Flying Fruit Fly Circus has announced a new partnership with Circus in Yackandandah from 2018.

The circus schools will collaborate to enhance the recreational arts programs being offered in both venues in circus, dance and drama.

Flying Fruit Fly Circus trainers will bring their specialist skills to Yackandandah to coach alongside circus professionals Xavier and Zoe Pinard.

Circus Yackandandah will continue to offer circus classes for children aged above 3 and add new classes on Saturdays.

Chelsea Skilton’s dance classes will cover preschool aged children up to 12-year-olds.

Skilton has been teaching dance for more than a decade to students of all ages and abilities in Wodonga, Beechworth, Corryong and Yackandandah. 

Brendan Hogan will offer drama classes for children aged 9 to 12 for the first time at Yackandandah.

Circus in Yackandandah director Zoe Pinard said she looked forward to the creative partnership with the Fruit Flies.

Having founded Circus in Yackandandah five years ago with her French-born husband Xavier, Ms Pinard said the school had gone from strength to strength.

She said it had grown from 70 students in the first year to 130 this year.

“In recognising that circus training allows for improved concentration in school, greater teamwork skills and a sense of belonging – a key area of focus will be creating programs which are accessible for schools in the North East,” she said. 

“I’m grateful to have the support of the amazing Flying Fruit Fly Circus staff to offer more arts programs in our community.

“I’m really looking forward to offering more arts programs – for children aged 3 to adults – to the community.

“I’m also looking forward to getting our programs out into the schools.”

Yackandandah-raised Ms Pinard trained with the Fruit Flies for nine years before a 20-year circus career.

Flying Fruit Fly Circus executive director Richard Hull welcomed the partnership with Circus in Yackandandah. 

“It is an exciting new innovation for us, growing our community reach and increasing participation in our programs,” he said.

“Zoe and Xavier have built a beautiful business in Yack and we look forward to supporting them to achieve further success in the community.”

With an international reputation for excellence in training, creating and touring circus shows, the Fruit Flies will celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2019.