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  Shana Kennedy

  Shana is the founder and Director of the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. She trained as an aerialist and a juggler at Circomedia, in England, and performed for many years in both capacities. She began teaching aerial skills in her home and backyard in 2001. In 2006 Air Play was founded as a performance and teaching company; and it evolved in 2008 to the full-fledged school facility. She has taken time off over the last few years to have three children - and Baz, Ayla, and Isa are now regular faces at PSCA.

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  Robin Marcotte

  Robin Marcotte, Managing Director, is a Philadelphia-based physical theatre artist and educator. After training at the Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre in CA, he moved to Philadelphia and co-founded Hotel Obligado Physical Theatre. He served as the company's Executive and Co-Artistic Director for 8 years until 2008. Robin has worked with various theatre companies in the region including, 1812 Productions, Azuka Theatre Company, and Mum Puppettheatre, among others. www.robinmarcotte.net

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  Kitsie Lundell

  Kitsie Lundell, Office Manager, has been an avid student of the aerial arts since the "old school days" in Shana's backyard in 2003. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design and Fine Arts from Moore College of Art and Design and has worked for various companies in the Philadelphia and Princeton areas. She can be found most days on the phone up in the office, downstairs photographing students, and even working on new skills like tightwire.

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  Greg Kennedy

  Greg is an internationally-renowned juggler, two-time Gold Medalist in the International Jugglers Association Championships, and a creative leader in contemporary object manipulation. Details about his shows, and tour schedule, can be found at www.innovativejuggler.com.

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  Kyle Driggs

  Kyle studies Juggling, Dance, and Gymnastics. He works and trains full time at the Philadelphia School Of Circus Arts, and performs as a juggler in the Philadelphia area. Some of Kyle's recent performance credits include shows with the Give and Take Jugglers, and with Cirque-ular. Kyle also organizes a regular Variety Night for Germantown performing artists.

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  Treacy Gallagher

  Treacy's background comes from Waldorf education. In her other life, she is the Movement & Games teacher at the Waldorf School of Philadelphia, and has extensive training in spatial dynamics and the learning-through-play philosophies embodied by Waldorf. She is also trained as an occupational therapist. Coming to circus arts after training with Silver Lining circus camp, she is excited to share these unique skills with children in classes and parties.

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  Kendra Greaves

  Kendra is an internationally performing aerialist who specializes in corde lisse. She also performs tissu, trapeze, and all sorts of duo work. Her favorite pastime is doing handstands in as many countries as possible. Kendra's website is www.kendralovesrope.com.

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  Lin Junming

  From the Fujian Acrobatics Group of China, Lin has practiced and coached acrobatics and juggling for 20 years. With the troupe, he performed in circuses all over the world; Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He specializes in handstands and tumbling, ring juggling, straw-hat juggling, ultimate wheel, rope-twirling, and Chinese pole.

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  Niff Nicholls

  Niff has been studying aerial skills since July 2007. Over the past two years she been striving to refine her craft and hone her skills as an instructor, paying careful attention to form and direction in every aspect of each apparatus. She has a background in swimming & cheerleading, and works as an illustrator by day.

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  Jonathan Perry

  Jonathan has been juggling for over 20 years. From the early days of juggling and unicycling on the streets of Boston, his career has taken him to many different locations and venues. He has logged hundreds of shows at theme parks such as Hersheypark and Universal Studios, entertained in hospitals with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, taught at-risk youth with Cirque du Monde (sponsored by Cirque du Soleil), toured the world with a theatrical production, performed for all the major professional sports leagues and (gasp!) done birthday parties. His Web site is www.jugglah.com.

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  David Smith

  David Smith is a professional juggler and sideshow performer. He was a semi-finalist on NBC's America's Got Talent. He currently performs at casinos, resorts and festivals all around the Mid-Atlantic region; more information can be found at www.onemansideshow.com.

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  Doug Young

  Doug has performed both nationally and internationally as a magician, stilt walker and clown. Doug is as passionate about performing as he is teaching. He has taught literally thousands of people how to juggle and performs and teaches regularly is schools. "I love seeing that a-ha moment on people's faces when they finally get it. I love being a part of that."

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  Mary Kelly Rayel

  Mary Kelly Rayel graduated from Ithaca College with a B.A. in Theater, and went to Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Clown College for the class of 1990. She then worked for Club Med for 3 years as a Circus instructor, eventually becoming the second female Chief of Circus. After leaving Club Med, Mary Kelly toured for two years with Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus performing on the Flying Trapeze. She now has her own company, Fly School Circus Arts LLC, www.flyschoolcircusarts.com.

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  Louise Gillette

  Louise Gillette created & directed TRAPEZIUS aerial dance from 1995-2005 and received many aerial grants & awards during that time, choreographing with trapezes, hoops, ropes, aerial silks, bungee cords, harnesses and old bed sheets. Her work has been shown at festivals around the US and as far away as Australia. Louise holds an MFA in Choreography from Temple University, where she created & directed the Injury Prevention & Rehab Clinic For Dancers. She also holds a BA in Anthropology & World Dance from Hampshire College. Her most recent aerial choreography, Nemophila, was created & performed right here at PSCA in May, 2009.

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  Jackie Zalewski

  Jackie has been performing professionally as a dancer, singer, actor, and model since she was a small child. She has been a member of the Rockettes, and worked with world-class opera companies and national musical tours. Performance venues have included the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, off-Broadway theaters in New York, dinner theaters and Fringe festivals. She holds a special place in her heart for her band, Gyptian, which has played at RenFaires and Celtic Festivals all over the MidAtlantic region.

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  Brendan Brolly

  Brendan, from the UK, has been involved in circus for over 20 years, both as a teacher and a performer. He began as a juggler specializing in diabolo. He authored and published three books on the subject, and studied at the Bejing Circus school in China and the French National Circus school at Chalons-sur-Marne. He performed across Europe, including working in a touring circus for a season. Teaching experience including working with Leeds Children's Circus, Cambridge Community Circus and teaching numerous workshops around the UK. His focus has changed to aerials more recently, and he studied this at the Circus Space in London and at Circomedia in Bristol, with a particular interest in corde lisse. He has also trained as a dancer for a number of years in contemporary, ballet, jazz and salsa.

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  Nava Szwergold

  Nava began studying aerials in 2007 after having trained as a gymnast and diver. She especially appreciates the way that circus arts allow each person to be creative and highlight his or her own strengths. Nava enjoys sharing circus skills with people of all ages while continuing to progress as an aerialist and a well-rounded circus artist.

Board of Advisors

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  Kim Isett

  Kim Isett is a Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She earned a Ph.D. in Management with a specialization in organization theory from the University of Arizona’s School of Public Administration and Policy in the Eller College of Management in 2001. Her work is focused on pressures and dynamics in implementing government services, with a particular interest in the delivery of services to vulnerable populations. Dr. Isett was recognized by the Academy of Management in both 2001 and 2002 for excellence in research by the Healthcare Management and Public and Nonprofit divisions, was awarded the “Best Article Award” in 2005 by the American Review of Public Administration, and was a network associate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Mental Health Policy Research Network. Isett has worked with elected officials and policymakers at all levels of government on a variety of issues through professional positions and consulting roles. She is also an active aerials student at PSCA.

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  Brett Mandel

  Brett Mandel is the Executive Director of the National Education Technology Funding Corporation (Eddie Tech). Until recently, he was Executive Director of Philadelphia Forward, a citizens’ organization promoting tax,government, and ethics reform. Brett served on the Tax Reform Commission in 2003 and was director of financial and policy analysis under former City Controller Jonathan Saidel. Brett has written two books on baseball and one book on Philadelphia government. A lifelong Philadelphian, product of our public schools, and public school parent, he grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and now lives in the Fitler Square neighborhood with his wife and three young children.

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  Vanessa Thomas Smith

  A native Philadelphian, Vanessa graduated from The Philadelphia High School for Girls at age 16 and then pursued and received a B.F.A. in Dance Performance/Education from Temple University. While performing with Philadanco, she also spent 3 years as a singer/dancer and supervisor at Walt Disney World in Florida. She later joined Ringling Bros. & Barnum Bailey Circus and the New York-based Big Apple Circus. While at Big Apple Circus, she was recognized as the first African-American Female Ringmaster in American Circus. In 1997, Vanessa joined the administrative staff of the UniverSoul Circus as Talent Coordinator and Performance Director. Upon returning to Philadelphia in 1998, she re-joined Philadanco as Managing Director and currently holds the position as General Manager. She was acknowledged by Mayor Street as a 2004 “Mover & Shaker” in the Philadelphia community. Ms. Thomas Smith is actively involved with numerous organizations in Philadelphia, and her most prized honor is being Mom to Jonathan of the Philly Circus Youth Troupe.

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  Dave Gillies

  Dave Gillies had a hobby that got out of control and became a small business. Street performing at NewMarket in Philadelphia began as a lark, then developed into a laboratory for creating and testing out the lively and interactive routines which formed the Give and Take show. Partners were also tested. To succeed in street theater, material and performers must connect with the audience, right away, or they walk away.

  Street performing connected with Dave’s boyhood experiences of helping his grandfather, a Methodist evangelist, conduct services on street corners in Chester PA, gathering a crowd with a Salvation Army trumpet and bass drum, delivering a message, and passing the plate.

  Dave’s liberal arts background and interest in theater informed the choices of material, and partners. His day job of elementary school teaching provided insight into structuring material and making it appropriate for different audiences. He gave up his day job in 1982 to devote full time attention the the business of performing, and directing the Give and Take Jugglers.