Our Team
Harley Mann
Founder & Artistic Custodian
Harley Mann, is a Wakka Wakka man from Queensland, he grew up on Gadigal country NSW.
Drawing on his own Aboriginal heritage as inspiration Harley founded Na DjinangCircus in 2017. Harley has since graduated with his bachelor of circus arts and worked with some of Australia’s leading contemporary circus companies including, Circa, Circus Oz and Casus.
Under Harley’s guidance, Na Djinangs highly successful work Common Dissonance was nominated for a greenroom award for best circus. In 2021 Na Djinang premiered a sold-out season of Arterial as a part of the Yirramboi Festival.
Harley was also honoured with the 2018 Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Emerging Circus Artist. He was chosen as the youth representative for the 2018 circus talk as a part of the Sydney Festival. He is the co-convenor of the TNA CaPT Advisory panel and is a current member of the TNA board. He was recently a recipient of the Circus Oz Fellow ship program 2021.
Harley is ensuring that he upskills while he tours, creates, and develops what he hopes is a significant contribution to Australia’s circus industry.
Isabelle Champagne-Chittick
Ensemble Manager
Isabelle Champagne-Chittick grew up in Bega, NSW where she trained in dance and gymnastics from a young age. Performing as part of Fling Physical Theatre for 8 years, she then took on work experience at Brisbane-based CIRCA, while in high school.
As part of Na Djinang Circus, Isabelle performed in Social Staples in Melbourne Fringe, Catapult Circus Festival, and Adelaide Fringe. She then went on to be a co-creative in Na Djinangs second work Common Dissonance.
Maggie Church Kopp
Ensemble Member Arterial
Maggie Church-Kopp is a circus performer, actor and facilitator who was raised in Mparntwe and is proudly of Arrernte and British descent.
She inherited circus as an art form at a very young age and has loved it ever since. Before joining Na Djinang in 2021 Maggie performed circus independently at many festivals including Woodford Folk festival, Wide Open Spaces and Karnidale. Her passion for performance also extends outwards to include music, theatre and dance, most recently alongside Ilbijjeri Theatre company.
Having trained with companies such as Circus Oz, The Flying Fruit Fly Circus (NTP 2019), and Duprada Dance Company Maggie is greatly passionate about the ways in which storytelling and movement can foster and enrich communities.
Dylan Singh
Ensemble Member Arterial
Proud Wiradjuri man, Dylan Singh is a second generation circus performer with a passion for cultural practice. Using circus as a medium to weave culture into his performances Dylan has searched for the meaning of Dreaming and how he can practise it in a modern day context.
Dylan has engaged audiences for over 10 years, working with some of Australia's leading companies, including Company 2, Circus Oz and Casus.
Growing up in the Flying Fruit Fly circus Dylan's connection to community is reflected through his goal to nurture and inspire the next generation of black performers.
Having found a deep understanding of what it means to be a modern first nations man and practitioner, Dylan hopes to help audiences learn and celebrate Aboriginal culture, struggles, and triumphs.
Tamara Bouman
Ensemble Member Arterial
Tamara is a First Nations contemporary dancer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), class of 2019.
During her time at VCA Tamara was able to grow as an artist with the support and teachings from choreographers including Sarah-Jayne Howard, Stephanie Lake, Rheannan Port, Sue Healey, Larissa McGowan and Alistair MacIndoe.
Tamaras love for dance and movement have lead her to perform as a part of major festivals including the Melbourne International Arts Festival (2019), and Sydney Festival (2020).
Tamara is keenly interested in cross disciplinary and cross cultural collaboration, exploring the sheer physicality, intricacy and dexterity of movement and the body’s limits/restrictions, using dance and movement to deepen her connection to her culture and land and how the body can be used as a tool for learning and sharing.
Johnathon Brown
Ensemble Member Arterial
Johnathon is a proud Anaiwan/Kamilaroi Man from Armidale, NSW. Currently 28 years old, he is an acclaimed dancer/acrobat performer at Na Dijnang Circus in Melbourne since 2022. Johnathon has toured globally, showcasing his talent at festivals like the Fringe and Sydney Festival. His captivating performances in DriftWood, DNA, Chasing Smoke, Arterial, and Common Dissonance have garnered praise.
Additionally, he is a NAISDA Dance College graduate, adding depth and cultural significance to his artistry. With an unwavering commitment to his craft and a passion for storytelling through movement, Johnathon continues to leave an unforgettable mark in the world of dance.