| IRINA BURLIYBack to Top | |
| Double fix trapeze, teeterboard, swinging clubs, tissue, banquine & Russian bar, Roue Cyr | |
was born in Kiev in the Ukraine. Irina began Acro Sport at the young age of 4. When she was 16, two Polish artists from the Varsovie circus invited her to work with them as an aerial artist. They formed the Trio Ares and performed throughout Europe for over ten years. A multidisciplinary artist, she excels in many acts, including the banquine, the Russian bar, aerial contortion on ring, straps and the swinging trapeze. In 2005, Krzysztof Soroczynski, Cirque Éloize’s head trainer, invited Irina to join the company. Daniel Cyr offered to teach her the basics of the Cyr Wheel so that they could form a duo. In 2006, she was given a role in Rain and so joined her younger sister, Oksana, who has been evolving with the troupe since its creation in 2004. Irina now perfects her art through the new circus genre. |
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| OKSANA BURLIYBack to Top | |
| Juggling & swinging clubs, tissue, triangle, aerial hoop, teeterboard | |
studied acrobatics with her sister from the age of 6, in the city of Kiev, in Ukraine. Since that time, her passion for the discipline has never faded, and through her skills she has been able to discover the world. She has performed her Russian bar act with many international circus companies such as Zaparojia, the Cirque Gasser Olympia (Switzerland), the Cirque Arlequin (Poland), the Cirque Imagine and Zavata (France) and finally Cirque Voyage in Germany. Oksana was also a trainer for École de cirque Michellete in France. She is now a member of the Cirque Éloize’s production Rain. |
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| JEAN-PHILIPPE CUERRIERBack to Top | |
| banquine & Russian bar, teeterboard, juggling, strong acrobats number, saxophone | |
was introduced to the circus arts at the age of eight when he attended the Verdun Circus School. There he discovered a passion for acrobatics and juggling, and ten years later he entered the National Circus School in Montreal. While perfecting his skills in his favorite disciplines, Jean-Philippe also mastered other apparatuses, including the aerial cradle. After graduation, he flew off for an 8-month tour in Switzerland with the Circus Starlight. Today, in addition to being part of Cirque Éloize's latest creation, Jean-Philippe tries to pass on his first passion to young people of the coming generation by teaching at the Verdun Circus School. |
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| ANNE GENDREAUBack to Top | |
| Double fix trapeze, tissue, teeterboard, strong acrobats number, solo rope, violin | |
A graduate of the National Circus School of Montreal in 2000, specializing in rope web techniques, Anne Gendreau has been able to use many aspects of her acrobat training with different companies. From children’s acrobatic theatre (Dynamo Théâtre) to concerts (aerial rope act during shows with Jorane, singer-cellist) to equestrian shows (Cavalia), her stage experience has included acrobatic bungies with trapeze, triple rope and aerial hoop. For the Rain show, she was able to enjoy a couple of childhood pastimes: violin and acting. |
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| STÉPHANE GENTILINIBack to Top | |
| Juggling & object manipulation, teeterboard, strong acrobats number | |
a native of France, Stéphane began his training with street theatre groups. In order to specialize in juggling, he entered the École nationale de cirque de Châtellerault in 1998, which in turned gained him admission to the National Circus School in Montreal; he studied there from 1999 to 2002. Since then his work has focused on manipulation of objects, which led to appearances with various circus and dance companies. |
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| CATHERINE GIRARDBack to Top | |
| aerial hoop, double fix trapeze, tissue, teeterboard, swinging clubs, saxophone | |
started training at the age of four in classic ballet, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, and theatre. After graduating from college in dance, she concentrated on the only discipline that combines all her interests: the arts of the circus. She is a graduate of the National Circus School where she studied three years with Jean-Philippe Cuerrier, another member of the Cirque Éloize. Since then the two artists have combined their talents in aerial cradle acts. Since her encounter with this marvellous world, her passion for the circus has never left her. Subsequently, she worked with the Circus Starlight in Switzerland, then in France and with the Tout Fou Tout Fly. After winning in 2003 a Piste de bronze (Bronze Award) at the Festival de Tournai in Belgium, she has finally come and joined the Cirque Éloize. |
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| KRIN MAREN HAGLUNDBack to Top | |
| Roue Cyr, tissue, swinging clubs, teeterboard, dancer, saxophone | |
fell deeply in love with the circus as a little girl. After years of ballet, modern dance, gymnastics and climbing everything in sight, she discovered an emerging voice in physical performance. While continuing to dance, Krin studied in Japan for two years and completed her B.A. in pre-med and Asian languages at Smith College in Massachusetts. Krin was satisfied with her academic pursuits, but she knew she had to give her childhood dream a chance. Krin headed for San Francisco to train at the Circus Center, where she attended the Clown Conservatory. In the Bay Area she danced, acted and performed in circus shows, including two seasons with the New Pickle Circus. Krin has many loves and interests in her life, but nothing inspires her as much as the circus. |
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| AIMÉE JANAAN HANCOCK Back to Top | |
found gymnastics too scripted and classical violin too subtle, Aimée found contentment in the crazy world of the circus: the perpetual challenge of being and living ever more intensely, the commotion of the lights, the applause and all the visual pleasures. Firm in her belief in the potential of circus training, Aimée has flown with people from all walks of life in the pursuit of trust, confidence, humanity and passion. Her intense circus training began at age 15, and she has continued accumulating new skills and growing through professional experience across Europe, America and the Caribbean. In each moment of her circus performance, Aimée strives to rediscover the details and delve into their broader significance |
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| JONAS WOOLVERTONBack to Top | |
| Roue Cyr, strong acrobats number, teeterboard, rolling globe, suitcase contortion, accordion | |
is a native of New York City. He studied dance, theatre, played accordion in a circus-rock band, Circophonique! and graduated with a B.A. in film production from Vassar College. While working as a filmmaker in San Francisco, Woolverton saw Cirque Éloize’s Excentricus and his life and his career path were forever changed. He knew that he had to find a way to work with this theatrical circus company and dedicate himself to the study of the enigmatic Cyr Wheel. The Clown Conservatory at the Circus Center in San Francisco gave him the formal circus training he needed, and he was hired to perform German Wheel and play accordion in the New Pickle Circus’ Circumstance, directed by Gypsy Snider. Ecstatic to now be a part of the international ensemble of Rain, he is living his dream of performing with Cirque Éloize. One day Woolverton plans to combine his passion and experiences in the circus with his love for making films. |
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