Circus school makes big pitch for Big Top – help us find a home!

A beautiful vintage Big Top has been bought by Cairns’ circus school but they need to find it a home.

CYCAS Circus is excited about the huge Italian-made tent that will be its new home for classes and performances. It will also be available for the community to hire for events such as weddings and parties.

But first they have to get it the 3000km from Melbourne to Cairns and find some land to pitch it permanently.

CYCAS Circus was started 2004 by Patti Burnheim, now director of the school that teaches stilt walking, unicycling, fire twirling, clowning, aerial skills and juggling among other circus tricks. CYCAS primarily teaches young people but there are also adult classes.

However expensive rent for their current home and some funding they had to spend this year meant an ad for a $35,000 Canobbio Big Top near Melbourne caught their eye.

“It was being sold by Circus Latino. We had the money and it’s ideal for us” Patti told TropicNow.

The blue and red Big Top is 22 metres in diameter and seats about 300 people.

“Inside it’s just gorgeous” said Patti. “It looks like a ballroom with stars and mandalas all over the ceiling.”

It’s also resistant to strong winds but with a cyclone warning can be taken down in 10 minutes by a couple of people.

The Big Top needs to sit on about a hectare of land. As well as the tent there will be portaloos and parking to start with.

“We have plans to add a second place for classes plus maybe a café and toilet block.”

Ideally the Big Top would be sited between Cairns and Smithfield.

“We need some exposure. A lot of people don’t even know there is a circus school in Cairns.”

The school is looking to raise $6000 to truck the tent to Cairns as well as finding a place to put it.

If anyone can help please call CYCAS Circus on 1800 464995 or contact Patti or CYCAS president Simon Frost on the school’s Facebook page or email [email protected]