From School to Circus: Woman’s Unusual Career Path & Australia’s Youth Circus

Mannie Kaydos-Nitis is helping redefine perceptions of circus arts in Australia, having spent the last 16 years as a performer and trainer after running away to join the circus at age 16. She now holds roles at Circus Centre Melbourne, coordinating public programs and teaching a range of circus disciplines.

Kaydos-Nitis’s journey began with a childhood interest in circus as an after-school activity. “It was probably when I was about 12 or 13 that I started really taking more of an interest in it,” she told nine.com.au. “I was like, ‘this is really fun, and I really enjoy this more than school and other things’.” She began teaching at 14, and soon after, auditioned for and was accepted into Flying Fruit Circus, Australia’s leading youth circus, where she continued her training while completing her secondary education.

Flying Fruit Circus offered Kaydos-Nitis the opportunity to balance schooling with professional circus performance. She emerged as an acrobat and aerialist, launching a career that has taken her around the world.

Returning to her roots, Kaydos-Nitis now works at Circus Centre Melbourne, a new initiative from the team behind Flying Fruit Circus. In her dual role, she coordinates public programs and trains students of all ages in skills ranging from acrobatics and juggling to aerial silks and trapeze. “I’m trained as an acrobat and an aerialist,” she explained. “Within that, for all of our classes that we offer here at Circus Centre Melbourne, I can teach everything up to an intermediate level.”

Despite the growing popularity of contemporary circus, Kaydos-Nitis acknowledges a lingering stereotype. “Circus was always an art form that was pushed aside and a little bit different and wacky. It’s still there, but as the world has evolved, so has circus,” she said. She emphasizes that modern circus is a legitimate art form, attracting creative individuals and challenging conventional expectations.

Circa, a contemporary circus company, featured Kaydos-Nitis in their 2025 program, alongside other performers including Sophia Blyth, Miku Ferguson, and Mia Hughes. Circa Zoo, a performance program for young people, recently presented “Undergrowth,” a new function created by Alex Mizzen, Anna Murray, and Kaydos-Nitis, alongside the Circa Zoo Ensemble. The production, performed at the Judith Wright Arts Centre Theatre in December, explored the connection between humans and nature through acrobatic feats. Yeronga State High School students also contributed a performance as a curtain raiser to “Undergrowth.”

Circa Zoo’s “Undergrowth” featured 16 young performers and was inspired by patterns and majesty of the natural world. Tickets for the performances ranged from $16.50 to $27.50, with free admission for children under 5 using the code ‘UNDER5’ at checkout.