MARKETING APPRENTICE & CLOUDSWING

PHOTO BY DAISY ROSE COBY

Jacy was born into a circus and has toured with her parents all her 15 years on earth.  Having lived in more than 10 countries, she speaks a little German, a little French and has an ease with new cultures that belies her age. Despite all her travels, there is no place she would rather be that her home state of California. Jacy enjoys hanging out with friends, biology, nature and art. She is always learning new skills on tour with her family show, Flynn Creek Circus.  When she is not on tour, she attends High School and plays on the Varsity basketball team.

HEAD ACROBATICS COACH – TEETERBOARD ACTS

Jean-Luc performed with Pickle Family Circus, Circus Knie and two tours with Cirque du Soleil, where he specialized in Teeterboard: Exits and Korean plank, Hand Balancing,Chair Balancing, Hand-to-Hand Adagio, Acrobatics, Russian bar, Aerial Cradle, Group Bicycle, Group Juggling, Columns and Clown. He has trained with many masters in the circus industry including studying at Ecole Nationale de Cirque in Montreal.
Jean-Luc began his own teaching career very early on but formally began teaching circus arts in San Diego in 2008. He teaches a variety of circus disciplines but focuses largely on handstands, hand-to-hand, Teeterboard, Russian bar and is the program director. In 2011 Jean-Luc founded San Diego Circus Center in order to provide a high quality training center where he now employs over 25 teachers and the center has become respected internationally.

KNIFE THROWING, SHARP SHOOTING & DUO TRAPEZE

photo by Philllip Pavlinger
Daring Jones Duo is the team that runs the show.  They try their best.  Here’s a few of their awards. 

• Tigerpalast 30th Jubilee,  Germany, 2018-2019
• Izhevsk Winners Show, Russia, 2018
• 1^st Place, VivaFest Pro serries, Las Vegas, 2017
• Silver, Wuhan Festival, China 2016
• Bronze Idol, Idol festival, Russia 2016
• Bronze, 15^th Wuqiao International Circus Festival, China 2015
• Silver, 7th International Circus Festival Izhevsk, Russia 2014
• Zapashny Bros Special Award, 38th Monte Carlo International Circus Festival 2014
• Bronze, Moscow International Circus Festival, Nikulin, Russia 2013
• Bronze, Festival Del Circo, Latina, Italy, 2012
• America’s Got Talent,  National TV syndicate, top 48, 2012
• Critic’s Choice Award, Festival Del Circo, Figueres, Spain, 2012

AERIAL ROPE

photo by Wendy Walter

Eka’s life as a performer began in her backyard at the age of 4, where she put on her nightly solo show, The Opossum Show, for a mostly imaginary audience.  This was, however, her only foray into the world of show business until she happened upon a small, local circus school at 19.  At the time, she couldn’t go upside down or do even a single push up, much less climb a rope.  She had absolutely no background or aptitude whatsoever, but she just *really* wanted it and kept at it day after day, year after year.  Although fraught with challenge and peril, circus has allowed her to be an adult version of her four year old self, living out her childhood dream and performing different versions of The Opossum Show to audiences near and far.  Eka is delighted to join Flynn Creek Circus for a third season.

In addition to being a circus artist, eka also holds a BFA in fashion design from Academy of Art University. She makes one-of-a-kind costumes and designs for the occasion of life.

She is a lover of movement, embodied expression, and the absolute strange and beautiful magic of being human.  When she is not performing, eka is a strength and NAMS certified nutrition coach at The Green Door Life. She can also be found wandering through the woods with her wolf dog, Lilu and mustang, Indi. Follow along with her adventures on instagram @ekaboo.button

FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER – AERIALIST

photo by Candace Biggerstaff

PRIVATE EYE PENGUIN, SWORD SWALLOWING & ILLUSION

photo by Phillip Pavlinger

Justin Therrien arrived here with the Flynn Creek Circus by way of a long and squiggly path. He knew that he wanted to be in a circus one day and hasn’t really stopped holding on to that compass to direct him. He began with a juggling act but that wasn’t going to be the act that put him on the map. To set himself apart and stand out he took up the art of sword swallowing and other dangerous stunt tricks such as walking on broken glass, eating glass light bulbs, and pounding nails into his nose. Those skills took him to many amazing places but as you do in the circus you must keep moving. He started falling in love with the art of clowning, the refined skills of the mime, and the subtle beauty of magicians. He is particularly drawn to taking these skills that he has adopted and applying them to tell the story of his heart. The thing that brings him the most joy is sharing with the audience the magic of the circus.

MARKETING MANAGER & SPANISH WEB

SNOW PAINTING & AERIAL ARTS–

photo by Phillip Pavlinger

Avery has been climbing things since before she could walk, so it’s no surprise she fell in love with aerial arts early on. She grew up in Oakland, CA and after a childhood rotating through gymnastics, ballet, and circus she eventually joined the Circus Spire program at Kinetic Arts Center. There she trained a baseline of acrobatics, contortion, handbalancing, juggling, and physical theatre but never got over her love for being in the air. Through shows, cabarets, street fairs and gigs she performed a variety of conventional and invented apparatuses while specializing in solo and duo static trapeze.

Over the past few years, she shifted her pursuit of heights to an interest in climbing. After several beautiful seasons working as a guide in Maine, she climbed and camped her way across the country in her little green van before settling back in Santa Cruz. Since, she’s rediscovered her love for the circus; teaching and performing with Cirque Tumble Cheer in Capitola. She’s gotten back into performing through showcases, festivals, and gigs but is overjoyed to be part of a cast again, and working with Flynn Creek for the first time!

ART AND REPAIR

photo by Candace Biggerstaff

As soon as Ed got his driver’s license he ran away with the circus to be a clown.
After working his way up to Producing Clown at Great American Circus, they shuttered and he spent several years ‘Framing up’ new shows, Canvas bossing and Clowning at Circuses all over the country.
After a couple seasons Managing a Sideshow unit with a Freak Animal Zoo and a ‘Xoma the Monkey Boy’ show he shifted to the Renaissance Fair Circuit and spent almost 30 years entertaining crowds by swallowing swords, eating fire and doing disturbing things with an ice-pick.
Working on the Grounds Crews and in Fair Management he helped build, Performed at and Managed some of the largest fairs in the country until a serious sword swallowing slip caused him to rethink his career choices.
He then combined his entertainment and engineering skills and started building Combat Robots to compete with on shows like BattleBots and Robotica in Hollywood, Robot Wars in London and King of Bots in China. He’s the guy with the Shark Robots.
When the world shut down he moved to the California High desert to enjoy the life of a true hermit. Fully off-grid and isolated from mankind & modern life.
After 3 years in the desert he has now returned to his first love, The Circus, and uses his mechanical & engineering skills to keep the wheels rolling, the lights burning and the music jamming.

PARKOUR ACROBAT – CIRCUS MENTORS AWARDEE

 photo by Candace Biggerstaff

Dmytro ‘Dima’ is a 26 years old parkour athlete from Ukraine. He has have doing parkour for 10 years and trampolining for 5 years. Dima worked as an artist in various shows and as a sports coach. He also has experience as a stuntman.

CIRCUS MENTORS AWARDEE -AERIALIST & ACROBAT

photo by Candace Biggerstaff

The first word that Jocelyn ever spoke was “up,” and her love of the air has continued into adulthood. She was born in Boston, MA; she has trained at the San Diego Circus Center and performed with Tempos Contemporary Circus in Portland, OR.  Jocelyn is an acrobat, a learner, a writer, and a lover of living. She swims, she cooks, she dances. This is her first time performing with the Flynn Creek Circus!

MARKETING ASSISTANT – AERIALIST

Anna started her sport career at the age of 5. Her first sport was rhythmic gymnastics, which she pursued for about 5 years. Later, she ventured into sport ballroom dancing, participating in city and international competitions. Seeking more, Anna transitioned to cheerleading. With her team, she traveled nationally and internationally for performances. After her competitive career ended in 2016, she joined a dance-circus show as a universal dancer and aerial gymnast on the hoop. Anna has performed across Ukraine and Europe for 6 years. Now a resident of the USA , she is happy to start performing here..

KOREAN PLANK & TEETERBOARD

photo credit JonBo Photography

Finnegan Niles has been training teeterboard for around 2 years now. He came from a mixed acrobatic background including some diving, parkour, and trampwall. Finnegan has been training at San Diego Circus Center under the tutelage of Jean-Luc Martin for 6 years and has been in a number of their shows.

KOREAN PLANK & TEETERBOARD

Ethan is an acrobat. He loves feeling the wind in his hair and adrenaline in his blood.
Trained under the renown trampoline coaches at high sierra gymnastics over the span of six years, he now flies teeterboard and Korean plank with the San Diego Circus Center. He currently studies under Jean-Luc Martin and his cadre and is beyond excited to team up with Flynn Creek Circus to showcase his skills under the big top. He is one step closer to becoming the artis he’s always envisioned.

photo credit JonBo Photography

CREW & KNIFE THROWING

photo credit Kevin Painchaud

Tyler has mostly retired from his circus days and settled into a comfortable domestic life. He spends his days trying fad diets with his loving girlfriend in Petaluma. During the weekdays he pretends to work at a construction company. HIs real calling is as a cotton candy guy, but he has never really had the nerve to follow that dream. Instead, he became, in his words, ‘a precision knife thrower’ to mask his real passion.. He is still pretty damp.

CREW & AERIALIST

photo credit Phillip Pavlinger

Allison is a northern California based aerialist specializing in aerial silks. Most of her skills were learned through the Mendocino Center for Circus Arts in Mendocino, California. She has been performing, training, and instructing with them since 2016. Recently, she is proud to have been able to offer aerial silks classes at her home, bringing circus arts to rural families on the south Mendocino Coast. This will be her second Winter season with Flynn Creek Circus.

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>LIGHTING & SOUND

photo credit Phillip Pavlinger

David Wagar has the joy and pleasure of returning to Flynn Creek for his fifth year as Lighting Designer. When he is not working up with the lights, he enjoys movie nights, karaoke, and blacksmithing.
He has had the immense joy to work at the Gaylord of the Rockies as an actor, FeverUp as a performer and assistant, Phantom Circus as a lighting designer and performer, and Cedar Point as a technician.
He would like to thank his family and friends for all their support this past year and their continued support of this extravagant lifestyle..

SWORD AND GLASS BALANCE & LADDER

Matthew “Poki” McCorkle connects with audiences far and wide through bringing seemingly impossible moments to life right before everyone’s eyes. They are a founder of both Up Up Up Crane Truck Circus and the touring big top Shoestring Circus. They have performed in dinner theatre shows in Germany, down the Mississippi with Flotsam River Circus, for children in Palestine West Bank with Clowns Without Borders, and in prisons and tribal reservations with The New Old Time Chautauqua! They like to “balance” circus life with chasing around their 1 year old toddler, Otis.

COMEDY & LADDER

Sadye Osterloh has been a giant ham since the moment she was born. Or was it a turkey?
She is a co-founder of the Up Up Up Crane Truck Circus and also a co-founder of a brand spanking new big top circus tent project – Shoestring Circus!

As a nationally and internationally touring performer, instructor and producer, she has a passion for sparking joy and empowerment through movement and laughter. She enjoys dangling off of aerial apparatuses and other humans, climbing ladders balanced on other peoples shoulders, wearing a giant hot dog suit, hitting dramatically high opera notes and opening up jars that other people have previously loosened – and feeling triumphant about it. When she and Poki aren’t performing ladder acts and doing character work, they are busy working on their comedy magic illusions as Dan and Danny Jr. and playing with their cute lil baby Otis!

Circus Mentors Apprentice Awardee

Gwen has been climbing and swinging off things since she was two. She loves collaborative performance art and is always up for making new tricks and brainstorming how to tell a story through movement. Her home is in Portland Oregon where she has worked with Echo Theater, Tempos Contemporary Circus, Pro Lab Dance, and many independent projects. Most recently Gwen was in North Carolina training at Pitch Catch Circus. When she is not up in the air, she always has her hands full of many sewing, pottery and crochet projects. New to Flynn Creek Circus, she is looking forward to the next circus adventure.