Biographies

Nicholas Beach
Nicholas Beach is the General Manager of the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre in Camrose, AB. Responsibilities include curating the arts centre’s multi-disciplinary season of 40+ artists across 6 different series each year. In more than 25-year career in the performing arts, he has worked in theatres in 4 provinces. Past related experience includes, member at large for the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta (ATAA), co-leader of the Canadian working group for contemporary circus with MICC, Treasurer for CAPACOA, and founding member of the Camrose Arts Council.  He is also a very active member of the Prairie Regional Presenters Coalition. Nicholas was the 2024 recipient of the Rhoda Taylor Award for significant contribution to the arts touring industry in Alberta from ATAA. Nick also teaches performing arts programming for the University of Alberta on the Augustana Campus.

Amanda Bergen
Amanda graduated from the MFA Directing and the BA Drama programs at the University of Alberta. She is a director, educator, actor, and early-career intimacy director.  Acting credits include Bitches: A Woman’s Fury, The Flood: A Disaster Story, and Trout Stanley. Her passion for leading creators and educating folks in drama and communication has brought her to teach with the Grindstone Theatre, UofA Drama and Concordia University of Edmonton. As founding Artistic Director and Producer of the Capitol Theatre, she wore all the hats to create a season of quirky, heart-filled productions. Amanda completed three seasons there, and some of her favourites include The Importance of Being Earnest and Poof! The Musical by Nick Green and Darrin Hagen. Tribes was the production that opened up the world of accessible theatre and changed how she teaches and creates. Her work and curriculum grounded in rigorous analysis of text, movement, and design.  Amanda especially enjoys supporting performers in finding their authenticity in theatrical storytelling.

Marisol Boulé
Marisol is a true circus baby, growing up watching her parents before joining them on stage, often hopping into family pyramids at community and school events. She has performed with Cirquetastic and at events across Alberta, including the Edmonton Street Performers Festival and ACAF’s Cirque in the Park. Recently, she co-created a duo rope act that premiered in Code Cirque and is excited to present it at the ACAF Cabaret 2026.

Jenn Bruyer
Jenn enjoys the rural life in the beautiful Creston Valley area of British Columbia where she lives with her husband, horses, and dogs. She is a multidisciplinary performance artist, choreographer, and coach. She has entertained audiences and guided students around the world including over 30 US states, China, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico since 2008. Jenn self describes as an aerial generalist, with a deep love for all types of movement and a specialty in ‘Aerial Dance’. As a coach, she seeks to provide the highest quality progressive instruction to aerialists of all abilities from novice to professional performer. 

Vince Burwash
Vince is the owner and lead designer at Keylite Design Inc., an Alberta based lighting design firm specializing in live music, theatrical performance, and corporate galas. Vince is currently the designer and lighting director for Firefly Theatre and has spent years touring with Recording artist’s Gord Bamford, James Barker Band, The Tenors, Joe Nichols and Paul Brandt. Recent credits include The Art of Banksy Exhibit, the 2022 Papal visit, ESO Symphony in the City and FIS Snowboarding Big Air. Vince lives in St Albert, Alberta with his wife Terri and enjoys spending time with his 4 adult children and extended family.

Arne Bystrom
Trained at the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA) in Seattle, and later graduated from the École de cirque de Québec in 2012, Arne Bystrom is a circus artist, juggler, and acrobat, driven since childhood by a desire to travel and perform on stage. It was in Québec that he met his colleagues in the acrobatic quartet 4Stomp, with whom he has been performing since 2016 on stages and in streets around the world, notably with the show What’s Next?. His career has taken him to numerous international festivals across Europe, Asia, and Oceania, where his work has received several awards and distinctions. He has also collaborated with renowned companies such as Machine de Cirque and Acrobatic Conundrum. Arne is passionate about lifelong learning, physical storytelling, and poetic living. He is also committed to teaching and sharing his art, having notably served as co-director of the youth company Cirrus Cirkus. Today, he continues to perform internationally and spends part of the year sailing in Greece aboard a sailboat, which connects musicians and circus folk with local communities.

Cirque Hors Piste
Cirque Hors Piste (CHP) is a Montreal organization dedicated to social circus intervention. The organization uses the circus arts to offer youth who are marginalized or at risk of exclusion an alternative path of personal development, with social support that allows them to move forward and flourish as citizens. Its impact on individuals in precarious situations is unequivocal, in addition to contributing more widely to the collective well-being in its community.

Cirkaskina
Cirque Hors Piste’s (CHP) national component, called Cirkaskina, meaning “circus” and “all together” in the Atikamekw Indigenous language, gathers 20 partner organizations and involves youth experiencing marginalization from across Canada. Cirkaskina’s main objectives are: to facilitate networking activities between youth, practitioners, researchers and social circus coordinators, to promote and strengthen the recognition of the circus arts as a tool for social transformation and to support young leaders in social circus with their life skills. Cirkaskina young leaders: Adam David, St. John’s, Glania Jaelle Buissereth, Montreal, Hope Akello, Vancouver, Kai Retter, Halifax, Lok Holmes-Pringle, Calgary, Lejahi Josie Edwards, Toronto, Océane Richer, Quebec City, Rémi Fortier, Montreal

Terry Crane
Terry Crane is a consummate circus performer, fluent in a half dozen circus disciplines, with a multi-decade history of collaboration, coaching, directing and being in front of audiences. He is the founder of Acrobatic Conundrum, a contemporary circus company based in Seattle. He has performed on 4 continents, in theaters, under the big top, and on the street. Terry is delighted to share his love of rope technique, circus creation, and collaboration via workshops and performances across the globe. As a director, Terry is on a relentless quest to tell true fictions, contradict human isolation, and portray paradox.

Emma Curtiss
Emma Curtiss has been channeling her weirdness into art for nearly a decade. Her love of collaborative performance is always taking her somewhere new to play and create with others. When she isn’t up in the air or on her cyr wheel, she can be found teaching at the School for Acrobatics and New Circus Arts in S Seattle.

Léda Davies
Léda Davies is a Calgary-based circus artist, movement director, and co-founder of The Screaming Goats Collective. She trained in Montreal with coaches from Cirque du Soleil and the National Circus School and holds an MFA in Theatre Practice from the University of Alberta. Her work combines circus and theatre to explore social themes through embodied storytelling. Léda has taught at both the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta.

Melanie Doderai
Melanie Doderai ignites audiences with her magnetic stage presence and boundless energy. A violinist since the age of three, Melanie blends classical technique with modern innovation on electric violin. In 2018, Melanie introduced aerial violin to the stage, becoming Canada’s first aerial silk violinist and earning a feature on Canada’s Got Talent. Today, Melanie performs from symphony halls to festival stages and is a passionate educator, inspiring the next generation through workshops, masterclasses, and community outreach.

Annie Dugan
Annie is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Alberta’s award-winning Firefly Theatre & Circus, a company dedicated to merging the spectacle of circus arts with an accessible theatrical narrative. Since 2000, Ms. Dugan has been involved with all of Firefly Theatre’s productions in various capacities, including directing, producing, creating and performing. Firefly’s shows have been performed in theatres, on walls and rooftops, in the middle of the street, in city fountains and antique spiegeltents. A community builder, Annie enjoys empowering people to live large.

Edmonton Juggling Club
The Edmonton Juggling Club is where this ancient art comes alive! Started as a rag tag group of enthusiasts, we have grown into a vibrant community dedicated to spreading joy, creativity, and skill through the mesmerizing art of prop manipulation.

Randall Fraser
Randall Fraser is the founding Artistic Director of The National Stiltwalkers of Canada and has been running the company since its founding in 2001. He comes from a background in theatre and festival design and production. having been a lighting and sound technician, set prop and costume designer, puppeteer, mask maker, stiltwalker and fire performer. Stiltwalking combines all his creative passions into one unique and dynamically varied career.

Sasha Galitzki
A passionate aerial artist whose unique performances merge artistry with adventure, Sasha uses her creative work to draw attention to beautiful and often vulnerable natural environments. A lifelong outdoorswoman, Sasha has been enjoying the ups and downs of adventures outside ever since she was catapulted out of her dad’s ski pack and into a snowdrift as a baby. From throwing bombs as a ski patroller to performing gravity-defying acrobatics in subzero temperatures, her adventures require immense physicality, sound risk-assessment, and unwavering confidence… plus flips, spins, and occasional splits. In July 2024, Sasha faced a devastating personal loss when her home and much of her Jasper community were destroyed by wildfires. Sasha’s performance art now carries an even deeper significance as she channels her grief into raising awareness of the impact of climate change on the places she loves. Sasha is a United Nations International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation Partner and a member of the Protect Our Winters Creative Alliance.

Sue-Ellen Gerritsen
Sue-Ellen Gerritsen is a program officer at the Canada Council for the Arts in the Explore and Create program. She/they have been at council 20 years focused exclusively on the inter-arts, multidisciplinary and circus arts fields. Ask me anything.

Eve Gordon
Once called the ‘Beyoncé of NZ circus’, Eve has a litany of credits as a circus artist; including co-creation of 22 shows with The Dust Palace, Aotearoa New Zealand’s most established circus theatre company, actor, producer and author of leading national educational documents and resources, for example Te Tomo – Måori Circus Pedagogy. 

Stephanie Gruson
Stephanie is the Director of Special Events and a core company member with Firefly Theatre and Circus. A versatile aerialist specializing in silks, she also performs on trapeze, cube, and aerial kite. Her work emphasizes dynamic movement, musicality, and engaging, high-impact performance that connects with audiences. She has performed at events, festivals, and in numerous Firefly productions. A founding co-producer of the Alberta Circus Arts Festival, Stephanie supports growth of circus arts in the community.

Anne-Marie Hivert
Anne-Marie has had multiple roles in the art community as circus artist, instructor and cultural worker. She has been working around Quebec province as an aerialist, choreographer and director. As an instructor, she has taught many circus arts classes around Montreal and, in the last 6 years, in the Calgary area. After getting her degree in cultural management, Anne-Marie has been helping multiple organizations and artists with grant writing, production and stage management.

Graeme Janzen
Born in Calgary, Graeme Janzen has been doing theatrical lighting, rigging and performer flying for 10 years. Over the years, he has flown performers for Calgary Opera’s production of Everest, 9 years of the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show while working for Chicago based Vertigo and most recently Alberta Ballet’s production of PHI. In 2018, he started Gaslamp FX INC which specializes in aerial rigging hardware and fall protection sales after seeing a need within the Alberta community for quality rigging hardware suppliers.

Mike King
Mike King is a Calgary-based rigger and stage carpenter with a specialty in flying effects and acrobatic rigging. His work has been featured on stages from the smallest black box theatres to the world’s biggest stadiums, as well as high-end retail installations all over the world. When not rigging, Mike enjoys cowboy romance novels and swearing at children.

Melissa Knowles
Melissa K. Knowles has been performing with Acrobatic Conundrum since 2017. She is an anti-conformist, defiantly klutzy, whimsical, intentional, absurd, and in search of balance. Melissa loves art because it cultivates curiosity and brings new perspectives to life. With performing, she strives to use vulnerability as a vehicle for connection. She also loves laughter and dark chocolate.

Rayel Komant
Rayel (she/ her) is an aerial artist based in Edmonton. Rayel began her aerial training in 2015, beginning with silks and quickly expanding to other apparatuses. Some of her favorite performances have been the Stollery Hospital New Year’s Eve Gala, Code Cirque, Expanse Festival, Skirts-A- Fire, and the 2024 Alberta Circus Arts Festival. When not in the air, Rayel works as a high school teacher. She can often be found outside, chasing sunshine and searching for the world’s best popsicle.

Demetrius Kuc
Demetrius Kuc is an Edmonton-based accordionist and pianist known for bringing warmth, energy, and elegance to live events. A Royal Conservatory award-winning accordionist, he performs a wide range of music, from classical and folk to light popular favourites. His expressive playing, engaging presence, and distinctive sound create an inviting atmosphere that adds charm and character to any celebration.

Eliza Lance
Eliza began training at the National Circus School of Montreal at 13, specializing in aerial hoop and contortion. After graduating in 2017, she has performed with different Canadian and international companies such as Cirque Éloize, Circus Monti, Cirque de la pointe sèche, and Firefly Theatre and Circus. In recent years, she has focused some of her time on supporting the circus community, including working with Cirque Hors Piste, a social circus based in Montreal, and traveling to Barbados to teach circus with The 7 Fingers.

Heunjung Lee
Dr. Heunjung Lee is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary, where she also teaches undergraduate courses in theatre and dance as a sessional instructor. She received her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Performing Arts Studies from Seoul National University in 2016 and her Ph.D. in Performance Studies from the University of Alberta in 2023. As an interdisciplinary scholar, her research explores the intersections of age and aging, gender, race, health, and medicine through the lenses of critical disability studies, age studies, and dementia studies. She is currently leading the SSHRC-funded postdoctoral project, Moving through Dementia: Enabling Embodied Creativity of Immigrants Living with Dementia through a Culturally Tailored Movement Program (2025–2027), which develops a strengths-based dance program in collaboration with Korean Canadian older adults living with dementia. Her scholarship has appeared in journals including Contemporary Theatre Review, Theatre Research in Canada, and Revista Cena, as well as in edited collections, including a recent chapter in Late Stage: Theatrical Perspectives on Age and Aging (2026).

Taylor Levsen
Taylor is a versatile circus artist with a passion for collaboration, exploration, and a deep commitment to her craft. Her circus love affair began in Nelson, BC, performing partner acrobatics and aerial hoop. She now performs across disciplines, including aerial hoop, lollipop, flow arts, and dynamic trapeze. Known for her captivating stage presence and infectious joy, Taylor is thrilled to perform at this year’s North x Northwest Cabaret.

Luis Meirelles
A high-voltage Afro-indigenous Brazilian performer, Luis launched into the professional industry in 2020. He specialises in Duo Straps, Toss the flyer, and Corde Lisse and has toured internationally with visionary indigenous language work Te Tangi å te Tui and Haus of Yolo. Based in Auckland Luis performs often with Aotearoa’s most established cirque theatre company Dust Palace.

Jason Melnychuk
Jason Melnychuk is a Calgary based circus artist specializing in juggling and balance acts. He began his career doing street performances and corporate gigs while earning a BFA in Drama from the U of C. Since then he has created three solo shows, collaborated on countless ensemble projects, and entertained audiences worldwide with his blend of circus and comedy. His work is recognizable by his playfulness, and the innovative ways that he explores the audience-performer-skill relationship.

Gillian Moon
Gillian grew up in Barrhead, Alberta but has spent a number of years roaming the country in search of opportunities to sing, dance and fly. She has toured extensively, performing from coast to coast and across France and the US. High energy physicality characterizes her performance style – she is curious, playful and always willing to try new things. Her love of expression through movement has led her to train and perform in everything from musical theatre and dance to partner acrobatics, aerial silks, lyra, adagio, stilt dance and her new favourite apparatus, the pocket lyra!

Deiby Morales
Deiby Morales, known as Choco, discovered the circus arts at the age of 14 through social circus in Costa Rica. He trained for five years with CIRCO Fantazztico before continuing his journey in Europe. In 2020, he joined the National Circus School of Châtellerault in France, and later pursued his studies at the Quebec Circus School in Canada, where he graduated in 2025, specializing in diabolo and hand-to-hand. He has performed at major events such as the Montréal Complètement Cirque Festival and the St. John’s International CircusFest, and toured across Canada with the company Flip Fabrique (les 400 Coups). His path has also led him to create and perform in Austria and Sweden. Guided by values of sharing, perseverance, and resilience, Deiby draws inspiration from human connections, travel, and his Costa Rican roots, which nurture his deep love for nature and life.

Antoine Morin
Born in Toulouse, circus artist Antoine Morin completed his professional training at the École de cirque de Québec in 2012. He is co-founder and co-creator of the quartet 4Stomp, whose show What’s Next? marks an important milestone in his artistic career. Antoine’s extensive career includes collaborations with Machine de Cirque (La Galerie), Cirque du Soleil (Wintuk, Le Royaume de Tôle), FLIP Fabrique (Attrape-moi, Flip, Crépuscule), and GOP Varieté-Theater (Plufolï). His talent has also been showcased on international television, notably on Italy’s Tu si que vales and France’s Le plus grand cabaret du monde. Beyond his performance career, he is an experienced coach and acrobatic designer, working with the École de cirque de Québec and various other Quebecois companies. Known for his analytical mind and reliability, Antoine is a trusted collaborator who never hesitates to get his hands dirty to repair, refine, and optimize his creative environment.

Daphné Morin
Daphné Morin is the coordinator for Cirkaskina, Cirque Hors Piste’s national component. Cirkaskina has led her to collaborate with over 20 different partner organizations across Canada that use circus for social and personal change. Trained as a dramatherapist, clown, and theatre practitioner, she has worked in various settings using the performing arts to foster well-being with youth living in precarious situations and/or experiencing marginalization.

Kamila Nasr
Kamila is a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer based in Montreal who has been performing her music throughout the Americas, Asia, and France. She has a love for creating sound and music for visuals and has worked with filmmakers, game makers and circuses to help bring their projects to life. During her earlier years, Kamila built her career by charming passersby with her theremin or her nose flute, and continues to have a deep appreciation for anything out of the ordinary. This is her second show with Acrobatic Conundrum.

Sarah-Soleil Nault
Sarah-Soleil is a high-level Canadian aerial hoop specialist. ÉCQ-trained, she is known for her dynamic and epic style. She was featured at Montréal Complètement Cirque, Cirque Éloize, la TOHU and Productions Haut-Vol. She has been coaching and judging aerial competition all over the world traveling to Mexico, Thailand and Ottawa in the past year. Passionate about a variety of disciplines, including hand balancing, contortion, Cyr wheel, giant bubbles and hula hoop, she has showcased her skills at numerous events.

Sandra Olarte
Sandra Olarte (she/her) is a Mexican-Canadian aerial artist residing in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), who has been performing aerial arts for 10+ years in arts festivals, theatre productions, and private and public events. As a performer specializing in non-traditional aerial apparatus, Sandra strives to create a deep and meaningful connection with her audience, to highlight the relevance of diversity, inclusion, and representation in the arts, and to create social change. Find more of her work at olarte.ca.

Jeff Olynek
Jeff has been juggling since before NSYNC was an international sensation. His act is gluten free and appeals to all ages and species. With flair and panache Jeff is able to juggle dangerous objects, geometric shapes, and busy schedules. With a combination of 2 parts comedy, 2 parts feats of skill and dexterity, and a pinch of cinnamon, Jeff cooks up a tasty performance that will leave you salivating for more.

Hugo Ouellet-Côté
Hugo Ouellet-Côté is an exceptional circus artist specializing in aerial straps and trampo-wall, trained at the prestigious National Circus School of Montreal. As a co-founder and operational pillar of Cirque Kikasse, he brings over 20 years of professional experience and widely recognized expertise to the performing arts industry. Co-creator of the world-renowned troupe FLIP Fabrique, Hugo has performed thousands of times across the globe, collaborating with industry leaders such as Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize. A true craftsman at heart, he now seamlessly combines his artistic mastery with solid expertise in international tour management.

William Poliquin-Simms
Co-founder of 4Stomp and commercial strategist, William Poliquin-Simms is a leading figure in the circus world, boasting over 17 years of experience and thousands of international performances. Having been introduced to circus arts in his childhood, he has built an impressive dual career as both an artist and a manager, collaborating with renowned companies such as Cirque du Soleil and Machine de Cirque. Known for his leadership, creativity, and innate showmanship, William has contributed to award-winning productions at numerous prestigious festivals. Since 2015, he has co-directed the circus company PS² with his brother and is co-founder of the iconic Cirque Kikasse, a unique “circus food/beer truck” concept that is gaining acclaim across North America. Passionate, rigorous, and a natural unifier, William is a trusted collaborator for clients, presenters, and artists alike.

Queen K
Queen K discovered her love of movement through 10+ years of competitive figure skating and precision training before transitioning into theatre and dance. A graduate of the Mount Royal Performance Theatre Arts program, she has performed in and choreographed numerous stage productions. Trained in hip hop, heels, street jazz, lyrical, and burlesque, Queen K founded the Fierce and Curvy Empire in 2020 to create an empowering, inclusive dance community. She believes everyone deserves the freedom to move, build confidence, and embrace their fierce side while uplifting others.

Aytahn Ross
Aytahn Ross has been seen live by over 1 million people in 13 countries around the world. He is a juggler who can be described as a comic gentleman known for his elegant silliness, irreverent humour, and eclectic manipulation skills. Ross grew up in a cold lonely place called Winnipeg where he learned to juggle to entertain himself. After almost 25 years as a full-time performing artist, Ross has had repeat invitations to Just for Laughs, produced and sold-out shows at the National Arts Centre of Canada, performed solo for the Governor General and once John Cleese from Monty Python said ‘Hello’ to him! In the last 10 years he’s been based in Edmonton Alberta, where he has continued to work in the festival and event industry at all levels. His work with Firefly Theatre & Circus includes Metropolis, Hotel Circo, and Superstition, as well as many special events.

Kate Ryan
Kate Ryan is a circus artist, comedian and entertainer from Canada, celebrated for her signature fusion of high-level circus artistry and razor-sharp comedic storytelling. Her signature style blends stand-up comedy with high-level circus – Cirque du Soleil meets Just for Laughs – delivered through world-class hula hoops, juggling, face balancing, and physical comedy. Her client resume includes representation of Cirque du Soleil, Princess Cruises, and Cartoon Network.

Jérémy Saint-Jean
A 2012 graduate of the École de cirque de Québec, Jérémie Saint-Jean is a versatile artist with over 15 years of experience as a porter, juggler, and acrobat. Known for his diverse skill set and unwavering reliability, he fully immerses himself in every creative project. His career has led him to collaborate with world-renowned companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Les 7 Doigts de la Main (Duel Reality, Pub Royal), Cirque Kikasse (SANTÉ!), FLIP Fabrique (Blizzard, Crépuscule), and Théâtre A Tempo (Action!). Beyond the stage, he shares his passion as a juggling and lasso coach and also works in front of the camera as an actor and extra. His professional rigor, open-mindedness, and artistic agility make him an essential pillar of any production.

Adèle Saint-Martin
Adèle Saint-Martin is a multidisciplinary circus artist, curious, passionate, and vibrant, specializing as a generalist flyer and in hand-to-hand acrobatics. She is also a hand balancer and a passing juggler. After training at the École nationale de cirque de Châtellerault, she graduated from the École de cirque de Québec in 2020. Her career quickly led her to work with renowned institutions: she notably performed in the show SLAM (Ex Machina & FLIP Fabrique), directed by Robert Lepage, as well as in the productions Changes at GOP in Germany and Les 3 Géants with Machine de Cirque. Her talent also contributed to the success of Zéphyr (FLIP Fabrique), which won the “Prix Opus” for Best Show in 2022. Always seeking new challenges, Adèle continues her artistic evolution by joining the Cirque Kikasse team in 2024.

Sapphire Circus Arts
Sapphire Circus Arts is an Edmonton-based aerial training studio offering recreational circus classes for adults and youth in a supportive, inclusive environment. Founded in 2022 by aerialist Erin Dewar, the company continues the legacy of Firefly Circus by fostering community and creative expression. Specializing in disciplines like silks, hoop, and trapeze, Sapphire emphasizes safety, body mechanics, and artistic growth while helping students build strength, confidence, and individuality through movement. Interstellar Circus was performed by: Aimee Jackobs, Alana Sawyer, Caroline Cheng, Chelsea Maier, Ruth Fayomi, Sarah Crowley, Sarah Tonnos, Summer O’Brien | Director(s): Erin Dewar, Samara Von Rad | sapphirecircus.ca

Michelle Deanne Schultz
Michelle Deanne Schultz is an art consultant, strategist and curator who has worked in public and private institutions in Canada, the US and the UK for the last 15 years. Since moving back to Edmonton in 2015, her focus has been on Prairie-based artists and institutions. She is often on the road, believing in the importance of building connections for artists nationally and internationally.

Roberta Staszuk
Roberta Staszuk is an aerialist with over a decade of experience in the air. As one half of The Flying Foxes, she brings strength, creativity, and connection to every performance. Working across multiple apparatuses, she is known for her inventive, seamless transitions and a style that blends precision with playful exploration.

Yuki Ueda
Yuki Ueda is an award-winning Japanese Canadian contemporary circus artist and co-founder of Cause & Effect Circus. Over nearly two decades, he has become known for dynamic, interactive performances that blend Edo Daikagura—studied under 13th-generation master Maruichi Sennoh—with modern juggling, freestyle movement, and storytelling. A multiple awards recipient, and co-created acclaimed works including The New Conformity, Press Play, and Luminarium. Beyond the stage, he is a dedicated mentor and community builder.

​Sarah Visser
Sarah Visser is a circus generalist who is equally at home 30 feet in the air as she is commanding a stage. Specialising in dance trapeze and trained at École de cirque de Québec, she has graced stages of circus-theatrical productions across Canada with Firefly Theatre and Le Cirque De La Nuit, and performed aboard the P&O Iona across Norway, Spain, and the UK. Her event credits include K-Days, the Calgary Stampede, the TED Conference, and the Stollery Kids Foundation Gala.