First steps on the way to the circus

Caitlyn Mitchell, 11, and Chloe Strydom, 5, learn hula hoop techniques. Photo / Richard Robinson

In New Zealand, boys grow up dreaming of becoming All Blacks, but Mongolia the dream is of becoming a circus star, says a former Mongolian State Circus performer who now calls New Zealand home.

To share the Mongolian dream with Kiwi kids, high-wire acrobat Erdenetsetseg Batsuuri has started a circus skills training school on Auckland's North Shore for children as young as four who may aspire to join the circus.

"In Mongolia, circus performer is a very well-respected profession, and many children also dream of joining the circus because it gives them a chance to see the world," Ms Batsuuri said.

Performers in Mongolia's national circus, established in 1940, enjoyed almost the same status as the All Blacks in New Zealand, and the good ones are often snapped up by international circus organisations like Cirque du Soleil, says Ms Batsuuri.

"But even if the children don't end up becoming performers, circus training is still a really fun way of keeping them fit, healthy and agile," she added.

Ms Batsuuri moved to New Zealand in 2004, and worked as a performer with the Webber Brothers Circus.

The idea of teaching circus skills to children came about when she was asked to train two children, Americus Wilson and Kiarnna Weber to perform on television for New Zealand's Got Talent and Disney Television.

"The children really enjoyed the experience, and I really enjoyed coaching them, so I decided then I should start a school to teach circus skills to other children," the 36-year-old said.

Going by her nickname, Mongolian Angel Tsegi, Ms Batsuuri last month started the classes teaching contortion, hand balancing, stretch and hula hoop in a church basement in Forrest Hill.

It has attracted about a dozen students, the youngest being five.

Desiree Naicker signed up her two daughters for the course because she thought the training was a "good extension" to the gymnastics her girls Megan, 11 and Tamsyn, 13, were doing.

"My daughters were looking at what else they can do to improve their gymnastics, and I thought why not circus training," said Mrs Naicker, a former gymnast from South Africa.

"It is physically demanding, but it really helps in overall fitness and is really fun."

Five-year-old Chloe Strydom, of Glenfield Primary, who tried a hula hoop session at Ms Batsuuri's class last week said it was "one of her dreams" to join the circus.

"It means I can be near the clowns and eat candies all the time," she said.