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  Shana Kennedy

  Shana is the founder and Executive 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, Operations 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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  Kory Aversa

  Kory Michael Aversa, Public Relations and Marketing Manager, has created attention-getting campaigns for nonprofit, corporate and arts organizations in the region for 10+ years. Kory hails from Utica, New York, where he received his BA in Public Relations from Utica College of Syracuse University. He has been active in the region's arts community through past work as an organization liaison to Avenue of the Arts, Inc. and as a Board Member of Plays and Players. As former Senior Development Officer for Philadelphia Senior Center (PSC), Kory raised funds and awareness for the "Arts on the Avenue" program, and music and other performance programs. In addition to PSCA, Kory is the Director of Media Relations for Please Touch Museum, the Children's Museum of Philadelphia. He is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). In 2010, a year-long city-wide anniversary campaign he created was recognized with a prestigious PRSA "Pepperpot Award."

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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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  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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  Disa Carneol

  Disa began her performing career at the tender age of two, appearing in several theater productions with the River Valley Players in her home town of Spring Green, Wisconsin. She got her first taste of aerial performance when she was ten and was instantly hooked. Since that time she has studied circus arts extensively with the Cycropia and Aeros aerial dance troupes, and spent two years at Great Britain's Academy of Circus Arts. Disa has toured widely throughout the UK, spending a season with the renowned Zippo's Circus, as well as a brief sojourn into India, where she was the first American to ever appear in the Rambo Circus. A versatile and flexible performer, she has done everything from clowning and duo trapeze to performance kite flying, vocal music, and acting.

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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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  Eric Geoffrey

  Eric brings almost 30 years worth of performing and teaching experience to his work at PSCA as performance coordinator and instructor. He began his performance career at age 14 with the Philadelphia-based Give & Take Jugglers. Right after high school, Eric was then accepted into the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Clown College, graduating with a specialty in aerial slapstick and comedy flying trapeze. These skills soon landed him a road contract with Ringling's Blue Unit, performing aerial insanity on a daily basis. Tiring of life on the road and embracing the changes that parenthood brings, Eric taught creative movement and circus arts for a couple of years at the Saratoga Waldorf's High School in upstate New York. Having permanently moved back to Philadelphia in the winter of 2011, Eric loves being a part of the vibrant circus community that is growing in the region.

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  Christy Gorigoitia-Wittenberg

  Christy has been mentored and trained by Jayne Bernasconi (Air Bernasconi) and Shana Kennedy over the last 5 years. She has enjoyed improving her practice at The New England Center for the Circus Arts in Vermont and by taking various workshops ranging from aerial dance to safety practices. Christy’s experience as a Clinical Psychologist allows her to blend her interest in body & mind psychology, positive psychology and the therapeutic aspects of aerial work. The aerial practice that she promotes is aimed to promote self-exploration and personal change utilizing aerials as the vehicle to decrease stress and promote a balanced self-image.

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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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  Christine Morano

  After graduating college with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Dance in 2008, Christine followed a trail of images which led her to discover aerial arts. She began her aerial training at Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Festival and workshops at the New England Center for Circus Arts before finding PSCA. Christine uses her anatomical knowledge to help her students strive to achieve skills with body awareness and proper body placement. She enjoys filling her free time with dance and performing and is currently in the creation process of a show for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2010.

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  Niff Nicholls

  Niff Nicholls has been performing in some fashion since she was a child, and has a background in cheer-leading and swimming to balance out her artistic side. She began studying Aerials at Philly Circus in 2007, and since then she has studied under numerous instructors, including Elsie Smith, Bill Forchion, Caroline Wright, Bronwyn Sims, Rachel Walker and Deena Marcum Frank to name a few. Niff loves to challenge herself as well as her students, believes that technique and form are the building blocks for all aerial work, and is always striving to become better and learn more. She loves all aerial apparatus (except maybe the lyra), but is especially fond of playing on her trapeze.

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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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  Erica Saben

  Erica began performing on professional stages at the age of 12. The journey began with a trombone, and eventually cycled through acting, dance and modeling. Her circus career began by accident when she was spotted on stage at the Academy of Music in 2007 by the Give and Take Jugglers. Today, Erica performs full-time with Give and Take as a wire walker, aerialist, obscure puppeteer, and juggler. She aspires to obtain newer more impressive skills, and trains daily with her acrobatic coach Lin Junming. Erica has degrees in Modern and Caribbean Dance from SUNY Brockport and Edna Manley College. Erica's music and dance background are an excellent compliment to her career in contemporary circus.

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  Lynn Sabin

  Lynn began studying aerials in 2006 with our Executive Director Shana Kennedy. She also studied in her home state of Minnesota at Xelia's Aerial Art School. She performs in a variety of venues, including theater. Lynn played the role of Charlotte of "Charlotte's Web" on silks at the Player's Club of Swarthmore in Swarthmore, PA. She has a degree in graphic design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and continues to work in the field. When she's not hanging from the fabric or sitting at the computer, Lynn is busy chasing around her three-year-old circus clown, Lilly Claire. For more information about Lynn, visit www.lynnsabin.net.

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  Meg Skill

  After graduating in 2006 from Arcadia University with a BFA in Painting, and after graduating from a lifelong softball career, Meg was looking for a new, creative way to stay in shape. She stumbled upon aerial arts and decided to give it a try. She fell in love with the challenge and beauty of it instantly and has never looked back. She feels very lucky to be part of such a talented and inspiring community of artists, teachers and performers. Meg hopes to continually progress with her training and become more comfortable with performing. She is also studying her way through an array of French pastry books in hopes of one day starting her own baking business. Cupcakes and circus forever!

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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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  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.

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  Whitney Webster

  Whitney is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she studied Anthropology and Spanish. She has been involved with the performing arts ever since she was seven, when she begged her parents to let her take violin lessons. Since then, she's also been a big-time choir geek, belly dancer and hula hooper, in addition to dabbling in piano and guitar. Her previous work experience includes serving as a Marketing Manager of a local Philadelphia arts organization. Whitney started taking aerial classes in 2010 and is thrilled to be joining the circus as a PSCA staff member.

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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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  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.

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.