Emma Phillips

There’s no business like show business for New Zealand’s only foot juggler, Emma Phillips
By Nakita Ardern


Professional circus performer, Emma Phillips is New Zealand’s first and only foot juggler.
Her ‘trick’ comprises of lying on her back and juggling Chinese parasols and spinning carpets with her feet. Also trained in contortion, aerial arts and dance Emma’s goals are to be an international performer representing New Zealand and to raise the bar of performance arts within the country.
The commendable drive of the Whangarei-based, 22-year-old is evident. Over the past seven years she has endured more than 8,000 hours of gruelling training and performed six shows with a broken foot, showing her devotion to her trade.
“I’d done ballet since I was 4-years-old but when I hit 15 hip problems meant the end of my ballet career, which was heartbreaking,” Emma tells.
“My dad took me to Cirque du Soleil that same year and I was mesmerised. It was me! Watching it was like watching the missing part of my life.”
The teenager launched full pace into her new found obsession. She found a circus school in Christchurch, emailed the director and enquired what she needed to prepare herself for acceptance.