The Dust Palace Youth classes and programmes are for young people aged
7 - 18 years.
We provide a fun, non-competitive and safe environment where young people can improve their coordination, confidence, and physical fitness. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and encourage creativity and teamwork which lead to our youth students building strong friendships and supporting one another.
Classes cover a range of aerial and ground based disciplines ensuring there is something for everyone.
For any queries before you book your classes, please get in touch at kiaora@thedustpalace.co.nz
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Youth Beginners
(7-12yrs)
Youth Intermediate
(7-12yrs)
with Chloe Ross
Youth Circus classes are a fun and expressive place to learn fundamental circus skills. The beginners class focuses on exploration and play based learning of aerial circus. Whilst the Intermediate class develops and extends these skills for student already attending in previous terms. Discipline will include aerial silks, lyra, hammock and trapeze.
Tuesdays & Thursdays Beginners 4:15 - 5:30pm
Saturdays Intermediate 10.00 - 11.15am
Juggling and Objects
(7-10yrs & 11-15yrs)
Juggling and Objects with Mark Williams includes learning new patterns, and gain the confidence to push your juggling further in disciplines such as balls, clubs, rings, flowersticks, diabolo and unicycling.
Wednesdays 3:30 - 4:25pm 11-15yrs
Wednesdays 4:30 - 5:30pm 7-10yrs
Mime and Physical Character
With Zoe Higgins, you’ll learn mime and physical theatre techniques to build core skills of precision, articulation, and rhythm, and develop your understanding of how movement makes meaning. This is a fun, open-level class for anyone who wants to expand their toolbox of performance techniques for circus, theatre, and clown.
Wednesday 5.45 - 7.00pm
Teens Next Steps
Mondays 4:15 - 5:30pm with Jane Mieka
Teens Aerial Circus Next Steps is designed for young aerialists with a strong foundation who are ready to elevate their technique. Focus on your chosen apparatus while refining key skills and exploring new creative possibilities. This class offers a supportive environment for teens to grow both technically and artistically, pushing their limits while having fun.
Youth Drama
(7-10yrs & 11-15yrs)
Drama with Geoff Allen. Geoff has taught improv and script with Devonport Drama for 23 years. Classes focus on self-awareness, working with others, storytelling and the physical confidence to stand tall. Geoff’s classes are fast moving and energetic.
There are two classes for the different age groups.
*Term 2 2026 a teen class will be added.
Wednesdays 3:30 - 4:25pm 7-10yrs
Wednesdays 4:30 - 5:30pm 11-15yrs
YOUTH CLASS TERM DATES 2026
Term 1 2026 - 10 Weeks
Tuesday 27th January - Thurs 2nd February
No classes on Monday 26th January, (Auckland Anniversary) and on Saturday 4th April (Easter)
Term 2 2026 - 10 Weeks
Monday 20th April - Saturday 4th July.
No class Monday 27th April (Anzac Day) and on 1st June (King’s Birthday)
YOUTH CLASS PRICES
Aerial Classes (10 x 1hr 15min classes)
1x Class per week: $305.00 per term
Ground Based Classes (10 x 1hr 15min classes)
1x Class per week: $225.00 per term
Casual Rate
Casual One Off rate: $36.00 per aerial class / $30.00 per ground class.
Te Māwhaiwhai Youth Company
If you’re wanting to really get involved, up your circus quantity and develop a wide range of creative skills, join our awesome circus youth company Te Māwhaiwhai!
Entry is by application only.