By Wildhouse Circus and Point & Flex Circus 

Circus Arts | Self-esteem | Collaboration

The BOSS SQUAD Project is circus skill and creative development program combining discussion, physicality and performance, presented by Wildhouse Circus in collaboration with Point & Flex Circus. Designed to empower participants by creating a safe space to develop awareness of touch, trust and consent while exploring firm and flexible boundaries through the medium of circus. Led by all-female artists, BOSS SQUAD stands for empowering young people and women to feel confident and capable in their abilities. 

Presented as a series of workshops including discussions of bullying, female empowerment and stereotypes as well as contemporary circus styles and dramatic techniques. The physical workshops introduce participants to new ways of storytelling, with physical theatre, dance and circus. The artform of circus creates a safe forum for conversations around trust, touch and consent as the physical nature of circus, and its reliance on physical contact, means it is uniquely placed for these conversations and concepts. 

Culminating in a final performance outcome, participants have the opportunity to present work to an audience, allowing them to show the skills they’ve learnt over the day, as well explore big ideas, difficult topics and start a conversation about something that may have been too challenging otherwise. 

The BOSS SQUAD Performance was developed by six young (22 – 26 years old) female professional circus artists, all members of community youth circus’ and who are now coaches in addition to performing artists. The women created BOSS SQUAD as a love letter to their teenage selves and the teenagers today. BOSS SQUAD is everything a circus show is assumed to be, fun, energetic and exciting. But is also boldly political and is a celebration of what women can achieve, and how they can support each other in even the boldest of ventures. 

The BOSS SQUAD Project allows these artists to teach, mentor and perform in a way that creates a sustainable arts practice for the artists, and supports a deeper community engagement with students. The BOSS SQUAD Project can be extended to be delivered over a week or through multiple weeks depending on the number of students and scale of the presentation.  

When asked something they learned while participating in The BOSS SQUAD Project, previous participants answered: “To always be a boss and give everything your best go, that just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I can’t do everything I wanna do”. 83% of parents/caregivers said they saw a positive change in their child during The Project and 100% felt extremely positive about their child’s participation in The BOSS SQUAD Project. 

Please note: Councils, Venues and Community Presenters are welcome to book through the Creative Learning Program. Contact the team at [email protected] to confirm the program fee.