Nuestro equipo
Dr. Corey Cheval, Director Ejecutivo
El fundador y director, el Dr. Corey Cheval, ha estudiado danza y música clásicas desde una edad temprana, y luego se interesó de manera especializada en la danza y la música de Brasil. Fue durante su investigación sobre las danzas de la diáspora africana en Bahía, Brasil, que el espectáculo comenzó por primera vez su estudio de artes aéreas (2005). Cheval tiene un Ph.D. en Antropología Cultural de la Universidad de Florida (2015) y una Maestría en Estudios de Performance de la Universidad Federal de Bahía (2008).
Con un enfoque de investigación en el desempeño y la identidad, Cheval impartió cursos a nivel universitario en aspectos técnicos y teóricos de las artes escénicas. Cheval ha publicado su investigación sobre estudios de rendimiento en revistas académicas revisadas por pares y ha sido oradora invitada en TEDxUF, Frank Conference, Harn Museum of Art y Appleton Museum of Art.
Cheval ha viajado y actuado por los Estados Unidos y Brasil como acróbata, cantante y bailarina desde principios de la década de 2000. Cheval produce Ragtime Circus de Dusty, un espectáculo de circo de música en vivo galardonado. Como directora del Gainesville Circus Center, comparte su pasión por las artes escénicas con la próxima generación de artistas jóvenes. Cheval también ha escrito varias subvenciones exitosas para la producción de espectáculos y apoyo general al programa en el Gainesville Circus Center. Cheval también ha brindado servicios de documentos Visa, planificación de giras, relaciones públicas y logística de viajes para artistas internacionales que trabajan en los Estados Unidos. Ha trabajado con artistas como Ulisses Rocha (Brasil), Hermógenes Araujo (Brasil) y Dong Xin (China).
Isabel Brazzel, Youth Program Coordinator & Office Manager
Izzy is an avid mover and as been dancing for over 16 years! She is trained in classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and movement improv. She has experience teaching dance to youth in both English and Spanish, and has spent the last 4 years performing with a dance company in Richmond. However, she is proud to say that she "ran away to join the circus" and has found a new love in the circus and aerial arts. Coach Izzy is also our youth program coordinator.
Liz Bouton, Instructora
Liz estudió ballet clásico entre los 3 y los 20 años, pero descubrió que su pasión bailaba en el aire. Su aparato favorito son las sedas y la lyra, y le encanta ser flexible con las clases de flexibilidad. Como joven bailarina, Liz recibió muchas becas por mérito para asistir a intensivos de verano que van desde la Escuela de Ballet Joffrey en Nueva York hasta la Escuela de Ballet de Orlando. El ballet le ha ayudado con su flexibilidad y técnica en el aire, y aunque siempre lo admirará, le encanta la fuerza aérea que la ha hecho por dentro y por fuera.
Rainy Barton, Instructor
Rainy Barton es maestra de música de primaria y enseña a los grados Pre-K-5 sobre las alegrías de la creación musical. La música y la danza siempre han sido parte de su vida a través de su participación en bandas, producciones de teatro musical, equipos de danza, etc. Se topó con las artes aéreas a través de una amiga y no ha dejado de asistir desde entonces. Su aparato favorito son las sedas. Ella está muy agradecida por la comunidad del circo y disfruta actuar y enseñar allí.
Samatha Belmore, Instructor
Coach Sam has been performing and involved in Gainesville Circus Center ever since 2016. She started in the kid circus camp and started training from there. Her favorite apparatus is silks.
Lauren Orlik, Instructor
Lauren is a NASM certified personal trainer with over 8 years of training in aerial arts. In addition to circus, she is an active runner, having participated in multiple half and full marathons, as well as a Ragnar 200-mile relay. She is a Dallas native, has been happily married for just over two years, and has a Goldendoodle therapy puppy-in-training named Boo.
Katie Olson, Instructor
Katie began gymnastics at age 6, and has since fallen in love with latin dance, silks, and acroyoga. She feels at home in the air and enjoys combining elegance with athleticism through acrobatics. By day she is a counselor, and at night she can be found donning her tights to climb the silks or master a new acroyoga flow.
Maddie Williams, Assistant Instructor
Maddie began training circus arts at the age of 8. She is a powerful performer and excels at aerial silks. At the age of 12, she became a soloist with Dusty's Ragtime Circus and performed in regional events. Maddie transitioned from student to team member as an assistant instructor in June 2023.
Xavi Leon, AV Tech & Maintenance
Classically trained and self proclaimed progressive metal enthusiast, Venezuelan artist Xavi Leon has worked both on stage and behind the scenes as a pop artist, producer and sound technician in South America and Europe. Leon has worked with the Gainesville Circus Center since it's inception as sound technician, roadie, rigging inspector, general maintenance, and most recently, band director and lead guitarist for CircusPalooza.
Lilah Habeck, Assistant Instructor
Lilah started their passion for aerial arts when they were 10 during a summer camp at GCC and hasn’t stopped since. They mostly enjoy silks and lyra but they also do contortion and acrobatics as well. Lilah has been volunteering at the Gainesville Circus Center since they were 13 but only official became a staff member in 2024. Aside from aerial arts, they enjoy drawing, painting, sewing and baking.
Delia Hartless, Assistant Instructor
Delia started circus at 12 years old and has seen her self confidence sky rocket ever since. Circus has helped her step out of her comfort zone and she feels gratitude for all the things she has learned during her time at the Gainesville Circus Center.
Thais Torrens, Instructor
Thais Torrens is a professional dancer, digital artist and a passionate educator. Thais holds BFA from the University of Florida where she trained in several art and dance forms including Ballet/Pointe, Contemporary/Modern, Tap, Jazz, and Improvisation. She has worked as a director and choreographer for youth theaters in St. Petersburg and is excited to return to Gainesville and join the talented staff at GCC. Dedicated to inclusivity, instructing diverse students with a focus on cultural and health informed arts education. Received several accolades, including a University Scholar Research Grant and Award of Outstanding Merit from the College of the Arts (UF).