A Journey of Circus

Hi, I’m Kate, or in the circus world, KarniKate.

My introduction to circus arts had a literary connection, a nice flow-on from my passion for creative writing. I was at my local library in Brisbane researching for a book I was writing when I saw a poster advertising circus classes in Fortitude Valley.

I started circus training at the age of 17, with no prior experience in gymnastics or dance. I played sports one day a week at school out of obligation.

I started a beginner’s class at the Circa Training Centre in Fortitude Valley, which introduced me to a range of circus skills, including acrobalance, aerials, hula hooping, and juggling. I took an immediate liking to the hula hoop, and bought two for myself from my circus teacher. Outside of classes, I practiced at home in the backyard.

Over the next couple of years, living between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, I continued my training at Circa, and also took classes at Vulcana Circus (then Vulcana Women’s Circus) in New Farm. Besides hooping, I trained in acrobalance, aerials, stilt-walking, Chinese pole, act creation, and performance techniques. I learned skills and drew inspiration for performances from watching YouTube videos and Cirque Du Soleil DVDs.

My first public performance was as a contestant in a talent competition in Mooloolaba, run by a local radio station on the Sunshine Coast. I even won prize money! Soon after that, I performed at the Caloundra Music Festival and Australia Day events. I even had the opportunity to perform at the Judith Wright Arts Centre, the home of Circa Training Centre, where my circus journey had begun.

Over the next ten years, I performed at several major events around Queensland and interstate, including Brisbane Festival, Royal Brisbane Exhibition, and Woodford Folk Festival. I also performed at Warner Bros. Movie World as a Christmas Elf!

Since 2023, I have performed in the Brisbane Irish Festival St Patrick’s Day Parade, combining my love of Ireland with my love of hooping.

I have also taught hula hooping and circus skills for organisations, including Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay Regional Councils. I facilitated weekend hoop camps, weekly classes at local schools, and taught term courses in Hula Hoop, Pole Fitness & Burlesque for dance studios around Brisbane. I took much joy in passing on these skills to my students and inspiring my audience with my performances.

In 2021, I started training in Aerial Hoop at an aerial arts school on the Gold Coast where I live. I attended weekly classes and open training sessions, and for the end-of-term student showcase night, I created a themed performance combining hula hoop and aerial hoop. Themes included Outer Space, James Bond, Christmas, Australia, Puppet, Burlesque Clown and more.

Hula hooping is in the ‘Object Manipulation’ category of circus skills, along with juggling and diabolo. As a teenager, the discovery of circus arts helped me to build my confidence and my coordination skills. My early childhood had been challenged by illness, and I had struggled with learning difficulties. My fine and gross motor skills were poor-I couldn’t catch a ball or butter bread properly. When I learned to handle a hula hoop, to move it around and up and down my body, to toss it in the air and twirl it on my hands, my coordination and reflexes improved dramatically.

As Kate Kelsen, I tell stories by writing words on a page. As KarniKate, I tell stories through circus.