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NOVICE & STUDENT 2022 JUDGES

Rachel Walker

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

Michael Lipari

Career highlights include: performing on The Ellen show, aerial captain for Kylie Minogue’s Aphrodite world tour. First aerialist to perform and compete on America’s Got Talent. Cirque Du Soleil, Friedrichstad Palast Berlin, Royal Caribbean International, Pacha Dubai, Disney, Knott’s Berry farm, Resorts World Singapore (La Vie), Les Farfadais International, The Generating Company UK, Supper Club LosAngeles, The Act Las Vegas, and Lucent Dossier.

Elsie Smith

Elsie is a founder of the New England Center for Circus Arts and Nimble Arts. Together with her twin sister, Serenity, she performed for Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco, earned a bronze medal at the Internat'l Festival de Circo in Spain, and the Special Award at the China Wuqiau Internat'l Circus Festival.  In 2016 the sisters won the American Circus Educators’ Award for Excellence in Education and the Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts from the Vermont Arts Council.  She is a founding member of the American Circus Educators Association's Safety Committee and the American Circus Alliance.   

Ekaterina Arnaoutova

Ekaterina(Katya) Arnaoutova is third generation circus performer with over thirty five years of experience on stage, specializing in aerial acrobatics. She has worked with companies such as the Great Moscow Circus, Cirque Nouvel Air, Cirque Éloize, Cirque Mechanics, and nearly fifteen years with Cirque du Soleil, including the shows; Nouvelle Expérience, Fascination, and The Beatles Love. Katya currently works as an independent performer, coach, and creative consultant.

Sasha Harrington

Soloist at The Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil 

Jill Crook

Former soloist at ZUMANITY by Cirque du Soleil

ALEVTYNA TITARENKO

Alevtyna an Artist/ Acrobat/ Character from Cirque Du Soleil with 22 years of stage experience. She performed in O, Saltimbanco, LOVE, and Totem. Throughout her career with Cirque du Soleil she worked in a variety of different acts such as the Russian Swing, Aerial hoop, Chinese poles, Bungee, Solo Straps, Male Gymnastics

rings, and a Hand-to-hand adagio. She also worked on the creation of the show ‘O’ ‘LOVE” and ‘Totem’. She has also worked with Teatro Zinzanni. She has a SAG award for her appearance as a stunt person in WONDER WOMAN 1984 and is a 2X world champion in Fitness and a 2X Arnold Classic Champion in Fitness. 

Ginger Gruiz

Ginger has performed in and created a variety of acts for Cirque du Soleil.

Rachel Karabenick

EMERGING JUDGES 2022 

JUDGES

Stacy Clark - CEO CIRCUS TALK

Blaze Birge - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FLYNN CREEK CIRCUS

Michael Lanphear - CASTING AIDA CRUISES

Amy Gale - CASTING IMAGINATION ENTERTAINMENT

Charlie Burrows - CASTING CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

CASTING ONSITE BUT NOT ON JUDGING PANEL

Cirque Mechanics

Celebrity Cruises

America's Got Talent

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