Texas (1999)
16 young Zip Zap participants travelled from Cape Town to Texas carrying more than juggling clubs and trapeze skills. We carried big dreams, nervous excitement, and the fearless spirit of a young circus school finding its wings. It was our third overseas tour, but our first step onto American soil, performing at the Houston International Festival. Downtown Houston closed for a city-wide celebration of music and art; parks became stages, and we performed three shows a day over two intense weekends. During the week, we shared workshops and performances at under-served schools, connecting across language and culture. Long rehearsals, sweat, laughter, and fierce focus shaped us. Houston marked a turning point and proof that Zip Zap could soar far beyond home.
Orlando (2000)
After the Texas tour, we headed to Orlando. Not just for the rides, but for the magic of performance. We walked into Cirque du Soleil’s world, watching La Nouba in person and feeling inspiration ripple through the group. Disney and Universal Studios’ energy was not just fun; it was an education in spectacle, timing, and wonder. For the kids who had worked so hard in Houston’s heat, it was a deep breath of possibility. They saw what art could look like, full-on production and daring. That mix of joy and aspiration stayed with us long after we travelled back home.
Washington D.C. The White House (Halloween 2016)
Being invited to the White House Halloween celebration by Barack and Michelle Obama was surreal and sacred. The Obamas opened the lawn for military families and their children in costume, with laughter echoing off the historic walls. Halloween at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a tradition of welcome and whimsy, inviting young guests and performers alike to trick-or-treat, dance, and enjoy community on the South Lawn. For Zip Zap, performing on that grass where history and joy met felt like a blessing and affirmation. To walk inside, feel the weight of the place, and perform for families gathered in that garden was deeply humbling and memorable.
Washington D.C. Kennedy Center, (2016)
At the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, we stepped into a revered temple of performance in the U.S. This is a place built to celebrate artistic brilliance and cultural exchange. Sharing a smaller theatre there with collaborators, including a one-legged powerhouse named Roya, was both intimate and validating. It reminded us that stages, big or small, can resonate profoundly when art is real and heartfelt. The Center’s legacy of diverse artistic programming set the frame for our work with a troupe from St. Louis, weaving our voices into that storied space. It was something big—quietly transformative.
Minneapolis, Children’s Theatre (2024)
Minneapolis Children’s Theatre welcomed us with warmth and genuine care. This regional home for family theatre, ranked among the top in the United States, champions plays that speak to all ages. Here, our performances weren’t a side-stage moment but part of a season where creativity and curiosity reign. The team looked after us, embraced our spirit, and audiences responded with pure, open-hearted joy. Negotiations to return with a newly grounded show are now part of the next chapter. Minneapolis wasn’t just another tour stop; it felt like a community recognising kindred souls.
New York, New Victory Theatre (2025)
Performing at the New Victory Theatre in New York was a dream quilted with history. Refurbished in 1995 as a premier family theatre on 42nd Street, this space has anchored the rebirth of live arts for young audiences in the heart of Times Square. For three weeks, our show stood beside Broadway giants such as Harry Potter, Aladdin, and The Lion King, and yet kept its own glow. Walking that stage felt like inheriting an artistic legacy and making room for our own. It wasn’t the finish line, but it was a milestone worth pausing for.
