More About Antonella
As Senior Artistic Associate for Circus Oz, from 2015-2019 Antonella was responsible for circus artform development and sector support. During that time, she successfully assisted small companies with their grant applications, and initiated and secured funding for a series of Circus Oz sector initiatives including:
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Sidesault-at-the-Melba, Australia’s only experimental circus festival;
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Sidesault-in-Residence, a series of creative collaborations between Circus Oz and several Australian small companies including Chelsea McGuffin’s Company 2, The Skye Gellman Ensemble and Gravity Dolls;
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Fibonacci Australia, a creative partnership between Circus Oz and Canada’s The 7 Fingers
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The Strong Women Masterclasses, a national professional development program for emerging women circus artists and directors.
From 2002 to 2015, as a Circus Oz performer, assistant director and Artistic Associate, Antonella provided dramaturgical input and co-created many extraordinary Circus Oz shows which toured the globe, and were often celebrated for their uniquely celebratory yet satirical version of the form. “Who knew circus cold be like this?” (New York Times).
From 1995-2001, Antonella was founding Artistic Director of Vulcana Women’s Circus, where she produced and directed several critically acclaimed shows, and initiated several innovative social circus programs. From the initial show, Vulcana was celebrated for its entertaining feminist community shows, which were described as “sophisticated, campy, funny, glamorous, musical and awesomely skilled ... pure heaven from go to whoa” (The Australian), “a blend of cheeky humour, quirky theatrics, mood music and, of course, dazzling skills … soaring tricks, fiery grace and wicked humour … a testimony to the surprising talents people can find within themselves” (Courier Mail), and “comic, awesome and exciting” (Adelaide Advertiser). The company's innovative social circus programs included collaborations with a series of Women’s Health services working within marginalised communities. Vulcana also launched a children’s circus program which eventually became Brisbane’s Flipside Circus.
In 1986 Antonella co-founded the company now known as Circa, where she was a performer and administrator. During this time, in addition to touring annually throughout Queensland, she was responsible for co-designing a series of innovative social circus programs with a variety of communities throughout Brisbane and Queensland, culminating in a community Festival “Circus On The River”. The Festival included performances from the John Oxley Detention Centre and the Brisbane Murrie Community School.
Antonella is also currently Course Convenor - History, culture and representation at the National Insitute of Circus Arts, a board member of The Circus Center, Addis Ababa, and a Circus Oz company member. She is also a volunteer for the Borderlands Cooperative, an organisation focussed on regenerative community development.
Selected Board and Committee Positions Previously Held:
Member, Circus Oz Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee (2010-2018)
Board Member, Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association (1999-2008; 2014-2017)
Committee Member, Catalyst Circus Festival (2015-2016)
Committee Member, Playlab (1999-2000)
