Saskia van Rensburg is the youngest daughter of Brent and Laurence, the Founders of Zip Zap Circus. Saskia spent the first 18 years of her life training, performing and coaching at Zip Zap. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in Political Science and a Master’s in Human Rights, she now works as a freelance Business & Social Impact Consultant. She is an avid trail runner, and soon-to-be yoga instructor. This is her tribute to The Zip Zap Dome.
The Zip Zap Dome, an iconic circus tent in the heart of Cape Town, has taken its final bow. After 17 years of standing strong and tall, the Dome – where so many of us spent countless hours learning, working and performing together, is no longer. This is not the end of Zip Zap; it would take a lot more to stop the spirit of this place. While the Dome’s removal undoubtedly marks the end of an era, it also offers Zip Zap a new beginning, as it is shaping the circus’s trajectory moving forward.
Before we look forward, however, I would like to take a moment to reflect on these 17 years, remembering the individual and societal significance of the Zip Zap Dome and all it brought to Cape Town’s arts and culture scene, as well as to the kids who grew up in it and, what better time to do so, than in the midst of Heritage Month, a time that showcases and celebrates the richness of South Africa.
Thanks to my Mom and Dad, I was born and bred in the circus. The Dome was the place and space I found myself most at home in – and I mean this both physically and figuratively. Zip Zap acquired the Dome in 2008, when I was 10 years old, and for the next decade – arguably the most formative years of a young person’s life. I spent more time in it than I can remember. Most afternoons after school, every weekend, and throughout school holidays, I would be at the Dome. But, I wasn’t there alone.
There, I trained with other Zip Zappers, who became my best friends, and these best friends quickly became my brothers and sisters. We refined our acrobatic skills, deepened our passion for the circus arts, and formed bonds unbreakable.
In all honesty, the Dome was not perfect. In winter, we would freeze, and in summer, we would sweat. To put on a show, we would have to clear out all the training equipment, set up seating & the stage, perform the show, and then put it all back again, only to do it all again the following weekend. But we would not trade it for the world. While the Dome may not have been perfect, and boy did we work hard there, it was everything we needed as youth in South Africa: a safe place for self-expression, an opportunity to learn incredible, employable skills and showcase them on stage, a home, a family, and a microcosm of the Rainbow Nation.
Our Dome was our home. A space where we could come together, from the most contrasting of backgrounds, and find equal footing, unconditional acceptance and love. A place where inclusion and celebration of everyone were the standard. But do not just take my word for it, here’s what my fellow Zip Zappers had to say about their time at the Dome, after I called them up for some input into this blog:
Jacobus (lovingly known as Trompie), who has been like an older brother to me since he joined Zip Zap in 2009, said: “For me, it was magical – from the very first time I walked in. It was a place that brought everyone together.”
Annella, who started at Zip Zap as a little girl and as one of my students (who soon far surpassed me with her trapeze skills), told me: “The Dome felt like a second home to me. Once I went inside, I never wanted to leave”.
Vuyani (also known as Dovi), a mesmerising acrobat & juggler who started his circus career at Zip Zap and who is now travelling the world as a professional circus artist, responded to my question by saying: “Every time I would leave the Dome, I was always excited to come back the next day, and train more.” Vuyani continued by referring to one of his role models in the circus: “My favourite memory at the Dome was doing a show with Bob. Bob’s full name is Siyabonga, one of Zip Zap’s first students, and now a Lead Instructor and Coordinator. Vuyani goes on to say, “He’s the reason I did circus, and getting to share the stage with him was the best feeling.”
Jemma, my former trapeze partner of 10 years and circus sister for life, reminisced about her favourite memory at the Dome, which was when we were waiting backstage during a show. She said, “We could hear the audience cheering, and the music of the acts performing onstage – it was one of my happiest moments. We would sit together, quietly chatting, giggling and preparing for our time on stage.” Jemma also captured a feeling I often think about but have never quite been able to articulate. She said, “While performing was amazing, it was all the little moments in between that mattered. We were growing up together.”
Everyone I speak to echoes these sentiments about our shared experience at the Dome. It was a home for our growing circus family, a multicultural, vibrant, and empowered collective of young people developing together under the guidance and care of a passionate circus team.
Before I end this walk down memory lane, I want to reflect on some undeniable facts and statistics from the 17 years of the Zip Zap Dome in Cape Town, South Africa.The Dome gave us a space to make magic with artists who have contributed largely to South Africa’s heritage; such as Al Bairre, The Parlotones, Freshlyground and many more. What a joy it has been to weave circus into the history and heritage of South Africa with such iconic names on our stage in our beloved Dome.
In total, just over 147,500 people passed through our doors. Of this, 27,500 were students who received circus lessons entirely free of charge, and 120,000 were audience members who got their share of circus magic from the shows we put together. But these are more than just numbers – these are human hearts and minds that were impacted in beautiful and indelible ways, through the magic and love of the circus.
This was all made possible by our Dome, sweet Dome, to whom we thank and wish farewell. The Dome has come down but our dreams keep rising, in a different space and with the same vibrancy, energy and always proudly South African.
Read more about Zip Zap here, watch an upcoming show here, or get involved here.
