Meet the '2020 Circus Futures' Panel Curator, Zebastian Hunter

Zebastian's artistic curiosity extends well beyond the director's chair, and he is joining us to lead the Circus Futures Panel Discussions, dialogues generating new thinking and making in the circus form.

Here is some info about his work and career -

…blew me away [with] scenes suffused by the theatricality, expressiveness and feeling of elite dance theatre… ensemble acrobatics is blended with dizzying aerial display and other feats of dexterity – diablo, juggling, Russian bar and roue Cyr, among others – that often swing, pendulum-like, between synchronicity and chaos, tribalism and individuality, collaboration and competitiveness. Sydney Morning Herald

Circus director Zebastian Hunter began his career as an elite circus artist appearing in performances all over the world in circus companies, festivals, cabarets, TV, Gala events, the 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and from 2009-2015 he performed as a featured soloist in Cirque Du Soleil's Alegria and Quidam.

Committed to study Zebastian has trained at the Fruit Fly Circus, the National Circus School of Montreal, at UNISA (Master of Arts and Cultural Management), and NIDA (Master of Fine Arts-Directing).

In 2016 he joined NICA as the Head of Performance Studies. Here he directed The Odyssey, Fresh Recruits, Precipice, Dispersion, Slumber Party, Eurydike & Orpheus (NICA/NIDA) and Le Sacré (NICA/Australian Ballet School). Independent directing credits include Hawker’s Brewery Circus, the Chadstone Centre Christmas Show, Empty Bodies (Provocaré) and Perpetual Frustration Machine. He has attended conferences in Montreal, Kiev and Shanghai, created with the Beijing International Arts School and collaborates annually for Arts8.

Zebastian assumes many other roles within the arts including: circus director (Barnum musical), dramaturg (One Fell Swoop and Dontbedown Productions), movement director (Still Point Turning), assistant circus director for the Ambani Wedding (Anystage Productions) and casting consultant (Cirque Du Soleil).

Excerpts from one of Zeb’s works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIxy1GLBeck

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