What is Discover Circus?
Discover Circus a local social enterprise offering training and community to those who wish to explore the circus arts.
It was created, under the umbrella of the Nelson Circus Performers Association, by a group of local artists and performers that value artistic expression, cooperation, inclusiveness, and play. We wish to share the benefits, both for body and mind, that pursuing the circus arts at any level can provide.
Meet the Team
Photo Credit - Greg Rogers
JAKE THELADY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND AERIAL HOOP/LYRA INSTRUCTOR
Jake TheLady is a multidisciplinary circus artist and dancer, known for her energetic teaching style and captivating stage presence. With a background in classical dance, Jake discovered her true passion for Circus Arts over a decade ago, starting with hula hooping and quickly branching out into various disciplines such as Aerial Silks, Sling, Hoop, Cube, Stilting and Fire Eating.
As one of the foundational members of the performance troupe, Circus Acts Insomniacs, Jake has showcased her exceptional talents on stages throughout Western Canada and has recently expanded her training worldwide.
Alongside her performance abilities, Jake also possesses event production expertise, bringing her keen eye for detail and organizational skills to create unforgettable circus experiences. Recently appointed as the Executive Director of Discover Circus School in Nelson, BC, she combines her artistry and performance background with her event production knowledge to deliver exceptional productions. She also works as an Aerial Instructor, inspiring emerging circus artists. With her unique blend of creativity, grace and unparalleled dedication, Jake continues to push boundaries while empowering artists everywhere.
JOY WEICK
AERIAL SILKS INSTRUCTOR
It was love at first flight… Joy’s passion for movement was kindled early, bringing complex characters to life in her ballet school’s full length productions. She's studied and apprenticed in classical ballet and explored many other dance forms extensively. Inspired by the creativity of festival culture and cutting edge cirque nouveau companies like L.A. based Lucent Dossier Experience and Kansas City’s Quixotic Fusion, she started training with Victoria Mihalyi of Flying Dreams on Salt Spring Island in 2012. Fast forward a few years and Joy now regularly performs with Vancouver based theatrical circus troupe Omnika in Motion. Highlights include appearances and collaborations with Calgary's revered Cirque de la Nuit and various B.C. festivals and events including Diversity and Shambhala Music Festival.
While she loves to be on stage and in the studio creating new works with Omnika, she's equally passionate about coaching. Joy has experience offering youth and adult classes in Victoria, and has completed the New England Centre for Circus Arts' (NECCA) Intro and Foundations Fabrics courses in July 2015. NECCA offers the highest caliber teacher trainings in the industry and Joy intends to complete their full certification program over the next few years. She also has a slight obsession with aerial safety and rigging and has devoted many hours of study to promote injury prevention and safe studio practices. Joy is continually grateful for the opportunity to inspire students to empower themselves and develop their strengths through the aerial arts. She's honoured and excited to work with Discover Circus and the Nelson community!
Photo Credit - Louis Bockner
Photo Credit - Unknown
MACKENZIE SAVILL
AERIAL SILKS - HOOP/LYRA INSTRUCTOR
Mackenzie has dedicated years to the development of her aerial practice. She is a multi-disciplinary aerialist, performer and instructor. Her background in competitive gymnastics and dance engrained a deep sense of mindful practice, functional strength training and body awareness.
In more recent years, Mackenzie has travelled internationally to deepen her practice. She has attended several aerial intensive workshops and classes in exploration of both classical and contemporary circus arts. She is an NCCP certified coach and has been teaching at Discover Circus for 4 years and counting.
Her classes include skill development, technique, conditioning, aerial stamina, safety awareness and act development. She hopes to inspire her students to find their own sense of expression through aerial movement.
JORDYN PENRY
AERIAL HOOP/LYRA INSTRUCTOR
As is a lifelong performer it was only a matter of time before Jordyn would find herself in the world of circus. As a classically trained dancer, Jordyn has been dancing her entire life, always pushing to try new things and advance herself in all aspects of performance, Jordyn has trained around the world. Taking her first-ever aerial class in london she was immediately addicted.
Jordyn Is apart of the performance troupe Circus Acts Insomniacs, Jordyn’s performance experience and 6 years of teaching dance makes her the perfect fit for discover circus, she lives to do what she loves and no one can stop her.
Photo Credit - Greg Rogers
Photo Credit - Louis Bockner
ALLY ROBERTON
DANCE TRAPEZE - INSTRUCTOR
More comfortable upside down, Ally naturally gravitated toward aerial arts. She began training dance trapeze in Toronto in 2014 and has since expanded her training to lyra, static trapeze, silks, dance, and partner work.
Ally pushes herself to dive deeper into self-exploration and growth by training solo, with her peers, and training with world renowned coaches in Canada and internationally. She is a certified hatha and yin yoga teacher, black belt in Karate, and holds certificates in Costuming and Rigging for aerialists.
Ally is passionate about the many different aspects of circus theatre, and expresses this passion by creating and touring with local troupe Circus Acts Insomniacs. She hopes that she can share this passion with her students at Discover Circus!
SIOVHAN WILLIAMSON
HANDSTANDS & PARTNER ACROBATICS INSTRUCTOR
My circus journey began unbeknownst to me on Saltspring Island in 2013, where I completed a 200h yoga teacher training as a prerequisite to enrolling in Acro Yoga Montreal's teacher training in 2014. My time in Montreal sparked a deep interest in the circus arts, and upon returning to Vancouver, I began training and performing with The Underground Circus in Vancouver. I did a variety of work over 4 years with TUC including hand-to-hand balancing, aerials, puppeteering, and harness work, dabbling in teeterboard training, fire, and the flow arts as well.
I relocated to Nelson BC in 2017, and am honored to be part of the vibrant and talented circus community in the Kootenays. I perform as a member of Acromada, taking part in various BC festivals and events. Circus has expanded my world and changed my life, and the journey continues.
My philosophy as a movement educator is that people are innately experts of our own individual movements, and that movement is a joyful expression of our beings. My role as an instructor is to offer technically precise information about the ‘how to’ of skills while inspiring my students’ confidence to explore their own innate movement. This approach is informed by my extensive experience as a competitive artistic gymnastics athlete and coach, ballet and contemporary dancer, a teacher within BC's education system, and my current work as a Registered Massage Therapist.
Photo Credit - Gen Letourneau
ANDREA LEGG
AERIAL SILKS INSTRUCTOR
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. I studied classical and contemporary dance and eventually moved to Montreal to attend LADMMI, a professional dance program. After graduating in 2004, I realized my love for aerial acrobatic arts and quickly turned my sights to the Montreal circus world. I worked as an independent artist for 6 years traveling the world working for various companies and producing my own work. Then in 2010 I began the creation journey with Cavalia, Odysseo and spent the last 5 years of my career touring this show all over North and Central America.
Photo Credit - Louis Bockner
VIVIAN HUGHAN
BOARD MEMBER
Born flipping, jumping & climbing in her mom's tummy, acrobat Viv Hughan has inherent passion for creative movement. Growing up as a gymnast and avid outdoor enthusiast, her main interests keep her active in aerial silks, acro yoga, gymnastics, climbing, skiing, dance and yoga. Vivian lives in Nelson, BC where she coaches at Glacier Gymnastics, trains at Discover Circus and is an acro-yogi & aerialist with Acromada.
Partners
Our goals as an organization would not be achievable without the immense amount of volunteer support that has been provided from the community. Thank you to everyone who has taken time out of their lives to make Discover Circus what it is today.
We also recognise the powerful progress that has been achieved through the financial support of the below organizations.
The financial support of the Province of British Columbia, via the community gaming grant, has allowed the continued growth of our services to the community.
The Nelson and District Credit Union has proven to us at Discover Circus that they are genuinely committed to supporting local not for profit organisations and youth health and well being. They have provided us with funding towards the purchase of equipment for our youth programming for the last two years.
The Columbia Basin Trust assisted Discover Circus through the Non-Profit Advisors Program in building our capacity as an organization. This allowed us to achieve our strategic objectives of creating active living programming to support healthy growth and development in youth and adults.
If you are as passionate about the circus arts as we are, or simply agree with our goals and would like to offer your support. Please feel free to donate below or contact us and find out how you can help our organization in other ways.
