Jasmine Straga

Jasmine is a creative director, producer, and advocate for the circus arts. Her career has taken her from performing on the street to international stages, then managing talent and advocating for cultural preservation.
Whether she's developing acts for stage, running grassroots social circus projects, or navigating international logistics, her true passion lies in protecting and growing the circus arts as a living cultural heritage.

Current Leadership & Board Positions

•Board of Directors - Federation Mondiale du Cirque (World Circus Federation) Under the presidency and patronage of H.S.H. Princess Stephanie of Monaco

•Founding Director - J.S. Creations

•Founding Director - Oceania Circus Guild

•Steering Committee & Founding Member - Global Alliance of Circus Schools

•Advisory Committee - Theatre Network Australia's CaPT (Circus & Physical Theatre Association)

Performance & Creative Direction

Jasmine started her performance journey on the streets of Sydney's Circular Quay. After training in dance, gymnastics, and theatre at the McDonald College of Performing Arts, she went on to tour the world as a contortionist, acrobat, aerialist, and dancer with shows like the Tihany Spectacular, Circo de los Hermanos Vazquez, Circo Bells, Cirque Sublime and Zero Gravity Circus.

Transitioning backstage, she opened Gala Entertainment Management in 2005. During her time living in Asia, she co-directed R Empire and Gala Entertainment, producing events and casting artists for major venues like City of Dreams, The Venetian Macau, and Marina Bay Sands Singapore.

Founded in 2013 by Jasmine Straga, the Australian Circus Festival made history as Australia’s first international competitive circus festival. Bridging the gap between the domestic and global circus communities, the event hosted an array of local and international performers, while also serving as the host for the prestigious Australian Circus Industry Awards. Guided by Artistic Director Patrick Rosseel, the festival featured well-known industry personalities such as Carrie Harvey and Johnathan Lee Iverson serving as Ringmasters. It attracted a highly respected international jury to judge the competitions, such as Genís Matabosch (Director of the International Circus Festival "Golden Elephant"), Stacy Clark (former Director of Casting at Cirque du Soleil), Peter Dubinsky (founder of Firebird Productions), Pavel Kotov, Senior Casting Director of Cirque du Soleil and Australian circus veterans Pixi Robertson, Ira Seidenstein and Bekki Ashton.

Through her company J.S. Creations, Jasmine helps artists develop unique, boutique acts for European circuses and cabarets. Her graduates have gone on to perform with prestigious companies like Cirque du Soleil, Dragone, Roncalli, Moulin Rouge and more.

Coaching & Education

Jasmine is deeply committed to sharing her knowledge with the next generation of performers. Over the years, she has directed programs and taught workshops across the globe:

Program Direction: She founded and directed the Australian Institute of Circus Arts in Coffs Harbour and directed the Coffs Harbour PCYC Rhythmic Gymnastics Club. She has also headed directed circus programs for Performance Art Western Sydney, Flipside Circus in Brisbane, and teaching circus and physical theatre for the Full Time Aerial Arts and Acrobatics Diploma for Lee Academy.

Gymnastics Coaching: Her foundational coaching includes teaching artistic and sports acrobatics for Coffs Harbour Gymnastics, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics for both Five Dock Leisure Centre and the Sydney Institute of Gymnastics, and artistic gymnastics for Manly Warringah Gymnastics.

National & International Workshops: Jasmine has been invited to teach specialized workshops at schools around the world, including Le Petit Cirque, Sakiai Circus School (Lithuania), SANCA, Emerald City Trapeze, Hebei Acrobatics School (China), 3 Rings Circus, and aerial arts and contortion at the Acro Balance Torna Center in Hungary.

In Australia, she has shared her expertise in aerials, contortion, and physical theatre at Umbilico, Integral Aerial Movement Society and Swoop Physical Theatre.

Jasmine cares deeply about the people and the history behind the circus tent

Industry Logistics & Policy:

Representing the Federation Mondiale du Cirque at the 2026 Global Events Logistics Summit (GELS) in Bangkok, she spoke about the real-world challenges touring shows face today - from customs barriers and DA approvals to the rising costs of touring. She is actively working with the cargo and events sectors to find better, harmonized frameworks to keep live cultural shows on the road.

Cultural Heritage:

•As the founder of the Oceania Circus Guild and Director of the World Circud Federation, Jasmine is pushing for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for the circus arts. Working with archaeologists and the China Acrobats Association, she recently presented at the World Archaeology Congress on how circus techniques have deep ancient roots that connect cultures globally.

•She will be presenting in Kuching, Malaysia at the 2026 ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) General Assembly in Session 8.  

Indigenous, Cultural & Justice System Outreach

•Waterways: The Waterways program is a multi-year First Nations-led social circus project run by Queensland's Flipside Circus. It was created in partnership with Indigenous Arts Leader Lara Croydon (Gudjala Kabulba). Jasmine Straga (Ngāti Raukawa) assisted mentoring young Indigenous artists through the organization.

•Sisters Inside: A program teaching circus arts to Aboriginal girls to help them transition from the justice system back into the community.

•Corroboree for Life & Haka for Life: Working alongside organizations that use cultural expression and connection to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.

•Ethiopia Circus Projects: Since 2009, she has run free workshops and mentoring programs for young Ethiopian performers, focusing heavily on helping them navigate international contracts safely. This project helped create Ethiopia's first Russian Bar act and produced artists now working globally. She worked closely with Sosina Wogayehu to develop the 'Circus Center', Ethiopia's first static circus building in Addis Ababa.

Asylum Seeker & Refugee Support

•Coffs Harbour PCYC: Jasmine taught circus arts to help asylum seekers transition and integrate into the local community.

•SOS Ukraine: In 2022, Jasmine teamed up with an international group to help relocate nearly 400 circus students and professionals out of Ukraine. Through grassroots fundraising, she personally helped raise over $36,000 AUD and nearly 100,000 of in-kind support to assist with their accommodation, visas, and continued education in Europe and Australia.

Youth, Health & Community Programs

•Ted Noffs Foundation: Jasmine and her team delivered social circus initiatives to support and empower vulnerable youth.

•Make-A-Wish Foundation & Youth Connect: Jasmine and her team utilised circus arts to support, connect, and uplift young people facing health challenges or navigating difficult life circumstances.

International Jury Panelist

Jasmine is honored to regularly serve as an adjudicator at international circus festivals, including:

•China: Wuqiao (2007, 2009, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2023), Wuhan (2018)

•Russia: Sochi Masters (2015, 2016), Saratov (2016), Nikulin Moscow Circus (2023, 2024), Online Circus Festival (2020-2022)

•Spain: Figueres (2010), Girona (2023)

•France: Massy (2015)

•Italy: Verona (2022)

•Eastern/Central Europe: Minsk Belarus (2017, 2024), Cirko Ziburiai Lithuania (2021, 2022, 2024, 2026), Golden Horse Bulgaria (2022)

Awards & Recognition

•The Great Wall Cup (2026): Jasmine was recently honored with this award from the China Acrobats Association. Normally given to performers, it was a special surprise to be recognized for her production work.

•Lifetime Achievement Award (2021): Awarded by the International Jury of the Australian Circus Festival for her contributions to the global industry.

•International Recognition: Acts she has choreographed and directed have won major prizes at festivals in Monte Carlo, Wuqiao, Latina, and Girona, alongside special prizes from the Kazakh State Circus and the National Sports of Monaco.

•She was also nominated for Best Choreographer/Creative Director at the 2015 International Circus Masters Awards in Sochi.