COACH BIOS VIVA 2019
Lin Veronica Light - GERMAN WHEEL
Lin-Veronica is 9 time World German Wheel champion, she has been a guest coach at Ecole National de Cirque and Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba. She has performed and coached German Wheel around the world. She has worked with many of the youth circuses in the US coaching both performers and competition wheel athletes.
Martin Frenette - ROPE
Born and trained in Montreal (National Circus School and a decade of dance training), Martin Frenette has given over 1500 performances in Europe as an aerialist with Circus Monti, Chamäleon Theater, Wintergarten Varieté, GOP Show Concepts or the Max Entertainment Palace to name a few. For the last five years, he has been splitting his time between Canada and the US and has built a solid reputation as artistic director, choreographer and circus instructor for various artists, schools and productions (Berlin circus school, New England Center for Circus Arts, Bristol Albany, Montreal Caserne or Chicago ALOFT).
Dave Dedera - CLOWNING - BALL WALKING - DIABOLO - ROLA BOLLA
Dave Dedera is a fantastic object manipulator, clown, and stilt walker. He toured with Ringling Brothers for many years, was a featured performer on tour with the Rolling Stones, and currently headlines at Circus Circus. Dave Dedera also ran the Las Vegas branch of Cirque du Soleil's Cirque du Monde program and is currently involved with the Las Vegas circus outreach program Social CirKISH.
Scott Henson - WIRE
Scott Henson has been training circus for over 8 years and teachers wire walking at Cirque School LA
Michael Lanphear - STRAPS
As an artist, Michael performed his aerial straps number in multiple international touring productions such as Britney Spear’s Circus Tour, Soap the Show, and Cirque Eloize. In 2010 Michael founded his company AcroArts Productions where he has acted as acrobatic coach and choreographer for multiple fashion shows, a pop music tour, television productions, cruise ship productions, and cultural outreach programs. Most recently, Michael has had the honor of coaching and creating for Cirque du Soleil’s 2016 production of Luzia & 2017 production of Crystal.
Rachel Walker - DANCE TRAPEZE - CLOUDSWING - STATIC TRAPEZE
Rachel Walker is a Montreal based aerial trainer. A guest instructor at Ecole National de Cirque, Rachel starred in Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA, performing on the solo swinging trapeze. Learn more about Rachel at www.rachelwalker.me
Jean-Luc Martin - HANDSTANDS - HAND TO HAND - TEETERBOARD
Jean-Luc Martin is the owner and founder of
San Diego Circus Center where he oversees several programs such as Preparatory (students seeking higher education and professional opportunities) and Master Classes (handstands, hand to hand, straps). Jean-luc had the privilege to perform several shows with
Cirque du Soleil, Circus Knie and Pickle Family Circus and began his training at Ecole Nationale de Cirque. www.SanDiegoCircusCenter.org
Serenity Smith-Forchion - DUO TRAPEZE - AERIAL SILKS - INJURY PREVENTION
Serenity Smith Forchion and her twin sister, Elsie, are award winning aerialists & founders of Nimble Arts and the New England Center for Circus Arts. Serenity’s resume includes Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey, Special Award at Wuqiao Festival, Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and American Circus Educators Award for Excellence in Education. Her students grace the stages of the world including Circa, 7 Fingers, Soap, Pippin and Cirque du Soleil. Serenity’s expertise brings detailed concepts of technique to each student focusing on fundamental body awareness in order to expand the student's capacity to explore new movements and accomplish higher level skills and creativity.
Joe Pinzon - AERIAL SILKS
Joseph Pinzon is the founder and creative producer of Short Round Productions, a Los Angeles-based circus company responsible for the show Filament. With over 20 years of performing experience, Joseph holds a BA in Psychology from UCLA and is a graduate of the National Circus School in Montreal, where he specialized in aerial techniques. He has worked internationally with companies such as Cirque Éloize, Compagnia Finzi Pasca, Cirque du Soleil, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Chämaleon Productions, and Wintergarten Varieté. He is currently earning a Masters in Arts Leadership at the University of Southern California.
Kelsi Mathey - AERIAL HOOP
Kelsi Mathey is a passionate performer, choreographer, instructor, and director who, has a 25 year background in circus acrobatics/dance with a 15 year background in coaching. Kelsi received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and a secondary in dance and movement from Chapman University. Currently directing her second aerial program at San Diego Circus Center in San Diego, CA, Kelsi finds joy in celebrating human expression & exploring individuality through circus and movement. Kelsi has had the opportunity to perform and compete nationally and internationally with various entertainment companies.
Angelique Janov - CONTORTION
Angelique studied the art of contortion at the Mongolian State Circus. Since then she has been performing for over 40 years as a contortion artist in all of its forms: Solo, duo and group contortion acts. Angelique has performed all over the world - In renown circuses, such as Moscow and Roncalli and cabaret shows, such as Monte-Carlo casino and Lido in Paris, along with various TV shows: in Germany, Italy, Argentina, Japan.Throughout her career, Angelique has been awarded numerous prizes, awards, and honors from international Circus Festivals, including the Prime Prize from Havana and Special Prize from Monte-Carlo.
Adam Wolley - CONTORTION/STRETCHING
Adam Woolley is the Aerial Department Director at the Circadium School of Contemporary Circus, and the Head Coach at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts where he has a thriving contortion and hand-balance program for youth. He has worked with youth in competition dance and circus on building flexibility safely and maintaining strong, supported structures in flexibility work, and brings a mix of traditional sports acrobatic training and traditional circus to his teaching.
ACT Uganda SOCIAL CIRCUS AND JUGGLING
Acrobatics Circus Troupe (ACT) is a community based organization located in Katwe, Kampala. Their mission is to empower the children in Katwe and to keep them away from the drugs, alcohol, violence and gangs that are prevalent in the community by providing them with a safe space to go after school and on the weekends. We use acrobatics as a way to teach the children perseverance, trust, and the importance of teamwork.
Lisa Cote - Round table for circus school owners
Lisa Cote is one of the Co-Founders and Owners of Trapeze Las Vegas, the city's longest running circus school with both outdoor and indoor locations serving all ages and levels of artists. Lisa directs the amateur performing troupe, the Aerial Angels and sponsors interactive circus for charities and events in the region. She has degrees in Physical Education, Health, Psychology, and Physical Therapy. Lisa advocates that more (safe) circus is good for everyone!
Suwasit - POLE DANCE
In the ever-changing world of Pole and Aerial Arts, Suwasit is considered the person that professionals go to for proven results. This POLE LEGEND is indeed part of Sin City’s remarkable landscape and history, a true Las Vegas icon as the Strip’s first male pole dancer.
