The Story

The complexity, diversity and texture of this company is reflected in the strange and accidental meeting of the two founding members Natalie Roberts and Orlando Vargas. In 2004 both Natalie and Orlando participated in a cultural exchange programme and served as delegates at the Oxfam International Youth Parliament (OIYP). Natalie a Contemporary African Dancer, originally from a farming community outside Cape Town, South Africa and Orlando, a Circus Artist from Chile. Who would have guessed that this meeting in the canteen of a backpackers in Sidney, Australia would result in the exchange of wedding vows and the creation of this new vibrant company SircuSynergy. After the completion of the OIYP 2004 in Sydney Australia, Natalie and Orlando returned to their respective countries. Before long they were reunited, when Natalie went to Chile to work alongside Orlando with street children in Santiago. During this time a complex love triangle developed between Natalie and Orlando, dance and circus art. It is this romance that forms the aesthetic and conceptual heart of SircuSynergy. This however was only the start of a journey that would see Orlando and Natalie travelling extensively and have them interact with and participate in a multiplicity of artists and art forms. Through many trails and tribulations moments of ecstasy and celebration SircuSynergy was nourished and prepared for this, its introduction to the world. Natalie and Orlando describe their brainchild best as follows: “We decided to create our company after many years of working with different companies, artists and art forms. After participating in many shows national and international while gathering knowledge and skill of dance and circus throughout the years and working under the guidance of visionary mentors we have decided to finally strike it out on our own. We are now pursuing the freedom to work with our own ideas, concepts and visions to create something that is truly our own and reflects who we are and where we come from. SircuSynergy is the pursuit of a pure and unique synergy between circus, dance and theatre, thus producing new works and a new aesthetic. One thing that gives us a strong advantage over other artists is that we are not only very creative, but have technical know-how to do our own rigging and set up and design. With this new found freedom we want to keep on exploring by working with as many different companies as possible, for short or long term engagements. Apart from our artistic work we want to remain committed to our sense of social through the presentation of workshops and teambuilding programmes. But above all else we remain committed to our passions.”