Since 2000 Sarah's roles in the circus world have included professional aerialist, acrobat, choreographer, coach, and studio owner.

At 4 yrs old she began gymnastics and ballet training with a dream of one day leading a life onstage.

At 8 yrs old she joined the competitive team at Falcon Gymnastics School here in Victoria and dedicated her life to competing for the next 10 years.  Upon retiring from the sport, Sarah moved full-time into the world of dance and received her BFA degree in Contemporary Dance from Simon Fraser University.  

While training for a fitness competition in university, she was spotted by the directors of a Vancouver-based circus company, The Underground Circus.  Already enamoured with the circus arts and eagerly searching for the opportunity to fuse her dance and gymnastics background, Sarah joined their company. For the next 4 years she studied under Peter Boulanger and Ninon Parent (former Cirque du Soleil Members and owners of TUC) honing her skills as an aerialist and acrobat and performing with TUC in their live productions for corporate and private events all over BC.

In 2005, she moved to Toronto where she became a company member of Cirque Sublime and a coach at the Toronto School of Circus Arts.  

2006 marked the year she stepped out as an independent performer and coach which took her to many different places around the world.  Sarah performed for several years in leading roles for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Sea World San Antonio, Texas.  She was also the Aerial Coordinator for Cast 4 on the cruise ship "Allure of The Seas", RCCL. She has performed in China at the Dalion International Fashion Festival, on the Samsung stage at the 2010 Winter Olympics, at 5star resorts such as the Adam & Eve Hotel in Antalya, Turkey and the Fallsview Hotel & Casino in Niagara Falls.  She has had the honor of being Aerial Choreographer and lead Aerialist for the Confederation Centre for the Arts production of "Disco Cirque", while simultaneously performing the role of "Prissy Andrews" in Canada's World Record holder longest running musical, "Anne of Green Gables" in PEI.  While there she also was a recipient of a Maud Whitmore Scholarship to create a new act in the circus arts.  The Silk Swing was born out of that award.  Her circus work also led her into the Film/TV world.  She is credited in Showtime's movie Reefer Madness starring Neve Campbell and Alan Cummings, in Disney's Under Wraps 2, and also 2 commercials linked here CLOVER LEAF

and DISCO CIRQUE.

In 2017, she retired from performing full-time and moved back to her hometown to open up The Rising and share her passion and knowledge with the next generation of circus artists.

Sierra's first introduction to circus arts was through a yoga studio.  After her first session, she knew she wanted to explore other aerial apparatuses as well as find some more height. Her expanding interest in the circus arts was conveniently around the time The Rising opened; and she has been here ever since.

Her background includes dance, gymnastics, sports, theatre, and music.

Performance and fitness are two passions of hers that she has engaged in her whole life. She has performed in several musicals and plays throughout grade school, as well as learned the importance of determination and self- discipline to a sport, through her 8 years of gymnastics training. 

While she loves working on and training on all aerial apparatuses, if she had to pick a  favourite, it would be silk due to the combination of elegance and strength it displays.

Sierra has studied circus arts since 2017 and continues to learn and develop new skills on all apparatuses offered at The Rising. She has been coaching since early 2018.  

Sierra is also a professional company member of The Rising Circus.  She has performed for various corporate, private, and public events such as at The Empress Hotel, Diner En Blanc, Light Up the Hills, Porche, and the Victoria Conference Centre.  She has also appeared as a circus performer in Disney's movie Under Wraps 2

What she loves about coaching at The Rising?

The Rising continues to create a diverse community filled with people from all walks of life; I love being a part of this community. Coaching allows me to share my passion for circus and motivate students to achieve their goals and have fun doing so.

Fun Fact:  She is currently a student at University of Victoria finishing her  degree in recreation and health education.

Since Adi was a child she has always enjoyed the freedom that flexibility gives to her body, and the energy that moves through her. Although Adi was born with a naturally flexible body she had to work to become a contortionist!  She began training later in life when she was 21, and through her experience she knows you can always improve your flexibility, you just need to actually do it! This is why she teaches- because she wants others to know that they can improve too, that it is possible, and that she can guide them through it..... it just a matter of discipline.

Adi got into contortion when one day during one of her classes of aerial arts, Ivanov Niebla (former performer at Cirque Demain/performer at Cirko Alebrije/her teacher) saw potential in her and invited Adi to be part of the circus company Cirko Alebrije in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.  That is where she learned most of her contortion training, and her passion for contortion started growing. 

Adi is a graduate of Montreal The National Circus School's ( ENC ) Coaching Program.  She has a technical degree in performing arts at the University of Guadalajara. There she was thrilled to discover how the beautiful fluidity of expression through movement of the body could also excite the mind. She took one-on-one classes with Alejandra and Laura Ramirez, both professionals of contemporary dance in Guanajuato, Mexico. 

 Moreover, she has had extensive flexibility and strength training with Juan Luis Gonzales, a former coach with Cirque du Soleil. She has also practiced the modalities of gymnastics, acrobatics, and yoga, furthering her understanding of the body arts. 

Arriving to Canada, she has trained in Contemporary dance with Dyana Sonik and Kathy Lang and in Ballet with Amalia Schelhorn.  She was also part of the contemporary dance company Dance Berserker Dance with Kelly Hobson, and performed at the Royal BC museum with Island Circus Space.  In 2019, she had a baby boy and took a little break but she is back and excited to be part of The Rising Team.  It is like her second family.  Adi remarks, "They are so welcoming, silly, good hearted and open to try new things all the time, is just fun! and I’m even more excited to start to share my knowledge with you!"

Fun fact:  family is huge! Since my grandmother have 14 siblings! (And that is just from one side of the family!)

Bio coming soon

Tamsin first joined the Rising in 2017, when it was still in the old boxing gym in downtown Victoria, and has been hooked ever since.

Her dedication earned her a spot on the Rising’s Show Team, a program for committed students interested in going beyond recreation level, where she has performed in productions of Solstice, Crystallum, and Alice in Circusland.  

Tamsin was also part of her school‘s circus production, Cirque de la 7e Rue, where she learnt her juggling skills, including scarfs, rings, balls, and clubs.

What she loves about teaching at the Rising?

How the Rising is like one big circus family, very warm and welcoming. “I love getting to know each individual person and watching them thrive as they become more comfortable.”

Fun fact: 

She can juggle almost anything, as long as you can throw it with one hand.

Chloe has been involved in a variety of sports and loves to discover new ways to be active. Her athletic background includes soccer, cross country, swimming, dance and gymnastics. She also loves to perform and has been a part of many choir concerts and high school musicals. In 2017, when she heard about The Rising Circus, she didn’t hesitate to jump aboard! Chloe is trained in aerial silk, hammock, hoop, and will be starting her trapeze training this year.

While training at The Rising, Chloe also began coaching. She now coaches circus at The Rising and swimming at Oak Bay Recreation. Chloe is certified as a Water Safety Instructor, National Lifeguard and Lifesaving Instructor. Chloe is also an apprentice member of The Rising's professional performing company.  

She loves coaching because she gets to help students build confidence in their abilities and develop a positive relationship with movement. 

Fun fact: Chloe sings in UVic’s vocal jazz ensemble and performs as an aerial vocalist on the aerial hoop with our professional company!

Former Cirque Du Soleil artist, dancer, and gymnast

Abbey joined The Rising in 2018 and instantly fell in love with it.

She completed The Rising Coach Training Program and now teaches Kids CIrcus, Camps, and Parties.

Abbey is also a member of The Rising's Show Team- an advanced training program for dedicated students who want to go beyond the recreational level.  She has performed in The Rising's productions of Solstice, Crystallum, and Alice in Circus Land.

What does she love about teaching at The Rising? I love seeing all the students develop their skill and discover their strength and ability!

Fun fact: i love being outdoors and camping 

Bio Coming soon

Bio Coming soon