Spectacular and Intimate art. Made by us. For you.
Natural Wings is not your usual aerial dance company.
Our aim is to make our shows accessible to everyone, provide a positive experience in the arts, to inspire, to start conversations and get communities together under the setting sun to engage with our show and with one another.
Dawn Pascoe (the short hair one) is the founder and Artistic Director of Natural Wings, starting the company in 2005 after her degrees in Theatre Arts (WAAPA) and Circus (Circo Arts, New Zealand)
Ruth Battle-Wayre (the curly hair one) also has a degree in Circus/ Physical Theatre (Total Theatre) and became a partner in 2011.
We have never looked back.
We have toured the world and the outback alike, and also love performing in our home town of Perth.
Our first full length Aerial Dance show ‘Elements’ was nominated for Best Circus Show at Fringe World, received funding to be performed in the heart of Perth city to 2000 people per night and then went to Toronto to win the prestigious People’s Choice Award at Toronto Buskerfest - which is one of the largest Street Art festivals in the world. What a year! That was very special indeed.
Since then, we have produced numerous family friendly shows of varying themes, and won more awards along the way, such as :
Best WA Circus Show at Fringe World (twice), Best Solo Show at Wellington Fringe and Best Production Team at The Blue Room Theatre in Perth.
Other Career highlights include:
- Performing in a myriad of non traditional spaces on a self produced tour to the Gascoyne and Pilbara, engaging with local communities.
- Performing to 3000 people per night at Canberra’s Enlighten Festival
- Choreographing 6 aerialists, 30 metres above the ground for Joondalup Festival finale
- Performing in site specific, outback locations for Gascoyne in May
Our aim is to make our shows accessible to everyone, provide a positive experience in the arts, to inspire, to start conversations and get communities together under the setting sun to engage with our show and with one another.
Dawn Pascoe (the short hair one) is the founder and Artistic Director of Natural Wings, starting the company in 2005 after her degrees in Theatre Arts (WAAPA) and Circus (Circo Arts, New Zealand)
Ruth Battle-Wayre (the curly hair one) also has a degree in Circus/ Physical Theatre (Total Theatre) and became a partner in 2011.
We have never looked back.
We have toured the world and the outback alike, and also love performing in our home town of Perth.
Our first full length Aerial Dance show ‘Elements’ was nominated for Best Circus Show at Fringe World, received funding to be performed in the heart of Perth city to 2000 people per night and then went to Toronto to win the prestigious People’s Choice Award at Toronto Buskerfest - which is one of the largest Street Art festivals in the world. What a year! That was very special indeed.
Since then, we have produced numerous family friendly shows of varying themes, and won more awards along the way, such as :
Best WA Circus Show at Fringe World (twice), Best Solo Show at Wellington Fringe and Best Production Team at The Blue Room Theatre in Perth.
Other Career highlights include:
- Performing in a myriad of non traditional spaces on a self produced tour to the Gascoyne and Pilbara, engaging with local communities.
- Performing to 3000 people per night at Canberra’s Enlighten Festival
- Choreographing 6 aerialists, 30 metres above the ground for Joondalup Festival finale
- Performing in site specific, outback locations for Gascoyne in May
Reviews
from FESTIVAL ORGANISERS
Natural Wings show "Elements" took our festival by storm. We featured the act, in the very heart of the festival where it was able to draw record breaking crowds, with it's naturally great sight lines and the incredible skill of the performers. What was most exciting for me was to have such a unique, beautiful and artistic show featuring all female performers win the festival's "People's Choice Award"! Which just goes to show how well art can work on the street.
- Mackenzie Mouldron, Entertainment Director, Toronto Buskerfest
Elements was a beautiful show combining wind, water and sand with spectacular aerial acts and contemporary dance. Elements attracted approximately 2000 spectators on both nights and created a vibrancy amongst Forrest Place. The professionalism from Natural Wings performers and staff made the logistics of the event a breeze
- City of Perth event co-ordinator Hayley Boneham
from REVIEWERS
Natural Wings have developed their own magic that moves beyond circus skills and engages us in the intimate dialogue of contemporary dance. The choreography taps into experiences and feelings that lie in the spaces of our shared existence that are without words, beyond words and yet affect us deeply, more than the power of words... a blend of graceful strength, elegant movement, light-hearted interactions and infectious rhythms
- Australian Stage
Pascoe seemed to be the master of the trapeze. Rather than a demonstration of skill, she turned this into a pas de deux ballet showing manipulation and initiation of movement from both artist and apparatus. A clear relationship was formed with the trapeze, telling a story of power, strength, conflict and struggle but with sheer grace. The work contained wonderful connections and transitions with earth and air.
-Artshub
Movement is choreographed to be sometimes death-defying and sometimes enormously comical, but both are successfully directed to give the desired effect for that moment. Comic moments are punctuated by unsettling ones, making the experience not unlike an emotional roller coaster... intrigues, astounds and leaves you dizzy.
- Aussie Theatre
The act included some very comical scenes, horror and plenty of wow factors. There were times in the act when one wondered whether this athlete was magnetised. She just appeared to hang in space… The clowning is truly hilarious… A most enjoyable show, not simply acrobatics but good story line, acting and in several genres. Highly recommended for all of the family.
- Theatre ASN
from AUDIENCE MEMBERS
My friend and I saw your performance at Riverside Park in Bayswater yesterday. We just wanted to say how moved we were by your beautiful performance and how impressed we were with your skill and strength.
It was truly inspiring
-Donna and Grace
Elements is a beautiful and cohesive work which gently guides audiences through a full spectrum of emotion leaving them inspired and uplifted.
- Rebecca
I came across a Natural Wings show quite by accident, after heading into the Perth CBD one Friday night for a walk around with my 8 year old. I was blown away by it. It was acrobatics, gymnastics, theatre, art and awesome lighting all rolled into a very entertaining performance. The crowd loved it. As did my son. I was also so glad I had my camera with me that night.... they're awesome!
- Danny
A handful of Past Festivals include:
Enlighten Festival, Canberra
Perth Fashion Festival
Oslo Fashion Festival
Sirkus Landsbyen, Norway
Irish Aerial Dance fest, Ireland
World Busker Festival, Christchurch
World of Wearable Arts, Wellington
Freo Street Arts Festival
Summerset Arts Festival
G Fest, Geraldton
Joondalup Festival
Margaret River Wine Festival
Crab Fest, Mandurah
Perth Royal Show
Viva, Bunbury
Belmont City Fair
City of Perth Christmas Festival
South Perth Fiesta
City of Cockburn
City of Melville
City of Wanneroo
Toronto Buskerfest
Port Credit Buskerfest
Fringe World, Perth
and many, many, many more !
Natural Wings show "Elements" took our festival by storm. We featured the act, in the very heart of the festival where it was able to draw record breaking crowds, with it's naturally great sight lines and the incredible skill of the performers. What was most exciting for me was to have such a unique, beautiful and artistic show featuring all female performers win the festival's "People's Choice Award"! Which just goes to show how well art can work on the street.
- Mackenzie Mouldron, Entertainment Director, Toronto Buskerfest
Elements was a beautiful show combining wind, water and sand with spectacular aerial acts and contemporary dance. Elements attracted approximately 2000 spectators on both nights and created a vibrancy amongst Forrest Place. The professionalism from Natural Wings performers and staff made the logistics of the event a breeze
- City of Perth event co-ordinator Hayley Boneham
from REVIEWERS
Natural Wings have developed their own magic that moves beyond circus skills and engages us in the intimate dialogue of contemporary dance. The choreography taps into experiences and feelings that lie in the spaces of our shared existence that are without words, beyond words and yet affect us deeply, more than the power of words... a blend of graceful strength, elegant movement, light-hearted interactions and infectious rhythms
- Australian Stage
Pascoe seemed to be the master of the trapeze. Rather than a demonstration of skill, she turned this into a pas de deux ballet showing manipulation and initiation of movement from both artist and apparatus. A clear relationship was formed with the trapeze, telling a story of power, strength, conflict and struggle but with sheer grace. The work contained wonderful connections and transitions with earth and air.
-Artshub
Movement is choreographed to be sometimes death-defying and sometimes enormously comical, but both are successfully directed to give the desired effect for that moment. Comic moments are punctuated by unsettling ones, making the experience not unlike an emotional roller coaster... intrigues, astounds and leaves you dizzy.
- Aussie Theatre
The act included some very comical scenes, horror and plenty of wow factors. There were times in the act when one wondered whether this athlete was magnetised. She just appeared to hang in space… The clowning is truly hilarious… A most enjoyable show, not simply acrobatics but good story line, acting and in several genres. Highly recommended for all of the family.
- Theatre ASN
from AUDIENCE MEMBERS
My friend and I saw your performance at Riverside Park in Bayswater yesterday. We just wanted to say how moved we were by your beautiful performance and how impressed we were with your skill and strength.
It was truly inspiring
-Donna and Grace
Elements is a beautiful and cohesive work which gently guides audiences through a full spectrum of emotion leaving them inspired and uplifted.
- Rebecca
I came across a Natural Wings show quite by accident, after heading into the Perth CBD one Friday night for a walk around with my 8 year old. I was blown away by it. It was acrobatics, gymnastics, theatre, art and awesome lighting all rolled into a very entertaining performance. The crowd loved it. As did my son. I was also so glad I had my camera with me that night.... they're awesome!
- Danny
A handful of Past Festivals include:
Enlighten Festival, Canberra
Perth Fashion Festival
Oslo Fashion Festival
Sirkus Landsbyen, Norway
Irish Aerial Dance fest, Ireland
World Busker Festival, Christchurch
World of Wearable Arts, Wellington
Freo Street Arts Festival
Summerset Arts Festival
G Fest, Geraldton
Joondalup Festival
Margaret River Wine Festival
Crab Fest, Mandurah
Perth Royal Show
Viva, Bunbury
Belmont City Fair
City of Perth Christmas Festival
South Perth Fiesta
City of Cockburn
City of Melville
City of Wanneroo
Toronto Buskerfest
Port Credit Buskerfest
Fringe World, Perth
and many, many, many more !