WCAAF Panel of Judges and Workshop Instructors

Lora Kapelczak is a professional aerial, and circus trainer Aerial Director at the San Diego Circus Center. A graduate from École National de Cirque as a trainer in circus arts. Lora is a full-time trainer that specializes in aerial pedagogy that builds on individual strengths and leveling up one’s weaknesses. She has built syllabi for a variety of aerial apparatuses that meet the needs of students that want a pathway to professional performance. Her extensive education in different massage modalities, kinesiology, personal training, and dance gives Lora a clear understanding of how many different bodies move and why challenges may arise including methods of progressions for each individual skill as well as defining the strength, skill, and level of the student.
Lora has been teaching and performing in the aerial arts for several years. Her love for aerial began while training in spin pole and a guest teacher came to teach aerial silks. Once her feet left the ground with the fabrics in her hand, she was quickly drawn to ALL THINGS AERIAL such as Dance Trapeze, Lyra, Sling, Rope, Straps, Aerial Pole and more. Her love of all things circus has also brought her to specialize in Clown, Cyr Wheel, and Rolling Globe. She has trained numerous artists who have continued to work with Cirque Du Soleil, 7 Fingers, Cirque Dreams, Cirque Mechanics, Cirus Bella, Virgin Voyages, International Casting Agency, MSC Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and accepted to higher education schools including École National de Cirque, École de Cirque de Québec, École Nationale des Arts du Cirque de Rosny-sous-Bois, Codarts, CNAC etc.

Rebecca Starr is the Assistant to the Director for the ProTrack Professional Training Program at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) in beautiful Brattleboro, Vermont. She specializes in Aerial Hoop, Contortion, and Pole. Rebecca started her career right here in California in the early 2000s and has since toured the world, performing in tented shows, theatre productions, special events, galas, and more. Rebecca was an integral part of the emerging world of Pole Fitness in the early 2010s; she competed, performed, and judged internationally for several years. She has traveled the globe as a master instructor, leading workshops and residencies at circus schools, aerial studios, and pole studios. From 2016, she coached and choreographed for the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour, and from 2020 to 2022, she served as the Head of Aerial Arts at Circadium School of Contemporary Circus in Philadelphia. Rebecca is thrilled to join the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival this year and continue inspiring the next generation of artists.

You Can see her on Instagram: @starrstyles

A local professional from Long Beach, Kevin judged the most recent 2023 West Coast Aerial Arts Festival, and we are happy to see him again this year.   He is the head choreographer for Nathalie Gauthier’s Le Petit Cirque, an aerialist, dancer, and educator specializing in artistic act creation. He has taught many aerial workshops and created acts for students of all ages for a decade.  In fact, as a performing artist who graduated with a BFA in Dance at the California State Long Beach, Kevin has performed, among others, his aerial chains number on the national US tour for Vampire Circus, and for Terry Beeman’s Mental Head Circus. He also has danced for DIAVOLO: Architecture in Motion – TRUST show throughout Los Angeles county, and his own choreography has been commissioned by dance companies throughout California. He loves to combine his aerial and dance knowledge together to make work that is not only visually impactful but also meaningful.  His specialty includes artistic act creation on any aerial apparatus with original sequences and choreography.  He grew up training aerial since the age of 14 and started dancing in college.

While in college he had the chance to do harness work for a Dixie Consumer Products national commercial, and perform his chains act in Terry Beeman’s Mental Head Circus. He also performed for the Chase Center’s groundbreaking ceremony, choreographed by Cirque du Soleil’s Ben Potvin. Kevin’s dance choreography throughout college was also selected to be performed in the American College Dance Association Gala.

San Francisco Circus Center’s first-ever Head of School, Juliana Neves is a dancer, aerial acrobat, choreographer and teacher. She has a masters in Cultural Anthropology. Until 2020, she was a teacher/coach and part of the artistic direction and creative team of Circus Juventas in Saint Paul – MN – USA. In 2016, she was the invited director guest artist of the “Panama Area” – Aerial Dance Festival.

In 2014, She was the Artistic Coordinator/Casting Director and Acrobatic Choreographer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup Brazil. Between 2003 – 2015, she was part of Belgium dance collective ‘les ballets C de la B,’ under direction of the renowned director Alain Platel. In 2013, Juliana directs her contemporary circus/dance creation ‘Jump or Fall’ under the company she co-found with Felipe Mafasoli in Belgium: Are you in Town Productions.

In 2006 she represents Cirque du Soleil to launch their first Brazilian tour and in 2003, Juliana represents Cirque du Soleil at the International Circus Festival in Recife in Brazil.

Juliana was the first artist from São Paulo to join Cirque du Soleil in 1998. She was in the original cast of the show “Dralion” where she was a soloist and one of the main characters. Juliana has taught her workshops and Master Classes in several countries such as Brazil, China, Italy, Holland, Belgium Germany,, Slovenia, Austria, France, USA, Panama and Costa Rica. During the pandemic Juliana lived in Brazil and founded a Circus School in the city of Tibau do Sul – RN

With a career spanning five decades, aerialist, dancer and choreographer, Ruby Karen has thrived in the performing arts – theater, cinema, music and circus arts.  Her success gave her the opportunity to globetrot, teaching and performing in metropolises locally in most urban cities within the Unites States and internationally in over twenty (20) countries, including cities such as, Zurich, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, New York, Tel Aviv, Bangkok, Rio De Janiero, Vancouver, Gotenburg, Guatemala, Mumbai, among others, and has been the consultant to several organizations, including Philippine’s Ballet Manila and Airdance, Bangkok’s Sky Fly, Mumbai’s Fly High and Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir, has received ostensible press coverage from respected publications across continents.   She holds three (3) World Titles in Ballet, Latin and Acrobatic Partnering, was a choreographer and guest performer for So You Think You Can Dance, has authored, designed and produced educational programs, e.g. Instructional Lifts and Tricks DVD, International Aerial Teacher Training Program (IATTP), and entertainment for Circo Etereo.  She is the founding director of Aerial Arts America, (the hosting organization to the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival (WCAAF) and together with husband, Luca Cecchini, they manage their school and other group outlets, the Ruby Karen Project Aerial Dance Performing Arts and Orange County Aerial Arts.

Sasha began his life in Moscow, Russia. He trained extensively from the age of seven at the most prestigious gymnastic schools in Russia, including GUTSEI and Moscow State Circus College. After finishing circus school he joined the Moscow Circus, then he was approached by the widely popular, Cirque du Soleil (Quidam). He traveled with Cirque du Soleil performing Vertical Rope and Aerial Chiffon.
Currently, he performing for exclusive events including: corporate meetings and conventions , special openings such as the “Star Wars”, “Spider Man” premiers, Sasha has also appeared on network television shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Celebrity Circus; a performance with Aerosmith at American Music Awards and a Grammy Awards performance with Destiny’s Child.Sasha will be conducting a hand balancing workshop.

Born and raised in Italy,  after a long standing career (25 years) as a chef, restaurant owner and event producer, Luca started his training in aerial arts in 2007, under the tutelage of his wife, Ruby Karen, and furthered his training established instructors and institutions in California and Europe.  He is the technical director for the Ruby Karen Project and its associated organizations, Orange County Aerial Arts, Circo Etereo and Aerial Dance Theater as well as the is the official rigger for the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival. He installs, maintains and prepares all rigging needs and fabrication and designing of aerial apparatuses and circus props for the above organizations.
He garnered his United States rigging certificate in 2010 in compliance with safety protocol of their school and has been the official aerial rigger for international companies – Ballet Manila, Airdance and Skyfly, to name a few.  Luca also extends his services to rigging indoor and outdoor venues such as convention centers, theaters, hotels and park to clients including aerial companies, studios, academic schools and universities, fitness gyms, as well as small and large event production companies such as EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival).   And..as a young man in Italy, Luca grew up competing in martial arts in the likes of UFC type events, and carries his hobby till this day, in the form of sword fighting and combative stage training.

MarySue Jurgella has a vast background in performing, choreographing, and directing in the arts. Born in Wisconsin, USA, MarySue grew up immersed in theater, vocal performance, and artistic gymnastics. She started her career as a professional performer in 2005, performing internationally for various resorts. Her specialties included aerial silks, lyra, and acrobatics, as well as singing, dancing, and performing in a variety of styles of movement and creative partner work. In 2011 she became the Entertainment Director for the resort Occidental Grand Aruba. Some of her roles included the hiring and training of new dancers and aerialists, choreographing aerial pieces, and the teaching of dance choreography. Over MarySue’s four years as artistic director she produced and directed new shows for the weekly program, holidays, and special events.

In 2015, MarySue stepped away from performing abroad and began teaching aerial arts in San Diego, CA. She developed the Champion Aerial program in Santee, CA, and spearheaded the creation of their Aerial Performance Team. MarySue is currently working at the San Diego Circus Center as an aerial instructor for the Master Youth Extensive, Pre-Preparatory, and Recreation youth programs where she focuses on technique-based teaching. Her passion is making aerial arts accessible to all and helping artists build confidence and find their voice as a performer.

Click Here for Bianca’s Full Bio

Bianca Sapetto, choreographer, director, teacher, aerialist, and dancer began her career as a rhythmic gymnast, claiming five U.S. National Championships titles and an alternate position on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team.  Bianca studied comparative religion at Amherst College before “running away” to join the circus with Cirque du Soleil.

She has performed, choreographed, and directed for Disney, Cirque du Soleil, Warner Brothers, Paramount films, the Grammy Awards, the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, American Music Awards, Jackie Chan’s Stunt Team, Michigan Opera, Teatro Zinzanni, Astor Piazzola Tango Foundation, the Olympic Gymnastics Tours, Burning Man, and at the Summit of the Americas for all the North and South American presidents and prime ministers.

 She launched her professional career when she was recruited as a performer and choreographer on tour in Cirque du Soleil’s production of “Quidam” where she performed 1001 shows. Shortly thereafter, Emmy Award winning choreographer Debra Brown, cast her in her experimental dance company, “Apogee”, where she collaborated on the merging of theatrical circus and extreme modern dance for over 5 years.  For nearly a decade, Bianca was a lead performer, choreographer and associate director at Teatro Zinzanni, an interdisciplinary and immersive theater company that specializes in dismantling the fourth wall.

Ms Sapetto’s physical acting expertise was engaged to push the boundaries of motion capture animation in her role as the AI robot AIMEE in the film, “The Red Planet” as well as development for “Matrix Reloaded” and video games for Sony and Eyes Out. She is a regular guest artist for Joan Sheckle’s filmmaking labs. Other film credits include “Water for Elephants”, Disney’s “Gepetto”, and “Rush Hour 2” where she became a member of Jackie Chan’s official stunt team.

 Other notable productions choreographed by Bianca are “Carmina Burana” for the Michigan Opera, the Grammy Awards, Burning Man in collaboration with Larry Harvey and Melissa Baron, Camerata Tango (endorsed by the Astor Piazzolla Foundation), the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, TJ Maxx National Arena Tour of the 2004 Olympic Gymnastic teams, and “The Mortal Thoughts of Lady MacBeth” directed by Yuval Sharon.

She also performed at the Summit of the Americas for all of the presidents and prime ministers of North and South America, Formula One, the American Music Awards, Teen’s Choice Awards, Sebastian World Tour, and the SAG Stunt Awards.

 Bianca co–led the creative collective Sprung Theater (formerly We Few Productions) with Daniel Passer and Veronika Krausas. Their work together spans almost 20 years and numerous productions and workshops including, “The Courtyard”, “Birthday Party”, and “Noir Project”.

For more than a decade she has taught her original classes, “The Physical Creative”, which examine how the physical body and our communal and personal stories inspire innovation, collaboration, and creativity in the arts, the workplace, and everyday life.

 She has lead classes and workshops at USC Thornton School of Music, USC Gloria Kaufman School of Dance, USC Iovine and Young Academy, UCLA Royce Hall and the Department of Psychology, Esalen Institute, National Young Arts Foundation, Joffrey Ballet, PEN USA, Henkel Corporation, Treefort festival at both Hackfort and Yogafort, le Petit Cirque, and yoga, acting, dance, and circus schools across the country.

In 2020, she began her “Lunar Yoga” class series which ties together the moon cycles, mythology, astrology, archetype, art, and magical traditions with yoga philosophy, asana, pranayama, and meditation practices. Her classes and workshops are attended in person and virtually by people from all over the world. In 2021, Lunar Yoga was hosted by and taught at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2021, she was awarded as an honoree for her contributions in choreography, dance, and the aerial arts by Luminario Ballet. She is a founding company member of Luminario ballet and has danced and choreographed for the company since 2008.

 Bianca is featured in her own chapter in the book, “Wisdom of Wildly Creative Women; Real Stories from Inspirational, Artistic, and Empowered Women” published in 2023 by Mango Publishing.

 Bianca lives in Los Angeles.

Elsie Smith is a circus educator specializing in aerial skills. Performing with her twin sister she has performed around the world with companies such as Cirque du Soleil.  She received a Special Award at the China Wuqiau Internat’l Circus Festival in 2007 and the Bronze Medal at the 1st Internat’l Festival de Circo en Albacete, Spain in  2008. Elsie is the co-founder of the New England Center for Circus Arts, and co-owner of Nimble Arts. In 2016 she and Serenity won the American Circus Educator’s Award for Excellence in Education and the Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts from the Vermont Arts Council.  Elsie currently teaches at NECCA, while building the Nimble Arts circus retreat studio on Tinmouth Pond, and devising new workshops to teach aerial teachers how to level up their skills.

Lena Fumi is a professional contortionist and aerialist based in Los Angeles. Wanting to get more flexible for pole and aerial tricks, she started contortion at the age of 36, training under Kristina Nekiya of Fit and Bendy flexibility training. Lena has focused on balancing strength and flexibility through targeted conditioning and preventative PT style exercises while cross-training with aerial dance and hand balancing. While she has been training for 11 years, Lena has been performing professionally for several cirque entertainment companies for the 8 years. She continues to train daily to develop new acts and skills.

Elizabeth Chase is a medical doctor,  competitive figure skater, and aerialist specializing in Lyra. She is the 2012 Adult  National Gold Ladies Champion and the 2012 Adult World Gold Ladies Champion in Figure Skating.  She loves sharing knowledge and trains Doctors and Nurses in her field.  In the past year she was given the opportunity to guest teach Lyra and co-taught an 8 week hoop seminar with Nikki Blakeslee.  As a lifelong figure skater, she applies the same fundamentals to successfully spin on hoop.

Brande has been certified in group fitness through the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) since 2011 and has been teaching group fitness, including aerial/circus arts since 2012.  She has received teacher trainings in aerial/circus arts through Orange County Aerial Arts/Ruby Karen Project (OCAA/RKP), Circus Arts Institute (CAI), AURA Pole Dance Fitness, SHOW Circus Studio and the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA).  In addition, Brande is a registered Vinyasa Yoga instructor (RYT-200) through Barre & Soul studios and is certified in both Prenatal and Post-natal yoga through OM Births.  She also has certifications in Total Barre Fitness, TRX, Pilates Suspension Method (PSM) and has completed her 450-hour comprehensive Pilates method teacher training through Everlea Bryant, NCPT, CPT at Dawn Pilates Studio. She is a member of the American Circus Educators (ACE) and the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA).

Take only from the best. Mongolian contortionist, Odgerel Gombo has performed at Circus related productions and events just about everywhere. He was a silver medalist at the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo and a legendary instructor who has taught at at several schools all over the continent, including his very own school in Mongolia. He is a key element to many successful contortionists today. Mr. Gombo is a faculty instructor for Ruby Karen Project Aerial Dance Performing Arts teaching contortion and is a principal artist to Circo Etereo.  Arranging private training in contortion with Odgerel can be booked through the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival or email us at aerialartsamerica@gmail.com.

Instructor at Utah’s Thrive Aerial Arts, Aftyon Anderson has been WCAAF’s workshop instructor since 2022.

I am an international variety entertainer and comic actor with over twenty years full time experience. Drama and Circus School trained I have performed on four continents in three different languages, in a variety of performance genres, from corporate to carnival, theater to film.  Clients include The Lord Mayor of Sydney, BBC studios, London, the S.F. 49ers….I specialize in presenting unique acts and characters for both stage and roving for festivals, parades and more. All my acts and characters are designed to enhance the public perception of an event or occasion. I have performed at many of the major outdoor festival events of the world including Glastonbury and Covent Garden, England, The Edinburgh Fringe, The Sydney Festival, The Love Parade Berlin, Pier 39, S.F., and locally, the Sunset Junction Music festival, The Long Beach Grand Prix, The Socal Renaissance Faire, The Scotsfest Highland Games, and many more.

Katrina Diaz is renowned for her outstanding achievements as the owner and lead instructor at Urban Cirque in Colorado Springs. Her commitment to inclusivity has created a safe and welcoming space for individuals of all backgrounds and body types, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends the aerial arts community. Her studio offers a wide range of disciplines, from introductory to advanced training for seasoned performers.

Katrina is known for her unwavering passion and dedication to both her craft and her students. Her coaching style is distinguished by her talent for nurturing individual creativity and expression. She believes that every student possesses a unique story to tell and fiercely encourages each one to pursue their passions and chosen paths. Her success is not just a testament to her incredible talent but also her tireless efforts in nurturing the dreams and aspirations of her students, which has earned her a loyal following in the aerial community.

Beyond her studio, Katrina continues to contribute to the aerial arts scene in Southern Colorado by organizing workshops, performances and events that showcase the incredible talent that the region has to offer. When she’s not teaching, you can usually find her with her daughter and best friend, Bri, who she is lucky enough to share the passion of all things upside down with.

Renowned master teacher in dance and aerials, teaching all over the world from the great cities of Paris, Prague, Tokyo, to the countries of India, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Australia and China. In his 15 years of training and teaching aerial Terry has set standards of quality the surpasses most. While gracing the covers of magazine and features in Dance Spirit, Dance Magazine, Vogue, LA Times, and European magazines, Terry has been dancing with Hollywood’s most well known celebrities like, Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul, J-LO, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Natalie Cole and Debbie Allen.  Terry keeps himself very active in the Hollywood scene appearing in films like Showgirls, Eraser, Batman and Robin and such TV show as Fame LA, The Oscars ( 5 years in a row), AMA’s, MTV Videos Awards, The Emmys, 3rd Rock from the Sun just to name a few. Commercials for Pepsi, Diet Coke, Miller Beer Lite, Target, GMC motors, Verizon, Visa Card and Radio Shack.   At the same time, Terry choreographs his own dance company and aerial cabaret “Mental Head Circus”  which has been running in Hollywood (King King in Hollywood Blvd.) since 2008.  Mr. Beeman currently is the Aerial Director for Aerial Studio, California.  You can see more of Terry Beeman at www.TerryBeeman.com for reviews on his works and videos of his past production.

Sarah Romanowsky is a versatile performer, blending her background in dance with her technical & artistic approach to aerial arts. She has been seen in the air for stage productions including Cirque du Soleil’s touring show Axel, Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular, One Night for One Drop, Fantasy at Luxor, Cirque de la Mer, WOW at Rio, A Touch of Burlesque, Donn Arden’s Jubilee and many others. TV projects include Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, Disney Channel’s Shake it Up, & GM’s Chevy Super Bowl commercial. She has worked for multiple companies, special events, and theme parks. Additionally, Sarah has traveled the world as a coach, judging aerial competitions and teaching thousands of students all around the USA and a dozen additional countries. Sarah loves to share her art, athleticism and passion with audiences and students alike!

Nahuel Broin was born in Rosario, Argentina, and began his artistic training at the age of 12 with theater, dance, and circus. At the age of 18 he earned a dance scholarship and left for Mexico City where he trained for 2 years. At the age of 21 he was accepted into the Ecole Superieure des Arts du cirque (ESAC) in Brussels, Belgium. He trained there as an aerial acrobat for 4 years, where he specialized in straps.

His career has taken him across the world where he has worked as an aerial both an acrobatic performer and a teacher of aerial, dance, and acrobatics in many arenas. He has performed with multiple renowned companies including Deltebre Danza (Spain), Cie Bivouac (France), and Circo Anima (Argentina), The Circus Festival (Belgium), Festival d`Avignon (France), Anima circus company, and more. He has taught for Circus del Revez (Argentina), Academy Ecuador (Ecuador), La Pirámide (Mexico), and several more circus and dance schools across Argentina and Mexico.

Nahuel is a passionate professional, dedicated to his craft and to helping the growth of up and coming aerialists.

Emily Wegert performs and coaches aerial arts in southern Colorado at the Dragonfly Aerial Company. Beginning with aerial straps shortly after college graduation, then moving on to silks, hoop, and trapeze, Emily discovered and cultivated her passion for performing high above the ground. Since then, she has had many aerial adventures including performing internationally, coaching and competing nationally, and performing duo trapeze from a hot air balloon in free flight. Aside from aerial, Emily enjoys other kinds of adventures like exploring caves, climbing mountains, and occasionally even wrestling alligators

Mizuki is a freelance circus artist who specializes in Aerial Silks, Aerial Straps, and Aerial Duo Straps.

Mizuki was born in Tokyo in 1997.  In her childhood, she saw the Japanese anime film Kaleido Star and discovered the magic of circus. Mizuki began performing aerial arts in 2011 and she was set to study circus arts abroad for her higher education.  Since the beginning of 2015, Mizuki studied aerial tissu (also known as aerial silks) at École Nationale de Cirque Montréal, a circus school in Montreal, Canada and received an offer from the much revered Cirque du Soleil before her graduation.  Not limited to the world of the circus, Mizuki has expanded her clientele including a wide variety of entertainment shows and promotions.

In 2019, Mizuki won the first bronze medal ever to be awarded to an aerial artist at the prestigious Cirque de Demain Circus World Tournament in France.  Currently, Mizuki works on freelance basis with offers from all over the world to perform in large scale live events, including Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, and the 7 Fingers collective.  She is also working to develop the next circus performing arts in Japan to the World. Using her many skills to contributing to Japanese art and society.

Learn from Mizuki and have a chance to ask her questions about what its like to be performing on a professional stage. Also hear her insight into the best step to become a performer.

Enya is an experienced coaching professional and circus artist with over 10 years of teaching experience. Falling in love with the stage and circus arts when she was 9 years old, she went on to train at the prestigious National Circus School of Montreal.  Graduating in 2015, her unique style on dance trapeze led her to join the creation team of Luzia by Cirque du Soleil. Before leaving for the show’s international tour, she performed her duo dance trapeze act with her partner Arthur Morel Van Hyfte in numerous corporate events with Cirque Eloize.  She has been performing her signature dance trapeze act and taught aerials in  over 25 cities and 5 countries. Over her years on tour with Cirque du Soleil, she developed her character work and pushed outside her comfort zone as an artist with the goal of always perfecting her craft. She loves to share with her students the wide range of knowledge she gained over the years in the field.

Adam has been coaching circus and producing circus work for the past fifteen years. Most recently, he worked as the Aerial Program Director for the Circadium School of Contemporary Circus in Philadelphia. He has served as the Safety Committee Chair for the American Circus Educators Association, has coached professionals around the country, and has produced five international circus showcases as the Managing Director of Circus Now. He has worked tirelessly as an advocate for circus arts, presenting at and helping to organize events for the Smithsonian Institute, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP).

Ginger Ana Griep-Ruiz is a second-generation circus artist and aerialist. A Toronto native/circus kid, she has performed in a rich variety of disciplines in circuses and theatrical productions around the world since the age of three. Today Ginger is recognized not only as an elite performing artist but as a creative thinker, innovator and designer.

For the past 15 years, Griep-Ruiz has performed her renowned solo tissue act in multiple Cirque du Soleil productions including La Nouba, Solstrom, Delirium, Zed, One Night for One Drop, and currently Mystere in Las Vegas.  Her act is the first of its kind, bringing together intricate high-speed winch with breathtaking drops and flights with emotionally provoking simplicity.

Griep-Ruiz continues to push the boundaries of creative innovation off the stage as an artistic designer, coach and choreographer.  As an act designer, she was awarded first place in Cirque du Soleil's innovation competition for her technical design.  As a coach for Cirque du Soleil on shows and at headquarters she has integrated many artists into a multitude of roles. As a choreographer, she recently created a six-woman hammock act for the 2014 One Night for One Drop.  Griep-Ruiz’s love the aerial arts that keep her focused on the evolution of the art form. For Ginger, it is not a job; it is not about tricks. It is about expressing with clarity. Being off the ground is an essential element in Ginger’s life. She hopes to keep her feet pointed firmly in the air for as long as her arms can lift her. You can see more on Ginger at: www.GGR.photo

Sofie Dossi is a globally renown contortionist who gained fame as a finalist and Golden Buzzer recipient America’s Got Talent. Following the show, Sofie launched her YouTube channel where she quickly moved her NBC fandom over to her YouTube channel, gaining 4.4 million subscribers and has 700 million views in less than 3 years

Sofie will be appearing at the 8th West Coast Aerial Arts Festival and will be sharing her experiences with all our WCAAF participants.  Please check the WCAAF Schedule.

Jenny is Israel’s pride and glory in the circus community, having performed several of her iconic pieces that are viewed to be at its cutting edge of aerial performance by international standards.  A multidisciplinary circus performer, a dreamer and a modern-poetic creator,  Jenny has trained, studied, and performed internationally.  She continues to explores the life changing cycles and the physical-mental body as a tool for individual and collective healing process and liberation. In her performances she explores the relation of different dance techniques (modern, classical, contact, impro) combined with ground acrobatics, physical theater, sound and associations.  Jenny was a principal hoop soloist for Sonor Cirque du Soleil at Sea, among other international productions in Europe.  She is currently performing with a French circus production, Cirque Plume.

Watch Jennifer’s Performances

Beginning her career as a contemporary dancer, performing in theatres across Europe, Tori developed her skills, mastering the artistic platform of the air, as well as traditional floor performances.  This combination of artistic planes has allowed Tori to feel whole as an artist, enabling a creative freedom to nurture her personal style and creative methods. Having a huge passion for creating, and the intertwining of rope and the body as one.  With this expression through the body she continues to explore and share new pathways for creative motion.   Tori trained in vertical aerial apparatus at Gravity Circus Centre in London, UK with Leo Hedman in 2014. Going on to perform in various venues and companies including: Glastonbury Festival, The BRIT Awards, Nua Dance Company, Dublin Fringe Festival.  She now runs her own studio, Aerial Southampton, as well as teaching workshops and aerial retreats all over the world.

Born and raised in Mumbai, Sayali Dhuri started learning Rope Mallakhamb at an age of 7. Since then, Sayali continued performing for straight 12 years winning 6 National Level Gold Medals in India. Competing all over India throughout her sporting career, Sayali even demonstrated Rope Mallakhamb internationally upon receiving an invitation from the Mauritian Government. A severe leg injury lessened her chances of competing again but didn’t break her spirit as she went on to secure Shree Shiv Chhatrapati State Award.   A member of the Mallakhamb Federation USA, Sayali is part of the judges team for the 2nd World Mallakhamb Championship 2022 in New York.  Outside of Mallakhamb, Sayali works as a Physical Therapist during weekdays and spends weekends engaging in activities like hiking and camping.

Will is an aerialist based in London, specialising in rope and silks. He has worked with many high profile companies including LinkedIn, Dolce & Gabbana, Virgin Media, The Box, Supperclub, City & Guild Awards, Soul Pride and The Wam Bam Club, and has performed all over the world. He was winner of the Circus Maximus prize in 2014 with his doubles rope ‘Reach’, and was the winner of the UK Aerial Performance Championships in 2016 with his silks act ‘Mannequin’.

Will has trained for many years to achieve a high level of aerial prowess. He has performed and taught aerial workshops all over the world, and teaches rope and silks on the degree programme at The National Centre for Circus Arts, London.
 www.will-davis.co.uk

Born and raised in South Florida, Kara has always had a passion for the arts. Her background as an artistic gymnast and dancer made an easy transition as she began studying circus arts. While she has mastered the art of aerial tissue, she also has years of experience on many different apparatuses including lyra, chains, and pole. In addition, she has worked as a flyer doing duo rope, duo trapeze, and hand to hand. She has had the opportunity to perform at numerous events and shows throughout the world, including Harvey Nichols Fashion Show in Dubai, Cirque De La Mer at SeaWorld in San Diego, The ACT in Las Vegas, ESC4P3: A Digital Cirque Experience in Argentina, LIGHT Nightclub by Cirque Du Soleil, and Viva Fest Pro Show. In addition to performing, she loves helping others grow on their aerial journey and has been teaching for over 6 years. She currently moves between Vegas and Montreal, where she has the opportunity to train with world class coaches from Ecole Nationale de Cirque and continues to perfect her craft to share with the world.

Elena Sanders is an American multidisciplinary circus artist specializing in aerial straps, contortion and hula hoops. She is also the top half of a one of a kind, sexy and dangerous perch pole act that was featured on season 12 of America’s Got Talent  She has been featured on Steve Harvey’s show, in NBA half time shows, as well as various circuses, shows and events nationally and internationally.
For more on Elena:  IG @elenaxsanders

As a professional contemporary dancer, choreographer and teacher, Danni Maxwell is no stranger to the performance world. She began dancing at age two, and hasn’t stopped moving since! With rigorous training from performing arts schools, as well as acrobatic coaching from former Cirque du Soleil performers, she has a true passion for the arts and the desire to share them.

She received her dance/acrobatics teaching certification in 2004 from the Dance Teacher Training Association, and has since received multiple performance and choreography awards from national competitions. She was accepted into the 8th Street Contemporary Dance Company in Greeley, CO in 2009. In the same year, she married her husband, who had just enlisted in the US Army. Since then, she has traveled to South Korea and North Carolina. While stationed in NC, she not only taught at several dance studios and had two amazing little boys, but it is also where she discovered her true love for aerial acrobatics. In 2015, she was accepted into the Air Born Aerial Performance Troupe, which offered her opportunities that varied from outdoor street-festival style performances to contracted private events.

Danni holds the position of company manager for both of Dragonfly Aerial Company’s Youth and Adult performance companies.  Danni is also a technical skill-execution model, curriculum contributor and instructor for Dragonfly Aerial Company’s National licensing program, which recently opened it’s 13th gym Nationwide and provides ongoing mentorship to just over 40 coaches.  In addition, Danni is an instructor for the competitive dance team at Kemper Dance Studio.

Danni has developed a deep passion for being in the air and carries multiple apparatus experience including, but not limited to, Fabric, Sling, Loops, Net, Conventional Hoop, Tippy Hoop, Rope and Chains. …yes and chains.  That love for the aerial world, coupled with her devotion to teaching, has opened a window of opportunity that she will forever be grateful for.  

Stuart was born in London and began gymnastics at the age of 12. He represented Great Britain in Sports Acrobatics for 10 years where his Men’s Four achieved a ranking of No. 1 in the world. Once retired from competition he joined the world renowned Cirque Du Soleil in 2008 in Montreal with the show Saltim Banco and then toured with the show Kooza for over 5 years where he performed in the teeterboard act. Stuart then transferred shows to the new touring show KURIOS where he performed the duo Aerial Straps Act. Stuart recently created the new duo Aerial Straps act for Mystere at Treasure Island in Las Vegas.

Another performance focus involves special events for CDS including more recently the Opening Ceremony for the Pan Am Games and One Night for One Drop.

Stuart graduated from Northumbria University with a  BSc (Hons) Sport Management and is furthermore a certified PT, strength and conditioning, acrobatic and aerial coach; he was artist coach for strength and conditioning on the show Kooza. He has been coaching, touring and exploring workshops since he was a gymnast progressing to an artist and now ready to take it that step forward helping within retreats and festivals to really build those spiritual and life fitness goals.  Stuart’s vision is to help people achieve their fitness, performance and life goals through trust, belief, and confidence in themselves

Mariana Fernández Prieto begun her professional studies as a contemporary dancer in 2008 at the C.C. Ollin Yoliztli in Mexico City. She continued her training at international workshops with teachers such as: Aladino R. Blanca, Francisco Córdova, Pau Arau, Rakesh Sukesh, Eulalia Ayguade, Joseph & Lynda, David Zambrano and Pilobolus Dance Theatre.  She was introduced in circus at the First Diploma of Circus Arts at Cirko de Mente from 2011 to 2012. Her professional studies continued at Cirko Vertigo, Turin, Italy and concluded her graduate studies at Centre Régional des Arts du Cirque de Chambéry, Arc en Cirque in France.  She has actively and continues to perform at international festivals including, Mirabilia, FACE and Sul Filo dil Circo, Italy, Cirqule in France, Guatecirko 2017 in Guatemala, La Cirkonvención Mexicana, Encuentro de Circo de Mazunte and Periplo in Mexico. She has also worked with the following scene directors: Jerôme Thomas, Milo & Olivia, Juan Ramírez and Aldino R. Blanca, and has collaborated as a performer in the companies: Cirko de Mente, Herbra, Construcción en Movimiento and currently at Inside the Body Performing Arts. Ms. Fernandez is the co- artistic director for Mujer Barbuda, Las Mujeres en el Circo Actual.  She is also currently the aerial acrobatic teacher for Program Studies at the Circus Contemporary Arts and at Casa de Artes y Circo Contemporáneo, Mexico.

Tyler Jacobson began training in contortion and hand balancing at the Great Y Circus in Redlands, California in 2006. Self-trained through college, he then joined the pre-professional troupe at Kinetic Theory in Los Angeles before touring with the Broadway show Pippin in 2017 as a hand balancer. He is now a student of renowned Mongolian contortion coaches Enkhee Smith and Undarmaa Gold. He is also a favorite monster at Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, performing contortion in the streets as well as aerial hoop, trapeze, and silks on stage. He currently teaches both contortion and aerial hoop at Kinetic Theory—his style and method of contortion emphasizes alignment and active flexibility with the goal that his students should learn not only what stretches to do, but how to do them properly to gain flexibility as well as the strength to support that flexibility. Tyler’s workshop will focus primarily on active stretching sequences that can be used to supplement any aerial or acrobatic training regimen.

Valentina Angelo began her career as a gymnast when she was four years old. Her interest matured towards hip-hop and contemporary dance. Nine years ago, Valentina began training in aerial arts in Italy and in February 2019, she won third place in the Aerial Silk International competition. Ms. Angelo has worked with the “Compagnia dei Folli” as a stilts walker and aerial performer in many different apparati (tissu, lyra, trapeze, and rope). In addition, she has also performed with the Vertical Dance Forum Program in Italy. Most recently, Valentina has been training with “Circus Oz” in Melbourne, Australia, focusing on handstands. Ms. D’Angelo also enjoys horseback riding, swimming and tennis when she is not performing in aerial arts.

Jessica Flores is the founder of Aerial Revolution in San Diego, California.  She was a competitive gymnast and cheerleader and began her circus career in 2004 at the Triton Trouper’s Circus in Chicago, Illinois, where she performed as a Trampolinist, Spanish Web and Solo Swinging Trapeze Aerialist. Jessica dreamt of opening a multi-disciplinary training space that would provide the opportunity to train like an acrobat without any bias toward people who had no experience. The idea was so popular that it grew into a schedule of over 75 classes per week! Jessica is a passionate teacher and forever student of the circus arts as well as a certified yoga teacher (E-RYT-500), and personal trainer. She recently developed the SkyBound Aerial Yoga System which she offers teacher training across the country and weekly classes at AR. Jessica especially enjoys creating and producing live entertainment shows for Aerial Revolution. Jessica currently specializes in Aerial Silks, Aerial Hammock, Chinese Pole, and Hand balancing. Click here for more information: https://aerialrevolution.com.

Veronica Blair has studied with prominent artists including LaNorma Fox, Ringling Bros. African-American Aerialist Pa-Mela Hernandez, and the renowned Gérard Fasoli of Centre National des Arts du Cirque / Cnac.  Her first professional performance was at the age of 17, the youngest professional African-American trapeze artists in the U.S.Veronica was personally selected by Cedric Walker, the founder of Universoul Circus, as a single trapeze artist and was the show’s resident aerialist for 5 years.

Veronica has since performed with several other renowned groups and productions around the globe such as AntiGravity, Universal Studios Japan and Warner Bros. Music. She has been a part of Germany’s  “AFRIKA! AFRIKA!”,  a lead aerialist in KAMAU’s “BooDha” music video and also launched “The Uncle Junior Project”.  In 2017 she was a speaker at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and served as organizer and moderator on a panel highlighting the African-American circus experience. She’s also worked with the African-American Art and Culture Complex to stage Entrapment to Entertainment: A Celebration of Blacks in American Circus,

Laura Dasi has been a performing artist for over 30 years. She appeared as a contestant on season 9 of America’s Got Talent in June 2014, where she amazed and inspired millions of people across the world not only with her aerial performance but by sharing her story of overcoming difficulty to follow her passion and pursue her dreams. Laura is a former classical ballerina and enjoyed a professional dance career in New York City for 7 years. After retiring from the stage and becoming a mother, Laura turned her attention to yoga and has been a certified yoga instructor for 15 years. In January 2011 Laura ventured into circus arts, focusing mainly on aerial silks and lyra, and felt an immediate natural inclination in this new endeavor. Drawing upon her extensive experience in dance and yoga, her skill level grew quickly. Laura continuously thrills audiences with her daring display of strength, agility and grace while floating high above the ground. Often described as “ballet in the air” Laura feels aerial arts is where she truly excels and that she has found the perfect form of creative expression. She continues to challenge herself with each piece she choreographs, incorporating new levels of technical difficulty while integrating her innate sense of emotion and musicality.

Professional contortionist, Louise With-Seidlin is known for her double contortion acts while performing with circus troupes including Circus for Arts, New Pickle Circus and the Circus Center, San Francisco.  She currently teaches contortion based stretching and Vinyasa/ Ashtanga Yoga at various locations in Orange County.  Aside from her completion of her training in Mongolian contortion, she also cross trained in various performing arts disciplines including Dance at the Jimmy Defore school, Acrobatics at Circus Center San Francisco and aerial silks at the Hollywood Aerial Arts.

Kennedy Kabasares is an aerial artist and actor.  He has worked with a diversity of theater companies, including: East West Players; Singapore Rep; Center Theater Group; The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors; performance trio zero3; Bindlestiff Studio; Playwright’s Arena; and Kinetic Theory Circus Arts. He was invited to compete in the 2011 Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival in Denver, where he took first place for static trapeze, and went on to perform in the finals. His current endeavor, PULLproject, is a narrative theater/circus collaboration with performance artist traci kato-kiriyama. Their next piece, Tales of Clamor, will debut in February 2019 at the Aratani Theater in Los Angeles. Kennedy will be conducting a trapeze workshop at the WCAA Festival.

Legendary Mallakhamb sports guru, Uday Deshpande is a renowned coach and was the Hon. Secretary of Mallakhamb Federation of India who imparted training to many foreign nationals hailing from different countries.  He conferred various award, including Shree Shiy Chhatrapati award, Dadoji Kondadev award, among others, and conducted coaching camps all over India in order to propogate and popularize Mallakhamb.  Because of his unconditional devotion to the discipline, Shri Uday has earned the respect of many aerialists around the globe.

Leisha Knight spent 8 years performing in the Beatles “Love” by, Cirque du Soleil. An original cast member, Leisha worked to create the Bungee Act in the show as well as other Aerial Dance, Acrobatic, and Character pieces. Leisha performed Aerial Straps and silks for Cirque Borsberg in France and was the Artistic Director and Lead Trainer for Circus Kathmandu in Nepal. Leisha loves training students and helping them develop acrobatically and artistically. Her energy, passion, and love for Aerial Acrobatics is contagious. Leisha currently teaches fabric, hoop, bungee, straps, Dance, Acrodance, Aerial Yoga and Yoga at PLAY in Minturn, Colorado and at the Vail Valley Academy of Dance, Leisha judged the Aerialympics as well as the Aerial Arts Association’s Aerial Hoop competition in San Francisco.  She does regular teaching tours and works with both in person and online at several schools.  She still performs fabric, acrodance, and straps!

Emiliano Ron is a natural born explorer. From an academic education in Cinematographic Arts, as a montajist and photography director on documentary film, he began to immerse himself in a particular aesthetic that he put into shape through different techniques associated with different languages, both aesthetic and physical.

With an adolescence marked by literature, martial arts and the South American underground, he inhabits different transversal areas of the counter culture where he puts his principles into shape: the struggle for human rights, punk rock and skateboarding. With the daily habit of exploring the limit, he begins to investigate different circus aerial techniques that lead him to be an eminence in the subject, developing a raw and wild style, which today bears his name. The Rope Master. He currently works around the world teaching his own Rope technique and participates in different artistic projects linking the visual arts, contemporary thinking and circus scene.

To learn more about Emiliano, visit Emialiano’s Facebook Page.  He will be teaching a Rope workshop.

Mallakhamb Federation USA is a Not-For-Profit organization wits chapter in California, Michigan, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The discipline stems from an ancient Indian art in the field of physical culture that started as a complementary exercise for wrestling, an has evolved as an independent sport in itself.  Pole and Rope Mallakhamb workshops will be offered as the MFUSA seeks to bring awareness and announce its upcoming World Championship Cup in 2020.  Aditi Deshpande, a Mallakhmab champion and aerialist from India, together with MFUSA coach team will be leading the workshops

Sarah Bebe Holmes: Co Artistic Director of Paper Doll Militia Sarah Bebe Holmes’ aerial style is characterized by quality of movement, emotional narrative content, and original innovative choreography. Sarah is co-founder and co-artistic director of LA/Edinburgh based aerial theatre company, Paper Doll Militia, which in turn has been creating progressive aerial theatre in the States since 2006 and set up headquarters in Edinburgh in 2013. She has performed, choreographed and taught around the US, UK, India, Lebanon, Egypt, Austria, Germany, Croatia and Greece, including Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival, Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New Orleans Fringe Festival, National Mallakhamb Championship (Mumbai, India), Treasure Island Music Festival (San Francisco), and Derry City of Culture (Ireland). Sarah also co-founded Structural Integrity Project (SIP), an international aerial film project;that filmed aerial in unexpected locations, including  silks on a banyan tree outside an abandoned palace in Lebanon, chain suspended from stationary cranes in Edinburgh, and the underside of the onramp to San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge. Sarah  toured as an aerialist with London-based threesixty Entertainment’s 1300-seat pavilion production of Peter Pan, as well as with Osborne&What’s production of Birdy 2015. Sarah  choreographs and directs circus aerial productions including Sharashif (Beirut Lebanon), Two and a Half Sisters (Zagreb, Croatia), SnowQueen (Zagreb, Croatia) and RISE (Edinburgh Scotland) and currently working on EGG, an aerial theatre production on aerials plastic looking at our modern approach to fertility. Sarah Co-produced and had a leading role in LoopsEnd, which toured the US and UK in 2016.

Jeanette has over 20 years of dance experience spanning from New York, France, Mexico to L.A. She has performed in Super Bowl XXXVII, the 2004 NBA Summer Pro League, Disneyland’s Dance the Magic Parade and aboard the Norwegian Cruiseline’s Gem. She was contracted to choreograph for the GLEE! Project, a musical production off-Broadway (T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland: The Musical) as well as for an ABA basketball team before working as the choreographer in resorts in Manzanillo, Cancun, Turks and Caicos, and Florida. There, she picked up aerial dance and acrobatics. She returned to New York City in 2009 to advance her skills in circus (including acrobatic pole) and dance before heading back to California to open up her own studio, Aerial Arts Santa Cruz. She produces large musical theatre shows from her entertainment company, Stellaria Productions, as well as travels internationally to compete in pole and aerial hoop. Jeanette just wrapped the Circus of Nations 6-week show on the bandstand stage in the sand in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk performing Lollipop Lyra and Lyra with a handloop

Svetlana is a Vancouver-based professional aerialist and co-founder of The Circus Lab Inc, which she launched in 2013 with hand-to-hand artist Jason Waugh. She coaches circus students to inspire the next generation of artists through her love for the circus arts as well as through precise technical teaching. Her most advanced students have earned invitations from thought-after circus schools and production companies.Her work in the world of circus as a performer has placed her on the Cirque du Soleil artist database, and ranges from touring shows to live television events, commercials, corporate entertainment, and theatrical productions

A competitive figure skater, Xochitl discovered her true passion in aerials in 1999 at a summer camp called Camp Winnarainbow.  In 2012 after helping establish Sky Candy Aerial School in Austin,Texas, and graduated at NECCA’s Pro track program. With focus in Dance trapeze and Duo Trapeze, she was under the tutelage of renowned coaches Aimee Hancock, Serenity and Elsie Smith. and in in Montreal Canada she studied Cirque Du Soleil and ENC coaches, Rachel Walker, Victor Fomine, Chloe Farah, and Itzel Virguenza.

Xochitl resides in Oakland, CA where she performs regularly and teaches at Kinetic Arts Center.  Shortly, she will join performing artists at Seattle’s Acrobatic Conundrum

For more info on Xochitl visit: http://www.xochitlsosa.com/about

Liz Cooper has been teaching and performing aerial circus arts since 2001 and is the head aerial instructor for Monica’s Danz Gym in Winnipeg, Canada. She is also the co-director of Momentum, a company devoted to creating original works fusing dance and aerial arts. Together with artistic director Monica Goermann, Liz choreographs and performs in Momentum’s full-length productions. Other performances include annual concerts with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the World Gymnaestrada in Finland, Switzerland, Austria, & Portugal, the Festival of Aerial Arts in Houston Texas, the Contemporary Circus Arts Festival of Toronto, the grand opening of Winnipeg’s MTS Centre Arena, and as a guest artist with Frostbite Circus, NAfro Dance Productions, Bolero Dance Theatre, and Manohar Performing Arts of Canada. In addition to her ongoing classes in Winnipeg, Liz has taught aerial dance workshops in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Toronto, Seattle, Houston, Honolulu, and with the Oulun Tahti Sirkus in Finland. She is also a licensed STOTT Pilates instructor trainer and presents workshops on shoulder anatomy & injury prevention for aerialists.

Tania Holt is an experienced multi-talented aerialist and choreographer who performs and coaches on silk, lyra, rope, bungee, hammock, flying trapeze, cube, and more. Her students have gone on to perform with Cirque Du Soleil, Pink, Taylor Swift, and Cirque Eloize. Her versatility and passion for creating have taken her to perform in a variety of venues, from dinner shows in Germany, Stage Shows in Lebanon, Greece and Venezuela to film and television in LA. Her Artistry has been featured on The Country Music Awards, Dancing With The Stars, The Kids Choice Awards, Cold Case, The Voice, Austin and Ally, Tokyo Disneyland and Special Events for Cirque Du Soleil. Tania has shared the Screen with Channing Tatum, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Nick Jonas, and Chealsea Handler. She feels incredibly fortunate, for her amazing collaborators in the air as well and her loving family and fiance.

Direct from France, Aurelie made her professional debut at the age of 17 in “Le Jeune Ballet de France,” a company in which she performed principal modern roles all around the European continent. She was also in “Scottish Ballet,” directed by Robert North. in Austria for “ABC Dance Company” directed by Nicolas Musin, performed and developed aerial pieces at “Jean Ann Ryan Company’s cruise ship productions, principal to modern dance company “Maryse Delente”, and an acrobat and aerialist with the “Transe Express Company.  In Asia, she was a special guest for “Empat Mata TV show”.  After finishing 5th in “Tu Si Que Vales”, the Spanish version of America’s Got talent, she joins Cirque du Soleil in Japan for the “OVO” show as a principal role and is set for another contract with them this winter.  From an educational standpoint,  Aurelie is the artistic director of “Cirque de la Lune” a school and touring group for young artist. Ms. Dauphin has been retained by Cirque du Soleil in several of its projects, and currently is a resident aerialist for said organization.

Being an aerialist completely embodies everything Paige loves about the performance world. Having participated in gymnastics, dance, and theatre in her youth, circus arts were the perfect match for her, and she has never looked back. Paige has trained mainly as an aerialist, specializing in aerial silk and dance trapeze, but has also dabbled in many other areas of circus, such as trampoline and various ground disciplines. Over the past several years, she has performed at many public, commercial, and corporate events, both locally and internationally. She currently performs as an aerialist with Canadian circus company Blink Acro. Paige is currently the head of the aerial silk department at The Circus Lab in Vancouver, BC, and coaches students of all ages and levels of ability. She also coaches the students of The Circus Lab’s intensive program, working with a group of highly talented youth interested developing careers as circus artists. In addition, she has been a guest instructor at multiple circus events across North America. As a coach, Paige loves being able to share her students’ pride as they overcome their obstacles and achieve their personal goals.

Chobi Gyorgy maintains a successful career as a celebrated performer and a master rigger. A native of Hungary, Chobi graduated from the intense vocational program of the Hungarian Circus School. He began performing immediately with a nine-person teeter-board act called “Kiss Faludy”, which toured throughout Europe appearing in many well known circuses, including Krone (Germany), Trolle Rodine (Sweden) and, in Latin America, Circo Tihany, as well as on European TV shows. Chobi was the base for many incredible tricks like the four-man high, which was taller than the five-man high stack of other acts. His five years with Kiss Faludy culminated in a tour with the prestigious red unit of “the greatest show on earth,” Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey.

Mathieu Leopold’s aerial work & choreography has been seen in both mainstream, contemporary & nouveau cirque venues through the years. His work has captivated, inspired & influenced audiences world-wide.He has choreographed for the hit Television show “Dancing with the Stars”, through 3 season finales, performed for Cirque Du Soliel’s hospitality flag ship “LIGHT”, as well as the 2013 ACM Awards w/ Little Big Town “On your side of the bed” choreographed by Mandy More, The Grammy’s, Emmys & Oscars Etc.  As a soloist performer as well as the Aerial Director for the Lucent Dossier Experience, he has directed and produced unique programs for many corporate events. Mathieu’s Leopold’s aerial work & choreography helped pioneer the aerial arts into mainstream Los Angeles music, art and entertainment culture; including The Edison, Coachella, LIB festival, Boom (Portugal), Electric Picnic (Ireland) etc. He has performed as a cast member for acclaimed live shows like, “Terry Beemans Mental Head Circus”“The ACT”“Luminario Ballet” & “LIFE” at the new SLS hotel in Las Vegas. His work can be tailored to a wide variety of professional, specialty & luxury entertainment services. With 10 years of performing & coaching experience, he is considered by his peers as a master of the aerial arts, He is the business owner or Aerial Culture Inc, producing full shows • rigging • aerial consulting & choreography, aerial/dance and workshops.

Kujo is an experienced teacher of both breaking and the circus arts. In addition to teaching b-boy master classes and workshops around the world, he’s been teaching at Edge PAC in Hollywood for 10 years. Additionally, he teaches Chinese pole at Cirque School LA in Hollywood, and also privately coaches champion pole fitness competitors. Kujo has been featured in a number of high-profile media projects – he back-flipped into jeans for a Levi’s national commercial, was the principal b-boy in Run DMC’s music video, “It’s Like That,” and was featured in the films Battle of the Year: The Dream Team and Step Up 2: The Streets. Kujo is also an accomplished circus artist – he excels on aerial straps and Chinese poles, and has performed in numerous circus shows both nationally and internationally. He was also hired by Cirque du Soleil as a consultant for The Beatles: Love in 2004, and again 2011 for one of their upcoming productions. Jacob “Kujo” Lyons is a b-boy first. He’s been a preeminent figure in the global b-boy/breakdance scene for 20 years, performing, competing, judging competitions, and teaching in 35 countries on 6 continents. His creative contributions to b-boy culture and movement vocabulary are indisputable, and continue to inspire and influence b-boys around the world to this day.Kujo is one of the founding members of Soul Control Crew. Established in late 1995, Soul Control forever changed the way power moves were done in the b-boy world. The vast majority of fundamental air flare combinations were pioneered by members of Soul Control, including Pablo (RIP), Charles, Mega Man, Inferno, Babak, and Kujo as well.

A native from France, where she was a competitive gymnast, Laetitia traveled the world for ten years with Cirque du Soleil, including six years with Quidam as an aerialist. After a one-year break due to the birth of her son, she was eager to go back to the circus scene and was part of the creation the show Zed (a Cirque du Soleil production based in Asia), with which she stayed for three years as a Bungee/Hammock and Hand-To-Hand artist.While performing in Japan, she met her husband-to-be, Nick, a Seattle-based rigger for Cirque Du Soleil, and followed him back to Seattle after the completion of her contract in September 2010. She worked again for Cirque Du Soleil in 2011 on their Quidam arena tour in a Hand-To-Hand act. After that she was fortunate to find a partner in Seattle with whom she built a new Hand-To-Hand act and performed regularly in the Seattle area.Now living with her son and her husband in San Francisco, she enjoys passing her knowledge and experience on to her students, teaching circus arts. Her strength resides in her analysis of movements and her attention to details and safety, and in whatever specialty, she strives for teaching each movement to perfection.

Some of Jason’s strong qualities include physical fitness, and developing new skills on and off of gymnastics and circus apparatus for both men and women. He has also trained with and helped acrobats into Cirque Du Soleil. He trains and performs in hand to hand Acro and other circus arts that prove to be helpful in both the dance and the gymnastics realms.

The Circus Lab encourages creativity and forward thinking in the circus arts. Their goal is to instruct students in fundamental circus skills while allowing for ‘play’ on the equipment and encouraging their individual styles and interests in movement.

Representing the Performing Arts discipline, Deborah Brockus is labeled “ the single most important person in Southland Dance”, an “impresario”, “ the mother superior of LA dance” and “indefatigable” by the Los Angeles Times, for her involvement in establishing the local dance scene as a producer, choreographer, and teacher.   She is founder and artistic director of Brockus Project Dance Company (1991), the CEO for Brockus Conservatory of Dance and Musical Theater, a pre-professional boarding arts high school and has held many positions in the past including the former Chair of the Dance Department at Idyllwild Arts Academy, the Former Director of the Summer Dance Program at Idyllwild Arts Academy, Former Chair of Dance at the California Conservatory of the Arts, and former head of the Dance Division of LAUSD’s Saturday Gifted and Talented Conservatory.  Brockus has worked nationally and internationally on stage, in film, and on television as both a dancer and choreographer. She is also the founding director of Los Angeles Dance Festival and 40 Dance In LA showcases, which include Spectrum (local professionals), New Perspectives (high school invitational), Split (mixing an out of town company with three local companies) and  Caught Between (multi-media) and Why We Dance Series ( a dialogue between the artists and audiences).

Jamie Hodgson has been performing circus arts for almost 15 years.  In 2006, she began teaching at the New England Center for Circus Arts where she has directed the Intensive Training professional program since 2009.  In addition to preparing future circus professionals, Jamie is the founder and artistic director of Girls on Trapeze performing group.

Well known for her performances at Season 5 of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, ballet trained, Melissa Sandvig, was a resident artist for Milwaukee Ballet.  She also traveled and performed with Los Angeles Classical Ballet, performing her principal role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.   At age 15 she won 2nd place in the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards for Classical Dance. Now Melissa is a freelance performer in the Los Angeles area performing with companies such as the Sacramento Ballet, Helios Dance Theater, Luminario Ballet, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, The Los Angeles Opera, Body Traffic and Motion Tribe.  Melissa is one of few dancers privileged to perform Marie de la Palme’s aerial piece “Le Coure Illumine”.  Melissa is a finalist in Season 5 of “So You Think You Can Dance” and was the first classically trained ballerina ever on the show.  She has also made an appearance as a ballerina on the hit show “Glee” “Dancing with the Stars”, “America’s Got Talent”, “Greys Anatomy”,“Hart of Dixie”, “Bunheads”, and continues to pursue acting with an appearance on “The Young and the Restless”. Melissa has also work with Cirque du Soleil creating a new show. She is well know for making ballet current by setting class and ballet choreography to pop/hit music that the dancers can relate to.