A circus in Johannesburg, South Africa, is offering job opportunities and training to young people from under-resourced communities. The initiative helps participants turn their talents into professional skills and paid work in a country where youth unemployment is a major issue. One performer, Brian Ngobese, who grew up in the impoverished Alexandra township, said the circus has given him a stage, a livelihood, and a way to turn his talent into work. He said the program aims to show people that they can make it out of the township. Alexandra is one of Johannesburg’s most densely populated townships, marked by high poverty and unemployment despite being just a few kilometers from Sandton, a major financial district. For many young South Africans, missing out on training opportunities often means spending years on the fringes of the labor market. According to Statistics South Africa, unemployment among 18 to 34-year-old South Africans was about 45% in 2025. The program, organized by Michelle Fok, is designed to create pathways into professional circus to help jobless young people. Performers train for years to build the strength, flexibility, and discipline needed to work professionally. Some become instructors, while others take paid work with production companies or The Cirk, a professional Johannesburg circus company. The program is designed to sustain itself through training, performances, and other circus work rather than relying entirely on outside funding. Ngobese’s older brother first introduced him to South African street and social dancing. He later moved into contemporary, hip-hop, and other styles, building on a love of performing that began in childhood. He found circus almost by accident after auditioning as a dancer for a Joburg Theatre production in 2019. What began as a short job became a career when The Cirk invited him to stay and train. Ngobese received support for training and transportation through Jozi Circus School’s youth development program. The school partners with The Cirk, where he now works. He said circus brought him together with Zenzele Letsoela, a fellow dancer from Alexandra. Letsoela, 38, trained in ballet and pantsula, a fast-paced South African township dance style. Moving into aerial acrobatics brought an unexpected challenge: he is terrified of heights. He said he has learned to work around his fear of heights. Another performer, Megan Nielsen, 22, performs a routine where she hangs by her hair. She said when she started, she literally cried, not because of the pain, but because of how much tension it released afterward. Her mother is proud but refuses to watch. The program cannot accommodate everyone who wants to join. It can only fully support four participants a year. Co-founder Orlando Vargas said the program grew out of a need to develop performers in a country with relatively few opportunities for formal circus training.