Laurence EsteveCo-founder and CEO Zip Circus School

Laurence was born in 1961 in Rueil-Malmaison, France, and started her career as an internationally recognised athlete in Windsurfing and Artistic Snow Ski. After her high school diploma, she studied Physical Education at university and collected numerous teachers' diplomas: gymnastic, sailing & windsurfing, swimming and bodybuilding.

In 1988 she finished her Masters in Science & Technology of Economy and Administration of Sports Institutions, University de Paris IX, Dauphine, Paris. After completing her MBA, she worked extensively as a business administrator for numerous Club Med Holiday resorts around the world. There she met her future husband and Zip Zap Co-Founder Brent van Rensburg. While in South Africa she created a duet on a trapeze with her friend and performed more than 600 shows in Sun City from 1994 to 1996. Back in Cape Town she performed stunts for commercials and movies, when Zip Zap was still a weekend passion more than a career! Using her diverse talents,

Laurence has managed the financial and managerial aspects of the organisation in addition to aiding in the artistic development of the Zip Zap shows.

Laurence was knighted of the national order of Merit by the President of the French Republique Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012 for her contribution to social development. In 2016 Laurence was the 2nd runner up for the BBQ Community Builder award. She was also awarded the highest recognition from the Rotary internationally: the Paul Harris fellowship.

In 2017 Laurence was invited to preside the jury for the International Festival of the Cirque de Demain (circus of tomorrow) in Paris, FRANCE. She was also part of the jury for the EXIT show of the ESAC (Ecole Superieure des Arts du Cirque) in Brussels, Belgium.