About Us

RUCCIS began as a new circus program at the beginning of 2006, with campuses in Kilsyth. Our focus is our training programs, but RUCCIS performers and coaches also venture out to share our circus passion at festivals and within school programs.

The RUCCIS team:

Geoff Dunstan is a seasoned circus performer and coach, having worked with many nationally known performance art groups, including Circus Oz, The National Institute of Circus Arts, Snuff Puppets, and The Rock’n’Roll Circus. He is co-founder of Dislocate Acrobatic Theatre, which has performed across Australia and internationally. Geoff specialises in cloudswing, tumbling and acrobalance.

Anna Brooks was primary school teacher in the Dandenong Ranges for 6 years prior to co-founding RUCCIS. Her sporting background was in coaching rhythmic gymnastics and sports acrobatics, before discovering the circus arts as an adult. In 2004-2005 she was co-founder, manager and lead coach of Coonara Community Circus. In 2006 she coached with Circus Oz and was commissioned to write a circus arts program for Western Australian Schools. Anna specialises in hoop manipulation, stilts and acrobalance.

Marnie Statkus has been performing for as long as she can remember! Before RUCCIS, she taught students in the northern and outer eastern suburbs in local schools and within a number of after school clubs. During 2004-2005 Marnie co-managed and coached Coonara Community Circus with Anna. She has also trained in acting, stunt work, springboard diving and Capoeira. Marnie specialises in trapeze, staff and poi twirling, devil sticks, and the other manipulation arts.

Luth Wolff started learning circus at age 6 and has been involved in youth circus ever since, training with the Crazy Coonara Circus, Coonara Community Circus, Pyrobats and RUCCIS. Luth performed with the professional acrobatics troupe "The Hectic Bros." from 2009-11, and now works with "Solid State Circus". In 2009 Luth became the first RUCCIS Administration Manager, passing that role to Catherine in 2011. Luth is now the Industry Liason for RUCCIS, keeping us connected to the wider circus community. Luth specialises in trapeze, acro and hoops.

Katherine Ellis trained in her teens with Cirkidz Youth Circus where she obtained the foundation of acrobatic skills for her career to come. She has worked with Magpie Theatre Company, Icarus stilt troup and is a founding member of Circus Monoxide. She has also worked with Rock'N'Roll Circus, Circus Oz and has toured kids show to Far North Qld with the Qld Arts Council.

She's trained in the Feldenkrais Method of movement and enjoys the joy that circus brings to children and adults in a community. Her areas of specialty are club juggling, tumbling/acro-balance, basic aerial and greeting people with that shining smile of hers.

We also have assistant and specialist coaches that work with us during the year, completing our coaching team across the circus spectrum!