the trustees

XANTHE NAYLOR
Born in Dunedin, New Zealand Xanthe is an artist and fashion designer, but her true passion lies in circus performance, festival organisation and supporting communities. Practising circus and flow arts since 2009, she rapidly became involved in organising Circulation Festival and has been the Director since 2013. Xanthe has also been involved in performance and organisation for many other festivals such as, Luminate (NZ), Kiwiburn & Southern Smoulder (NZ), Spun Out (Perth), Objectify (Queensland), Modifyre (Queensland), Dunedin Winter Solstice (NZ) and Twisted Frequency (NZ).
As a performance artist her skills lie in a range of flow arts, such as; Poi, Poi Juggling, Hoop, Fans, Dragon and more. She was has been performing since 2010 for companies such as; Highly Flammable and Fire Bugs. She has performed in the Dunedin Fringe Festival, and with Feral Grace many times in their cabaret show Lads on Tour, as well and co producing and performing in many other small events around New Zealand. She has traveled to Australia to perform with the likes of Brett Star and Tim Goddard. She actively acts to strengthen the relations between New Zealand and Australia's circus and flow art scenes.
Xanthes passion lies in producing events such as Circulation and Under the Spinfluence. She believes events like these bring communities together, connecting people from all around the world by providing a space for them to gather, learn and share. Sharing food, tricks, skills and music with each other creates a combined joyful experience that people can share with old and new friends. Xanthe believes these experiences create positive growth and help people understand themselves and also help others to do so too.
Born in Dunedin, New Zealand Xanthe is an artist and fashion designer, but her true passion lies in circus performance, festival organisation and supporting communities. Practising circus and flow arts since 2009, she rapidly became involved in organising Circulation Festival and has been the Director since 2013. Xanthe has also been involved in performance and organisation for many other festivals such as, Luminate (NZ), Kiwiburn & Southern Smoulder (NZ), Spun Out (Perth), Objectify (Queensland), Modifyre (Queensland), Dunedin Winter Solstice (NZ) and Twisted Frequency (NZ).
As a performance artist her skills lie in a range of flow arts, such as; Poi, Poi Juggling, Hoop, Fans, Dragon and more. She was has been performing since 2010 for companies such as; Highly Flammable and Fire Bugs. She has performed in the Dunedin Fringe Festival, and with Feral Grace many times in their cabaret show Lads on Tour, as well and co producing and performing in many other small events around New Zealand. She has traveled to Australia to perform with the likes of Brett Star and Tim Goddard. She actively acts to strengthen the relations between New Zealand and Australia's circus and flow art scenes.
Xanthes passion lies in producing events such as Circulation and Under the Spinfluence. She believes events like these bring communities together, connecting people from all around the world by providing a space for them to gather, learn and share. Sharing food, tricks, skills and music with each other creates a combined joyful experience that people can share with old and new friends. Xanthe believes these experiences create positive growth and help people understand themselves and also help others to do so too.

TANIA WHETU BRACEY-BROWN
Tania grew up in Dunedin and joined the Circus Club at Otago University and began managing circus events in 2010. Since then, ze has developed as a performance artist, toured and taught circus skills across Aotearoa and Australia with the Wandering Circus, and managed public art projects and community events.
Ze is now the Kumarani Productions Trust Manager, a community circus based in Northland. Ze loves bringing people together at events and facilitating from behind the scenes as well as on the stage!
Tania is passionate about the benefits of circus and creative arts and their role in holistic wellbeing. Through zir work with Circus Kumarani and CACTNZ they bring opportunities to communities across Aotearoa.
Tania grew up in Dunedin and joined the Circus Club at Otago University and began managing circus events in 2010. Since then, ze has developed as a performance artist, toured and taught circus skills across Aotearoa and Australia with the Wandering Circus, and managed public art projects and community events.
Ze is now the Kumarani Productions Trust Manager, a community circus based in Northland. Ze loves bringing people together at events and facilitating from behind the scenes as well as on the stage!
Tania is passionate about the benefits of circus and creative arts and their role in holistic wellbeing. Through zir work with Circus Kumarani and CACTNZ they bring opportunities to communities across Aotearoa.

LAUREN DANCE
Born in Waikao New Zealand Lauren is an artist, performer and events coordinator now based in Dunedin. Her passions surround fire performances, charity work and festival coordinating. Since joining the fire and flow arts community in November 2018 circus and flow arts has consumed her life in the most positive ways possible.
As a fire performer her main skill sets lay in fire eating, dragon staff and poi. Since beginning performing in November last year she has travelled up and down New Zealand performing at several festivals and corporate events across the country. Over summer 2018/2019 she travelled alongside the wandering circus nz tour absorbing as much skill and inspiration before she joined Elder Flame summer tour performing at festivals such as Twisted frequency, Cymatics Luminate and more.
Since the beginning of 2019 she has focused her passions on opening Flow State productions alongside Tania, getting involved with cactnz and the dissolving herself into the wider flow community of New Zealand. Lauren has contributed as a coordinator in several events such as DFCC annual retreat, autumn arena and Oamaru fire and steam festival since the short period of time she has been in the community.
Lauren believes the fire community has shaped her life and she wouldn’t change it for anything, in her spare time you will find her outside spinning or inside working. She aims to use her qualifications and passion for the community of circus and flow arts to contribute as much as possible.
Born in Waikao New Zealand Lauren is an artist, performer and events coordinator now based in Dunedin. Her passions surround fire performances, charity work and festival coordinating. Since joining the fire and flow arts community in November 2018 circus and flow arts has consumed her life in the most positive ways possible.
As a fire performer her main skill sets lay in fire eating, dragon staff and poi. Since beginning performing in November last year she has travelled up and down New Zealand performing at several festivals and corporate events across the country. Over summer 2018/2019 she travelled alongside the wandering circus nz tour absorbing as much skill and inspiration before she joined Elder Flame summer tour performing at festivals such as Twisted frequency, Cymatics Luminate and more.
Since the beginning of 2019 she has focused her passions on opening Flow State productions alongside Tania, getting involved with cactnz and the dissolving herself into the wider flow community of New Zealand. Lauren has contributed as a coordinator in several events such as DFCC annual retreat, autumn arena and Oamaru fire and steam festival since the short period of time she has been in the community.
Lauren believes the fire community has shaped her life and she wouldn’t change it for anything, in her spare time you will find her outside spinning or inside working. She aims to use her qualifications and passion for the community of circus and flow arts to contribute as much as possible.
Past Trustees & founders
Claire 'frenchy' french

Frenchy - Miss Claire French - Originally from Manchester in the UK, is an international Fire and LED Performer, Director and Producer, Choreographer, Event Organiser, Youth Worker, Workshop Leader, Hoop Dance and Chakradance Teacher, Hoop Maker, Community Artist, Street Performer, Interactive Stilt Walker and Arts Practitioner with over 20 years experience of performing and running events and working with hard to reach young people in social services and 12 years experience of Circus, Fire Arts and Manipulation.
Frenchy has travelled the world for her work including the UK, Europe, the USA, New Zealand and Australia. Contracts have included Festa del Fuoco (international fire festival in Italy), Circulation (New Zealand circus festival), Glastonbury Festival (biggest UK arts and culture festival), The Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland - largest arts festival in the world), and General Manager of The Wellington Circus Trust (New Zealand's biggest circus school).
Frenchy is a contemporary hoop and fire dancer whose style uses mixed pace manipulation. It's a unique, positive, characterised blend of energy, flow and tech and smiles! She is based in Wanaka, New Zealand.
Frenchy has travelled the world for her work including the UK, Europe, the USA, New Zealand and Australia. Contracts have included Festa del Fuoco (international fire festival in Italy), Circulation (New Zealand circus festival), Glastonbury Festival (biggest UK arts and culture festival), The Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland - largest arts festival in the world), and General Manager of The Wellington Circus Trust (New Zealand's biggest circus school).
Frenchy is a contemporary hoop and fire dancer whose style uses mixed pace manipulation. It's a unique, positive, characterised blend of energy, flow and tech and smiles! She is based in Wanaka, New Zealand.
Emma Necus

Emma moved over from the UK to New Zealand in 2007 and had a fun filled 8 years there. She recently hopped over the water to Brisbane, Australia and is looking forward some exciting collaborations. Leaving a little bit of a heart at home in Aotearoa, she will continuing support NZ projects also. Emma currently works as Speech-Language Therapist specialising in infants and children with feeding difficulties and developmental disabilities.
Emma has been performing for over 13 years, with a focus on fire and group performances. She has both performed in and co-ordinated a range of shows of varying sizes in New Zealand, Australia and the UK including community and private performances with poi, fans and stilts. This has included Co-Coordinating The Juggle Poi Toy zone at Luminate 2013, Parihaka, Cannan Downs and Taranaki Festival of Lights. She was also one of the organising crew for Kiwiburn 2011 and 2012, New Zealands' regional Burning Man event.
Emma is passionate about community and supporting local home grown events and artists. She values learning and developing new skills, and facilitating others to do the same. Emma sees circus and arts as a medium which can be accessed by those of all ages and abilities, and can support development and growth, both physically and mentally. Emma has a particular interest in outreaching to people with physical and cognitive needs, by creating an inclusive community for all to participate and share in.
Emma has been performing for over 13 years, with a focus on fire and group performances. She has both performed in and co-ordinated a range of shows of varying sizes in New Zealand, Australia and the UK including community and private performances with poi, fans and stilts. This has included Co-Coordinating The Juggle Poi Toy zone at Luminate 2013, Parihaka, Cannan Downs and Taranaki Festival of Lights. She was also one of the organising crew for Kiwiburn 2011 and 2012, New Zealands' regional Burning Man event.
Emma is passionate about community and supporting local home grown events and artists. She values learning and developing new skills, and facilitating others to do the same. Emma sees circus and arts as a medium which can be accessed by those of all ages and abilities, and can support development and growth, both physically and mentally. Emma has a particular interest in outreaching to people with physical and cognitive needs, by creating an inclusive community for all to participate and share in.

ROHANA WEAVER
Rohana Weaver helped found CACTNZ with Emma and Clare in 2012. Rohana has a background in arts and has created sculptures, installations and scenography for festivals and events in Italy, Australia and throughout NZ.
She also worked as an art tutor for adults with intellectual disabilities and in other support work roles. For many years Rohana shared her love of circus, fire, and performance with the wider community and increased access to the circus arts through the social circus projects and community festivals that CACTNZ supports . She is currently training as an Occupational Therapist.
Rohana Weaver helped found CACTNZ with Emma and Clare in 2012. Rohana has a background in arts and has created sculptures, installations and scenography for festivals and events in Italy, Australia and throughout NZ.
She also worked as an art tutor for adults with intellectual disabilities and in other support work roles. For many years Rohana shared her love of circus, fire, and performance with the wider community and increased access to the circus arts through the social circus projects and community festivals that CACTNZ supports . She is currently training as an Occupational Therapist.