Etha Struick is a Dutch circus artist, a coach, a prize winning circus choreographer and the founder of Nieuw Circus. She has worked for over 30 years in the circus industry after getting her start with the Osmani Sisters when she was still a teenager. Struick has had the good fortune to live the circus dream, traveling the world and touring with companies like Circus Oz and has seen the blossoming of ‘new circus’ alongside the traditional and she embraces the value of both in her work. Her dream continues, as she has made the transition from artist to coach and director, and is about to add book author to the title when she publishes her first book called Circus, A Practical Guide into the Technique and Approach, which is scheduled to be released in March 2019. We had the pleasure of having a quick talk with Struick about the influences and highlights of her career.

Your mentors? I have a few mentors! Jane Mullet of Circus Oz in Australia. She is the powerful female circus artist that introduced me to the modern circus. Cor van Velthoven discovered and nurtured my early circus talent and the De Osmani Sisters (two famous Dutch acrobats). They selected me for their professional training group and taught me their fine balance acrobatics, introduced me to their dance-like approach and also taught me all about circus as a profession. They taught me all about circus, both the art and the business side of it. ...