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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.

The plan was set. She brushed off the expected prompts from parents and teachers to enrol for university through her final year of high school, because she had a heart set on running away to join the circus.
“Mum and Dad took a bit of convincing, but we went down and had a look together and I started circus school when I was 17. I had my heart set on running away to join the circus. In the first year you learn a little bit of everything and in the second year you choose further skills you want to work on. I chose aerial hoop, foot juggling and partner acrobatics.”
Emma graduated in 2009 and joined a touring big top circus company. However, a few shows into the tour she quickly realised life in the circus wasn’t at all what she had imagined.
“There was a side of circus life that I hadn't seen before, we travelled to 25 towns and performed over 100 shows. It was interesting but I felt afterwards it wasn't for me. Circus performers get paid depending on ticket sales so it is good motivation to promote yourself well and give the audience your best show every time."
Because of the irregularity of her income Emma has learnt to budget well. She also furthers her contribution to her industry as a costume designer, which brings a few extra dollars her way. Money is so scarce that she was forced to test her limits last year when she broke her foot during a performance; putting her future career on the line.
“I was a character in the story so couldn’t just walk out. Afterwards my foot was blown up, blue and broken.”
Because the tour was six shows away from finishing the season, and the period promised to be financially beneficial, Emma stayed on.
“In New Zealand we’re often expected to work for little or nothing. People forget that I have studied for this and have a student loan to pay off.”
In 2010 Emma moved to the Beijing International Arts School where she trained in contortion and foot juggling. For eight hours, five days a week over five months Emma battled on; perfecting her tricks.
“I got just past half way and I was missing my family and my boyfriend, and because I was learning to do such hard skills I wasn’t seeing progress everyday. You can be training for months and because your body gets so sore you get worse. You start to see yourself at this low level because you’re not getting better and you’re living in China by yourself. There were definitely moments I wondered why I was there. But then you’d have a day where you get your trick and all the failing is forgotten.”
Emma was taught by Shu Lao Shi, a 42-year-old former world champion foot juggler.
“She didn’t speak a word of English but was truly an inspiring woman. We’d be in tears of frustration because of the communication barrier. We had our moments of confusion but she sat with me every single day for three hours. When you’re learning a trick you’re constantly dropping every few seconds so she was there to pick up the parasols and off I’d go again. In New Zealand I found the teachers lost interest so much faster.”
In May this year Emma once again travelled to Beijing for a further 18 months of intensive training. Emma believes she has exceeded her limit in New Zealand and is looking offshore to continue her trade.
“Every person asks me if it’s my dream to join Cirque du Soleil. There is a lot out there. My heart is set on Europe. I dream of working for a beautiful cabaret by night and spending my days trawling vintage shops and drinking coffee. I’ve gotta keep that dream alive so when I’m having my struggles in China it’ll keep me going.”

Check out Emma on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-WDpBTzRA

So, carnies … are they as weird as they look on TV?
“There are your stereotypical ‘weirdos’, but generally they are lovely, gentle people even though their appearance may be harsh. It always made me sad seeing my friends being judged for looking different. They’re alternative and they choose to be. Everyone in the circus is like a child at heart but we all have a business focus about us – you need to.”

A few things you may not know about Emma Phillips:
- I am obsessed with everything 1950's and older, including clothing, music, kitchenware and antiques. I swear I was born in the wrong era!
- I have a Chinese good luck charm that I have not taken off in two years. It's a piece of red string tied around my waist with jade for longevity. It was made by a blind women in Beijing and I bought it for around NZD20 cents.
- I am terrible at juggling with my hands. I seem to find some things easier with my feet!
- I come from a family of fishing enthusiasts and currently hold the record for catching the biggest hapuka.
- As it is just my older sister and I in our family my father treats me as his only son. Our relationship has grown over fishing, beer and a love of old music.