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Academy of Circus Arts - Class of 2005 |
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LOU BEEKHUIZEN came to us from South London and has been involved in the performing arts for much of her life. She holds an AVCE in Performing Arts & Entertainment Industries and has spent the past 13 years acting, singing, dancing, directing and managing with various theatrical companies, including Playmakers and the Camberley Theatre. Lou has always been drawn to comedy and followed her red nose to the ACA, where she quickly found her feet in some very large shoes. She has been privileged to work and learn alongside Charlie Cairoli, Norman Barrett and Bippo the clown, and hopes to continue to work as a comedienne. Showcase performances: One-Clown Dance Party; Plate Spinning; Comedy Chair; Comedy Vaulting. |
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LINDSAY STOCKLEY originally hails from Manchester and holds both a BA (Honors) degree in Fine Art and an OCN in Arts Enterprise Management. She has worked in an administrative capacity for Swamp Circus Theatre, Heartbreak Productions, Sheffield International Documentary Festival and Campus Ventures, as well as managing her own company as an event coordinator for Summer Jamz Festival, Peace in the Park, the Sharrow Festival and the Art Carnival. She has even worked as a professional radio and nightclub DJ! Lindsay is an excellent circus ringmistress and is also proficient in aerial web, diabolo and hat manipulation, stilt-walking and technical sound procedures. She looks forward to a position in arts administration or production, with an eye toward moving into stage management and direction. Showcase performances: Ringmistress; Diabolo; Web Rope; Comedy Vaulting; Where are they now? Lindsay is contracted Ringmistress & Administrator on Jay Miller’s Circus 2006. |
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THAYR HARRIS was raised in the countryside of Tenessee in the United States. Born to a family of accomplished musicians and musical instrument makers, he was touring and performing at Renascence fairs and festivals by the age of ten. Thayr also pursued extensive study in Martial Arts and has earned rank Tae Kwon-Do, Wushu and Brazillian Jujitsu. He is currently a member of the Hollywood based Martial Arts stunt team, Reelkick, and has choreographed, directed or starred in several of the company’s films. Thayr excels at acrobatic and equilibristic skills, and he is most interested in developing rola-bola, ladder perch, juggling and comedy acts. Showcase performances: Rola-Bola; Comedy Juggling Duo; Comedy Chair; Comedy Vaulting. Where are they now? Thayr is a contracted Performer on Bulgarian State Circus 2006. |
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JULIE JOHNSON came to us from the Hawaiian Island of Kauai and holds both a BA degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts (Honors) degree in Education. Her passion for performance began with her first stage appearance at age six as a Christmas cookie and since then she has been a featured vocal soloist, actress, puppeteer, dancer and aerialist for various community theatrical productions in America. Julie has long aspired to work in the circus and began by studying aerials with the Gemini Twins, Frequent Flyer Productions and at the Aerial Dance Festival. Strongly athletic, she has developed her aerial skills very quickly, becoming proficient at fabrics, web-rope and single trapeze. Julie saw her time with the ACA as the pursuit of a life-long dream and she hopes to work in professional circus for a long time to come. Showcase performances: Aerial Fabrics; Comedy Stilt-Trapeze; Web Rope; Comedy Vaulting. Where are they now? Julie is now performing her Aerial Silks and as Ringmistress at Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, touring the midwest USA during 2006. |
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JAMES MONTIONT was born and raised in France, but has always been drawn to travel the world at large and is now a US citizen. In 1988 he began working at Club Med Mexico as a circus instructor, flying trapeze catcher and performer. He continued to work as a flying trapeze instructor for other recreational facilities and summer camps throughout the US and eventually found his way to California where he met his wife and partner, Marina Karadjieva. Together, they have performed a variety of aerial acts in a multitude of West Coast venues. James is skilled in comedy, rola-bola, stilt-walking, juggling and, of course, aerial arts. Most attracted to Cirque Nuveau, his long-term goal is to establish an alternative circus performance company in the Western United States. Showcase performances: Comedy Rola-Bola; Duo Trapeze; Duo Adagio; Comedy Vaulting. Where are they now? James is a founding Artist of the new Cirque Destino Troupe USA. |
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MARINA KARADJIEVA is originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, and holds a degree in Languages from the Sofia University. She is now a United States citizen and currently resides in California, where has studied aerial arts for the past five years. Marina has performed aerial acts, including silks, swinging trapeze and double trapeze with her husband and partner, James Montiont. Together, they have performed for numerous festivals, corporate events, clubs, fundraisers and parties, including the Burning Man Festival, Circus of Love, San Francisco’s Ruby Skie Nightclub, the Santa Barbara Kids Film Festival and the “Sea of Dreams” Los Angeles New Years Celebration. Marina aims to continue to expand on her acrobatic circus skills and to perform in a wide variety of venues. Showcase performances: Aerial Lyra; Duo Trapeze; Duo Adagio. Where are they now? Marina is a founding Artist of the new Cirque Destino Troupe USA. |
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FIONA-JANE KELLY was born in Lancashire and holds a BSC (Honors) degree in Animal Science. She was employed as a microbiologist in London when she began to develop her contortion skills at the Circus Space and decided to pursue greater performing experience at the ACA. She is proficient in contortion, handbalance, tumbling and acrobatics. Fiona is passionate about pursuing her career as an acrobat and, upon completion of this course, wishes to continue working as a contortionist in a touring or theatrical circus. Showcase performances: Contortion; Comedy Vaulting; Ring Assistant. Where are they now? Contracted Contortionist on Baseline Circus Christmas Show 2005. |
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JOE DAVIES was born in Worcestershire and has been an active athlete all his life. Already an excellent competitive football player and diver, he began juggling and unicycling in his early teens. Joe also has a great passion for food and spent five years in the professional kitchen of an upscale restaurant. He joined the ACA course to improve his existing skills and developed facility in tumbling, acrobatics, trampoline and tightwire. He also discovered a hidden penchant for comedy and has developed several ensemble acts. Upon completing the course Joe hopes to establish a career in traveling performance. Showcase performances: Unicycle; Comedy Juggling Duo; Comedy Chair; Comedy Vaulting. Where are they now? Contracted Performer on Bulgarian State Circus 2006. |
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JESSICA WALTERS was born in London and attended Hurtwood House School of the Performing Arts. After leaving school she trained at Lewisham College in dance, studying ballet, tap, Graham, release and jazz. She scored %100 on her A-level exams there, making her one of the top 5 dance students in the country! Jessie has also performed plays and musicals with the Bridewell Theatre and has worked professionally in film, television and music videos. Jessica is a talented musician as well, and has secured a place to study music (piano) at Cambridge University this fall. However, she hopes to continue to work in the circus and is adept in single trapeze, web-rope, tightwire, ball-juggling, costume design and seamstressing. Showcase performances: Single Trapeze; Web Rope; Comedy Vaulting. Where are they now? Accepted to Circus Space 3-year degree program. |
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HOLLY McCORMACK comes from the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia and performing has always been in her nature. For more than 18 years she has studied dance (ballet, tap, jazz and modern) and gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic and sports acrobatics), and she also has a strong background in drama and voice. She graduated with a BA degree in Circus Arts from Australia’s fledgling National Institute of Circus Arts, where she concentrated on handbalance, contortion, acrobatics and hula-hoops. It was during her three years at NICA that Holly developed and choreographed her unique light-table act, which aptly showcases her dance and handstand skills, and was the first of its kind to be seen in Australia. She has performed in myriad NICA productions, as well as in clubs, theatres, recitals and gala events. Holly is particularly interested in pursuing a career in traditional circus, but enjoys performing in variety of artistic styles and venues. |
ACA is supported by Zippos Circus - visit Zippos website - www.zipposcircus.co.uk |
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