Meet the CircArts team

Hi, I’m Jazz,

As a little girl, I was super keen to learn aerials after seeing the trapeze in a travelling circus. I used to train on monkey bars, I loved being in the air. I always wanted to be able to do the splits, and when I heard about a circus school in Geelong, I jumped at the opportunity! Training has always been something that’s given me comfort, and I love being able to challenge myself. 


My specialities currently include Aerial hoop, handstands and contortion. Over the years I have performed in Wonderland Speigeltent shows and Miss Lyra competitions. As much as I love being in the air, I have always watched handstanders in awe and it’s something I’ve recently found a new passion for. 


I love how supportive the circus community is. Everyone is patient and encouraging, no matter what skill sets and abilities you may have. I also love that with circus, there isn’t only one end goal, you can always grow and try new things! 

In my time at CircArts I have made lifelong friends who are committed to pursuing their goals. The CircArts team brings together a positive collective of likeminded, talented individuals who support and encourage each other to do their best. The CircArts community nurtures values that I hold dearly and really value and I think that’s why CircArts has always felt so special to me. 

Hi, I’m Amanda

Amanda Conti is a multi-talented performer who began her career as a professional dancer, before embarking on a journey through the world of circus. Trained at some of the most renowned schools in Australia and New York, she has merged the two art forms together revealing an awe-inspiring, magical quality of Aerial Dance.

Amanda has captivated audiences throughout Asia, Europe, North America and Australia.

With an impressive portfolio including performing for Princess Cruises, Crowne & Wyndham Hotels in China and Singapore, Crown Casino, Fashion Aid, Melbourne Cup and The Australian Prime Ministers Olympic Gala.

She has featured her aerial acts on TV series Home & Away, Master’s of Choreography “Once Upon A Time”, P&O Cruises and Dracula’s Cabaret in both Melbourne and Queensland.

Hi, I’m Aisling

I started circus when I was 6 at CircArts, it has been something that I have really enjoyed and I have always been able to look forward to.

I was always a really shy and quiet kid and never really felt comfortable expressing myself, over the 11 years that I have been at CircArts I have really grown as a person and felt more comfortable just being me and I honestly don't think that I would have gotten to this point without the supportive family environment that circus created for me.

The first time I wanted to try circus was after seeing my first show I remember being so amazed by the contortionists and told my mum that I wanted to be in the bendy lady show, so we tried circus and I was instantly hooked.

I really enjoy training aerials, there's just something about being up in the air that makes you feel so graceful. Over the years I have specialised in Silk, Trapeze and Lyra (Aerial Hoop), and group acrobatics. In 2016 I placed 3rd with two of my friends with our trio dance trapeze act at the Australian Circus Festival. I love to experiment with new ideas and transitions, and a couple of years ago I made a horizontal aerial ladder act!

I think the best thing about circus is the sense of family, it really gives you the opportunity to grow and try new things without feeling like you are being judged. back when I first started I was only 6 and I barely spoke to anyone, I was really shy and I remember not even wanting to do my first concert I was too nervous to get out in front of the crowd, but I have to say that it was worth it, I needed to feel like I was confident and circus is what got me there.

As a coach I really want to help other kids get the feeling of joy that I got when I first started at CircArts and help them to feel like they have a home away from home, and help them to overcome difficulties in their lives.

Hi, I’m Naz

Starting gymnastics at the age of 7, Naz Turner has been training many of the skills he performs/coaches today for the majority of his life! 

Competing around Victoria, Naz eventually had the opportunity to participate in a gymnastics competition held at the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA). Filled with excitement and confusion he walked amongst the apparatus, knowing whatever this was, it was for him.

At age 11, Naz was quickly overwhelmed by the growing hours and pressure that came with competitive gymnastics. Not long after, he took his first class at CircArts and his passion came to full fruition. 

Naz had found a place where he could keep and further refine his physical abilities and let his creative side flow, without the added pressure of competition and unrealistic expectations. Beginning to take more and more classes, he eventually began assistant coaching lower level students at CircArts alongside his training, determined to further his own abilities as well as assist those up and coming. As he continued his training at CircArts Naz became comfortable performing more and more apparatus including juggling, unicycle, doubles trapeze, aerial straps, tightwire and tumbling, but none of these he took to quite Handbalancing. 

Beginning to take his training  and coaching more seriously, Naz began building his performance experience representing CircArts at community events. His confidence and skill started to grow rapidly and from here his career path was set in stone, he was a performer. 

After honing his handbalancing skills to an international level at CircArts Geelong, Naz returned to the National Institute of Circus Arts but this time as a student, not a competitive gymnast. In 2017-2018 he received his Certificate III and IV in Circus Arts specializing in handbalancing, slack wire and group juggling as well as receiving training in different dance and performance disciplines.

 Gaining more experience in circus apparatus and performance, he then went back to his roots, coaching gymnastics on the side and receiving his beginners qualification under Gymnastics Australia, further expanding his ability as a coach. 

Today, Naz is a proud, dedicated member of the CircArts team with a versatile skill set. He is passionate about providing members of all ages and skill sets with a safe, encouraging and compassionate environment to achieve their personal fitness/wellness goals.

Hi, I’m Charli 

Charli is a 2 time Guinness World Record Holder and former Australian National Champion for Aerial Hoop, with a passion for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the circus world.

Born with a natural talent for movement, Charli started their journey as a young acrobat, performing in local shows and competitions. With a relentless drive to improve her skills, she went on to train with some of the most renowned coaches in the industry, honing her craft and perfecting her technique.

As Charli's reputation grew, she began to perform on some of the biggest stages around the country, wowing audiences with her incredible feats of strength, balance, and agility. From death-defying aerial acts to mesmerising adagio routines, Charli's performances are a true spectacle to behold.

In addition to her work as a performer, Charli is also a highly sought-after coach and mentor. She has trained countless acrobats and circus performers, helping them to reach new levels of skill and mastery. With a deep understanding of the human body and a keen eye for detail, Charli is able to provide personalized coaching that is tailored to the unique needs of each individual performer.

”I started training circus at CircArts at the age of 14 after dabbling in many other sports such as netball, karate, dance and gymnastics. After my first class at CircArts I knew this was where my true passions lie. I remained at Circarts throughout high school, making incredible memories and lasting relationships. I will be forever grateful for my time at Circarts through my teen years. It taught me discipline, perseverance, team work, confidence and gave me a sense of belonging. The people at CircArts welcomed me with open arms, my coaches were not only extraordinary in class but also showed support and compassion outside of class. 

I trained in multiple specialties while at circus such as silk, contortion, adagio, risely and foot juggling. After partaking in an aerial hoop specialty class, I feel in love. I loved the risk of being in the air, the adrenaline rush learning my first drops, preserving through the discomfort of elbow rolls, the way I could express myself through movements on the hoop and doing things most people thought are impossible.. I would set myself challenges, determine to reach them, to better my performance ability and skill repertoire.

I performed alongside my CircArts family in many community events and shows such as the Night Jar festival, Geelong after dark, PoppyKettle Festival and Pako Festa. I truly fell in love with being on stage. I then went on to perform in Miss Lyra Australia (Semi-Professional Division) and the Australian Circus Festival, placing third in each.

I began coaching at Circarts followed by some Melbourne Aerial Studios teaching a mix of adults and kids classes such as Aerial Yoga, Dynamic Lyra, Hula Hoop, Partner Acro and Intro to Circus.

In 2019, I auditioned for the prestigious National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) and was accepted into their bachelor degree. I trained at NICA for one year specialising in group acro, hula hoops and lyra.  In 2020 I deferred the degree due to the disruption with the covid pandemic. I am currently studying a bachelor of health Sciences, majoring in Nutrition and working hard to improve my circus skills to resume performing, while learning and developing my theoretical knowledge of my body and how to fuel it for optimal performance.

I have always loved sharing my knowledge of circus, health and wellbeing with students, friends and family. Witnessing others refine, develop and grow their circus skills gives me great joy. Circus is such a fun and rewarding way to train with benefits not limited to physical fitness or health improvements but also gaining confidence, building relationships, improving teamwork and communication skills, learning trust and problem solving. Circus really helped me to figure out who I was, and who I wanted to be. I hope to make a difference in peoples’ lives, help them find joy through circus and achieve their training goals."

Hi, I’m Laura!

I have wanted to run away and join the circus since I was 12 when I discovered KidsPlace (now CircArts)! My creative primary school teacher introduced a whole class juggling program and I was inspired to practice for the whole of my Summer holidays and haven’t stopped juggling since. I quickly found that my passion was manipulation and balancing things on my nose including all household objects.

I love that anyone can be a part of CircArts and that nothing is impossible if you work hard. Circus has many avenues to perform, create, train or be part of the behind the scenes to work collaboratively to assist everyone to achieve a common goal which is usually my preference. The skills that you learn through being in Circus can be transferred to all parts of your life. I have become more confident and am able to problem solve and achieve things I never thought I could. In 2019 I was courageous enough to leave CircArts and attended Summer Camp in the USA as a trainer which was amazing! Circus has now provided me with friends from all around the world.

I especially love training the younger students and seeing them develop their co-ordination and skills. I like to form a relationship with each student and encourage them to develop their strengths and help them to work on the things that they are not so confident with. It is great when all of their hard work comes together and they feel good about themselves and what they have accomplished.

CircArts is the place I love to be and where I spend so much of my time outside of my studying. I have lifelong connections to the other trainers and feel like it is my second home. I know that it can be a place of welcome for everyone and I hope that all of the students develop the love for the Circus that I have.

Hi, I’m Leigh

Leigh Rhodes started his performing career as a talented acting student in the small town of Lara, Victoria and began training at CircArts before a successful audition for NICA saw him complete a Bachelor of Circus Arts in Melbourne.

He developed his circus abilities and incorporated his diverse skill set of Roue Cyr, Bounce Juggle, Hats, Dance, Clown, and Rollerblading into his acts.

His skills include character work, improvisation and many styles of dance choreography to name a few. Specialising in Bounce juggling and Cyr wheel, his own urban style mixed with comedy creates an unique and unusual performance.

Leigh was a resident performer for the National Basketball League in the Melbourne Arena, regularly performing for audiences in their thousands.

Touring internationally with Dummies Corp for many years, he’s been able to use his knowledge and experience to give back to the community and direct and choreograph multiple circus, cabaret and musical shows in Festivals around Victoria.

Hi, I’m Hannu!

I'm Finnish born and raised with an asian background. I started Wu shu at the age of 11 because my parents thought I was spending too much time on the computer. I learned almost all Wushu styles and started specializing in Long fist (Changquan), Staff (Gunshu), Broadsword (Daoshu) and chinese lion dance.

After teaching Wushu, competing and performing, I saw my first circus show in 2015 and fell in love with Circus arts. I decided to go study Circus at Turku for 4 years (2016-2020).

I studied aerial (static trapeze and pair trapeze) and handbalancing at school and after school hours I trained juggling and floor acrobatics. I always thought that it would be cool to do flips for living! In the end I ended up becoming a floor acrobat doing flips and twists, aswell as a juggler. As a coach I'm open minded and enjoy teaching floor acrobatics!

Hi, I’m Emmi

I started training circus as an adult. After training circus for a while, I started teaching in a youth circus school and a year later I got in to Turku Universaty of Applied Sciences to study circus arts.

I had never seen circus performances before and I didn’t know what aerial acrobatics were. I was supposed to try pole dancing but accidentaly booked myself in to an aerial hoop class and then I got a little addicted to it.

My specialities are aerials. I train the rope and silks the most but I have also done plenty of lyra and net also.

I love that in circus there are so many ways that you can express yourself and you never run out of things to train.

As a coach my favorite thing is to see students acheive their goals and get excited about learning new things. I love working at CircArts because the students and the teachers have a great team spirit! The most rewarding part of my work is to see someone nail the trick that they have worked hard on.

I want to give my students tools to aim high with their circus career. I want all of the kids and the adults to understand that they can do amazing things and they can train to be in a really high level even if they started a little later in life.

Hi, I’m Jade

I started training circus when I was 6 years old at CircArts.
I decided I wanted to start training at circus after being invited to a birthday party. 

After a very short time training I realised that circus was my passion. I went on to specialise in trapeze and roller boller. My brightest memory of doing roller baller is my fist ever solo. I was terrified to go on stage but with the support of my coaches I worked up the courage and I felt so empowered and special when everyone was clapping whenever I did a trick.
Trapeze has always been my favourite part of circus. I loved training it and I loved performing it. I found trapeze to be very rewarding as I found a lot of the skills challenging so I was above the moon whenever I got a new trick.     

Being involved at CircArts has improved my mental and physical health over the years. I have learnt many social skills and organisational skills and most importantly It has provided me with a happy place where I feel comfortable to be myself. As a trainer I love the idea of helping kids to find their passion within a nurturing environment and inspiring them to try their best in everything that they do. I hope to provide the kids I teach with as amazing of an experience as I had. 

I am currently studying a bachelor of zoology and animal science, with the hope to be able to work within the animal industry in the future!

Hi, I’m Beth,
I started training circus at CircArts just before the pandemic began. I know what a great year to start… Even though Covid was a setback, I was hooked on circus. Before I started my Circus Journey, I trained dance for many years which included all styles such as ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap. I loved dance but I felt like I needed something more. Through social media I found videos of people performing in the circus and I was so intrigued I wanted to give it a go myself, that's when I found CircArts.

I love the Joy I get when training and especially the rush you get when you finally get a new skill or performing in front of an audience, it’s something you can’t get anywhere else. At CircArts I am a part of the Emerging Artists program and earlier in the year we performed at the Spiegeltent in Barwon heads, and is one of my most fond memories being at Circarts and performing with not only my teammates but my friends, who without circus I never would have met.

Circus is a community full of weird and unique people but we are brought together through our love of the incredible sport of Circus. Circus has so many different options and specialities to train in there is absolutely something for everyone in this sport. Through Circus I am most passionate about performing and training to a high level. As you share the performance with your audience, you heighten their experience, it's a way of self expression that I want to be able to share with others.

I became a Coach and Administrator through the Emerging Leaders program. Seeing the smiling faces coming through the doors each day knowing that CircArts is a happy place for them as it is for me, is very rewarding.

Training at CircArts has helped me come out of my shell. Starting off I was very shy and it can be nerve racking when you come into a new place not really knowing how to do everything or what some of the equipment is, but the team a CircArts are so welcoming and my trainers helped me come out of my shell and realize who I am and what my potential is.

Hi, I’m Sophie

You can usually find me behind the front desk or practising aerials in the studio! I first started taking circus classes in 2017, starting with trapeze, aerial hoop and silks. Ever since day one I have been hooked. I love all kinds of aerials, but my favourite apparatus is the trapeze.

The thing that inspired me most about circus was the way it mixes fitness, fun and self-expression. The circus attracts some really interesting people and I have made some amazing friends in my time training at CircArts. There is a real community feel here that I love, and it is great to interact with students, parents and trainers alike. Plus getting the opportunity to perform in the showcase each year is exhilarating!

Outside circus, I can be found drawing, writing, painting or studying for my doctorate. It has been fun seeing how I can incorporate all my hobbies into my work and training at CircArts.

Hi, I’m Maxine!

I use she/her pronouns. I grew up up down on the Mornington peninsular playing with animals and climbing trees. I started circus when I was 15 at Hipcat youth circus in Frankston after seeing a Circus Oz show and being completely mesmerised by their performance.

Youth circus was amazing, it was a place where I was encouraged to come out of my shell, made a great group of friends, got to have fun, be silly, creative and got to be challenged physically with the circus skills.

From there I went on to training at the National Institute of Circus Arts completing the cert 3&4 and then the bachelor course in Circus Arts, where I honed different circus skills specialising in tight wire, dance trapeze and group acrobatics, from these you wouldn’t guess it but I am afraid of heights! But there was something really special and tranquil that I found in these specialties especially with wire and I became hooked!

What I really love about circus is its inclusivity, the fact that it is an activity that literally has something for everyone. I believe it provides so much joy through connections with others, growth of personal confidence and self esteem, whilst learning about your body and mind through supportive challenge. It builds physical fitness and activity, provides cognitive exercise, provides creative outlets, all this and so much more! This is why I want to teach, to spread this wonderful craft!

As a circus trainer I am most passionate about facilitating circus classes that are fun, supportive, welcoming and safe for all people. I wish for my students to discover the joy of circus and what it means to them. I aim to support and challenge each student to achieve their goals physically, socially, mentally, and to feel a part of our community! 

The thing I love most about CircArts is the community. I love to see whole families bonding over a shared love, people connecting and making life long friends through this place and being a coach here is no different. Getting to work along side amazing coaches and students that constantly inspire me and help me to grow and learn is such a pleasure, it is so much more than an afternoon activity!

The thing I like most about coaching is seeing students come out of their shell and surprise themselves with what they can do. I aim to hold classes where people feel comfortable and safe to express themselves and when I see students start to feel comfortable enough to be fully them and make friends with others in the space is the most rewarding part for me. I also love seeing people break through mental barriers they may have, seeing people overcome that is amazing!

I always struggle with fear around certain skills and tricks, even performance or social fears but to get to the other side and doing something you never believed you could is so much fun, and so I love to support students to overcome these barriers and achieve their goals, whatever it may be.

My hope is that through circus, we can help people to realise their self worth, to feel confident and comfortable in themselves, to make a place where people can connect with each other meaningfully and to learn about looking after the health of our mind and body. 

My aim is to keep learning how to make circus more accessible and inclusive so that everyone has the opportunity to discover the joys of circus. My hope and belief is that through circus we can have fun, keep active and healthy, learn so many skills that translate into life, such as resilience, compassion, kindness, determination, teamwork and learn so much about ourselves in the process.

For me circus has so much power and I wish that everyone who comes to circus is able to discover the joy for themselves. 

Hi, I’m Lola

I started training circus when I was 7 at CircArts and began touring with Circus Royale in 2018 performing contortion and hand balancing with Chinese spinning carpets.

I was originally doing callisthenics, then added on circus training to learn tricks for my solo routines for comps but as I got older, I realised I wanted circus to be my career. Then I achieved that goal and began touring and performing in a big top circus!

My Contortion Spinning Carpets Acts act is one of very few of it’s kind globally and in Australia, and in 2014 and 2018 I won two awards with it at Australian circus festival, placing 1st and 2nd. 

Performing makes me feel confident, the best feeling is when you finish your act feeling proud of what you've performed. It's amazing performing for a crowd and getting to take photos with people who are amazed after the show. 

Training makes me feel healthy and happy and it’s what I've loved doing since I was a child. 

I am most passionate about teaching students how to properly learn contortion. Contortion is my favourite thing to teach, especially to passionate kids. I learnt from my coach Diana from a young age so I love to teach students how I was taught. Doing it for so long I have a lot of tips and tricks to share!

I love seeing my students happy as they learn new skills and accomplish goals they have set, and watching my students perform at the studios concerts seeing how happy and proud they are of themselves.

My students will feel positive and confident when training and get to work hard leaving feeling accomplished and inspired to challenge themselves to be the best they can. 

I love CircArts because it is so much fun and students can make so many friends and leave feeling happy but also successful from their training. 

Hi, I’m Rachael

I started dance lessons at 4 years old starting with ballet and later learning tap and jazz until I switched to calisthenics at 7 years old. I competed for 6 years before making the move to gymnastics. After being inspired by Cirque du Soleil aerialists and contortionists, I decided to look into circus training and found CircArts! That was over 10 years ago!

I specialise in aerial hoop and recently began training duo lyra with my neighbour. I am also really passionate about strength and flexibility training, believing that with the right foundations you can achieve anything.

I love circus because it has always felt inclusive and welcoming to everyone. You meet such amazing people who come from all walks of life and can do incredible things! I love watching adult students come in (often very nervous), and leave with a huge smile on their face knowing they've achieved great skills (and great bruises) and overcome their fears.

Being at CircArts for many years, both as a student and coach, I have seen many changes - when we started we only had one of each aerial apparatus! I am so proud of all we have achieved and the growth that the school has had since I began in the teen class over 10 years ago.

Hi, I’m Charlotte

I first began performing in 2007 in my primary school orchestra and continued up until I began training at CircArts.

I’ve always loved performing and CircArts was an opportunity to continue this passion. I was always interested in circus, wanting to perform lyra from the first time I saw Cirque Du Soliel in 2006. After playing netball for several years I decided that I should mix it up with something fun and non-competitive

Over the past few years I have focused on my juggling skills. Juggling is both something I can challenge myself with and also an incredible way to get rid of stress and anxiety, almost like meditation for me.

Training at Circarts has been an incredible way for me to grow as a person. Being able to focus on specific skills has helped give me motivation to push myself more in every aspect of my life. Circus is a way to express yourself in a welcoming environment. The non-competitive environment creates a space for people to not be judged and to have a go at everything, no matter their abilities.

As a tinies trainer I love to see my students confidence grow. Since beginning coaching in 2017, seeing our shy students being able to perform in the shows with a smile on their face has always been one of the most rewarding parts of being a trainer for me. Knowing that I have an impact on my students lives, whether it is a fun activity for them or creating confidence.