Author Archives: Circus Smirkus
Virtual Season Premiere 2020
Save the date! We’re hosting a Virtual Season Premiere on June 27, coming to you live from Smirkus Camp in Greensboro and around the country from the homes of troupers, alumni and coaches. Watch this page for more details. Tickets on sale soon!
How Clowns Zoom
Looking for a laugh? Try this video. These clowns have learned so much about clowning around while social distancing…in fact they get together regularly to share a few tricks. You’re welcome.
Keeping Coronavirus Out of the Ring
Dear friends, Everyone at Circus Smirkus is busily preparing for the opening of our Smirkus Camp and Big Top Tour seasons in June. However, like many of you, we are also keeping a close eye on the news around COVID-19. At this point, and based on the information currently available, we plan for our 2020 season to run as scheduled. We realize that it takes a certain amount of optimism and the can-do spirit of the circus to think that way as the uncertainty of the world swirls around us. We will continue to closely monitor all developments in this…
Rachel Schiffer
Rachel Schiffer, Acro and Wire Coach Sessions: Intermediate Camp and Advanced Camps Rachel Schiffer caught the circus bug when she was only seven years old and has been circus-ing in some way shape or form ever since. Rachel began as a gymnast and went on to perform with the international youth circus, Circus Smirkus as a wire dancer, aerialist and acrobatic flyer. After studying religious performance, dance and biology at Middlebury College she turned her full focus back to the circus arts and performed extensively throughout the US with both traditional and contemporary circus companies such as The Midnight Circus…
Julie Marshall
Julie Marshall, Aerial Coach Sessions: Advanced Camp Julie Marshall made her stage debut at age 12 as “silent townsperson #7” in a children’s theatre production of Tom Sawyer in Memphis Tennessee, and her career has done nothing but improve since then. Julie studied performance at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and has had intensive training in aerial hoop, aerial fabric, and contortion. She teaches aerial hoop, duo hoop, aerial fabric, act creation, and flexibility, and is also a very nice person. You can see her website here: www.juliemarshalldoesthings.com
Ren Carter-Tucker
Ren Carter-Tucker, Aerial Coach Sessions: Smirkling Camp, All Around Circus Camp Loving to perform for her family since the very beginning, Ren has sought to bring smiles to those watching her through a variety of mediums. After dabbling in various forms of dance and acrobatic movement, Ren settled on aerial fabric as her main form of expression. She also delights in juggling, clowning, balloon animals and embroidery. Ren currently pursues her love of circus with the New England Center for Circus Arts in the PROTrack program. This year Ren joins us as an aerial coach – in the past, she…
Doug Stewart
Doug Stewart, Head Coach Sessions: Intro to Smirkus, Smirkling Camp, All Around Circus Camps, Intermediate Camp Doug began his circus journey in 2009 when he came to Smirkus Camp for the first time. He continued coming to Smirkus Camp until 2014, when he ran away with the Big Top Tour and never looked back! Doug graduated from Columbia College Chicago in May 2018 with a degree in Business of Live and Performing Arts. He has performed with Circus Smirkus, Diamond Family Circus, Aloft Circus Arts, The Midnight Circus and Aida Cruises. During college, Doug founded a brand new circus company Cirque Us and is the…
Hayley Larson
Hayley Larson, Multi-tent Coach Sessions: Advanced Camp Hayley Larson is a multidisciplinary circus performer with training in many duo and solo aerial apparatuses, Cyr wheel, and hand balancing. With a degree in Dance from Oberlin College, Hayley uses her background as a dancer to bring a crisp, complex style to her choreography that underscores the commanding stage presence so often found in her performances. Currently, Hayley is based in Chicago where she performs with Aloft Circus Arts’ touring ensemble show Brave Space and coaches circus throughout the city. She is very excited to return to Smirkus Camp for her second…
Julio Ramazini
Julio Ramazini, Clown, Juggling and Balance Coach Sessions: Advanced Camp Julio attended Ecole National De Circo in Rio De Janeiro from 2003-2006. He studied Static Trapeze, Juggling, Unicycle, Hand Balancing, Perch, Banquine, Tumbling, and Foot Juggling. In 2006 he was recruited by a Ringling Bros scout at his circus school. He was offered a contract on the spot with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey as a clown, and moved to America where he toured around the entire US and Mexico from 2006-2013. After leaving Ringling, he found himself back in the states with his now wife Kelli Brown-Ramazini. He has also directed…
Kelli Brown-Ramazini
Kelli Brown-Ramazini, Clown, Aerial, Balance and Juggling Coach Sessions: Advanced Camp Kelli has been performing aerial and circus arts for ten years. She has been in numerous shows such as Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey, “Cirque Joyeux”, “Forever”, and The Petite Palace just to name a few. She has been teaching aerial and circus arts for 6 years, has directed shows, wrote hundreds of acts for hundreds of students. Though never attending a national circus school, she has had coaching from many world renowned coaches such as Anastasia Crane (Contortion & Hand Balancing), Xian Zhang (Straps), Itzel Vireuga (Coach at ENC- Dance Trapeze), Susan Voyticky…