Tegan Carmichael has been involved in the performing arts from a young age. She started dancing at the age of 7 at Val Hannah’s School of Dance and began Women’s Artistic Gymnastics at 11 at the Geelong Gymnastics Centre.
Tegan attended the Hunter School of the Performing Arts, where she completed her Higher School Certificate, studying Dance, Drama, Physical Education, Health, and Personal Development. She also obtained her Certificate II in Entertainment (Front of House) and Certificate III in Entertainment (Backstage).
After high school, Tegan attended the National Institute of Circus Arts, where she spent three years studying various aerial, acrobatic, and hula hoop skills, ultimately completing her Bachelor’s degree in Circus Arts.
Since graduating from NICA, Tegan has worked in all areas of the entertainment industry, including education, administration, production, and performance.
Tegan performed long-term as a swinging trapeze artist aboard P&O’s Ocean Village 2. She also created Affinity Circus Ensemble, performing a site-specific acrobatic show at the Frankston Skate Park, and won silver at the 2013 Dance and Cheer Worlds competition in the Open Co-Ed Pom division.
She is most often remembered for her vibrant Carmen Miranda-inspired hula hoop act, Tutti Frutti, and enjoys exploring creative act ideas with her students, such as safely attaching a popcorn maker to a student’s head.
Tegan is currently working full-time at the National Institute of Circus Arts as Senior Educator – Academic, as part of the Executive Management Team. She is also studying for her Master’s in High-Performance Sport part-time, and occasionally teaches single-point and swinging aerial apparatus, hula hoops, group acrobatics, and foundation skills.