit creative trust from a background in community event management. She holds a degree in genetics and has experience working in preschools, as well as teaching circus arts to primary and secondary school children.

The choice to move to Dargaville was partly due to her partner hailing from this part of New Zealand, and partly because of the opportunity to helm the Kumarani organisation. “Dargaville has been a friendly and welcoming town,” says Tania. “

It’s great that there are existing community relationships with Circus Kumarani and a lot of goodwill. Of course, the aim is to build new ones, too, and to invite those who have passed through here, and who have fond memories, to come back.”

That’s the kind of ethos which has seen the growth year-after-year, of the Northland Circus Festival, hosted by Kumarani. “The event returned from January 8 to 10 this year for three days of workshops, ground and aerial skills, arts and creativity, from beginners to advanced level, and fun for all ages and abilities. That could mean you,” says Tania. “Just come in and give it a try.

Circus is not competitive; there’s no scores, and no targets or grades. You have to step outside your comfort zone to find new things, but we’re here to provide a safe and inclusive environment. It’s all about celebrating people getting better, not marks and points.”

February 2cnd 2021

Author Andy Bryenton - Kaipara Lifestyler

Antics at the circus

The team at Circus Kumarani are offering Youth Circus classes to introduce young people to the fun, laughter, talent and skills that can only be found at the circus.

“We teach a wide range of activities including props administration such as poi, juggling and diabolo. They will learn other circus skills as well like aerial art and tightrope walking,” said Circus Kumarani manager Tania Whetu. “Our motto is for all ages and abilities.

Our team teaches specific skills and if the children discover a favourite prop, they can practise that specifically during the free playtime.“It is great for children because we work in a group and the circus teaches physical and social skills.

We individually spend time with each student and everyone comes away with a new trick. “At the end of each term we hold a short performance for friends and family. This term we have the Whangarei Fringe Festival in October and those who come along to the classes are welcome to join us. We also prepare for our Christmas show in Dargaville. “Lot of students keep coming back and we love seeing new faces.

The classes run on a Thursday from 4–5.30pm at Circus Kumarani, 15 Onslow Street, Dargaville. The cost is $100 for a 10-week pass and $15 for a trial session. The pass can be used as a family card to share the classes. “On the last Friday of every month from 4–6pm we have our Tame the Flame lessons and teach people how to spin fire toys like the poi and staff.

It is really exciting for children to learn about fire in a safe environment. “Tame the Flame is a $10 koha to spin fire and spectators are welcome. To spin fire you must wear natural fibres like cotton or wool. For more information go to the Circus Kumarani Facebook page.”

July 28th 2020

Author Ann van Engelen - Kaipara Lifestyler

https://issuu.com/nsmm/docs/kl_jul_28_20

Acts of confidence

Circus Kumarani embarked upon its 18th year of teaching performance and circus arts to youngsters this week, with the aim of boosting confidence and self-esteem.

“We’ll be debuting a children’s class and a youth class, and we’re going to be doing all the circus skills we can while social distancing,” says Kumarani’s Tania Whētu, aware of Covid Omicron restrictions.

That means plenty of fun, learning juggling, balance, unicycle, hoops and more, in a programme that has educated and entertained Dargaville locals since 2004. Tania says that many of the people now attending are in the second generation; they attended as children, and now their children are keen to get involved.

“Especially now we know that our young people have had a lot of cancellations, a lot of screen time and anxiety during the pandemic, this is a good way to reconnect, to build self confidence, and engage,” says Tania.

Class sizes are small, so there is one-on-one tuition, and patrons will find that it’s not a competitive environment. The philosophy of the circus arts is to improve at your own pace, so there are no gradings, exams or tests. Students can show off what they have learned in a live performance setting when it’s comfortable for them and when they are ready.

At the same time, Tania reiterates that these are skills for life, and the confidence built by realising that you are able to juggle, walk the balance wire or ride a unicycle can spill over into other areas, with a positive impact. Classes begin this week, but enrolments are still open via circuskumarani.co.nz.

February 8th 2022

Author Andy Bryenton - Kaipara Lifestyler

Circus in schools

Dargaville’s Circus Kumarani are always at the forefront of entertainment during local events; recently they have brought their brand of creative and dynamic art to schoolrooms in the west Kaipara.

“It’s within the physical education curriculum, but we’re teaching more than just motor skills,” says circus manager Tania Whetū. “While helping kids get confident with circus arts like the flower sticks, poi, hoops and juggling, we’re also teaching respect and perseverance.”

Selwyn Park School was the first to enjoy a series of classes with Circus Kumarani, followed by Te Kopuru Primary School. The response from pupils has been phenomenal, says Tania. She’s also pleased to report that several teachers have also bravely given circus skills a try.

“It’s important for kids to see that these kinds of skills are difficult for everyone at first, no matter their age, but that with practise, anything is possible,” she says, praising the can-do attitude of local educators for giving it a try.

The next round of funding via the Ministry of Education to include Circus Kumarani in the school curriculum is open soon. Tania urges teachers to apply now to take advantage of this unique opportunity in the community. Even better, high school students can count this form of self confidence boosting education toward their NCEA credits.

Tania and the Circus Kumarani team are in big demand despite the change of seasons. As well as their work in schools, the group are planning pop-up events through July, culminating in a Matariki spectacular in cooperation with the Dargaville Community Development Board. Wednesday nights are now also drawing in with early sunsets prompting a new round of fire juggling and spinning classes each week from 5.30pm in Onslow Street, open to the public.

Date Published 8 June 2021

Author Andy Bryenton, Kaipara Lifestyler