We acknowledge Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of this land.
The Gadigal of the Eora Nation are the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney.
Esteemed Jury of the 5th Australian Circus Festival
Introducing you to our internationally acclaimed jury comprised of Directors, Producers and Agents
Genis Matabosch
Spain
Genís Matabosch has an International Degree in Administration and Conservation of the Patrimony by the Patrimony National Institute in Paris and holds a Bachelor in Arts History.
Genis is well known around the globe for his passion and philanthropy in Circus Arts.
Genis obtained his doctorate in Circus History by the University of Barcelona.
He is president of Circus Arts Foundation based in Besalú (Girona).
Genis is the director of one of the world's most prestigious circus festivals, the International Circus Festival "Golden Elephant" in Girona, Spain, which is known for its high level circus acts and multiple circus activities surrounding the festival, including the Circus World Expo, a trade expo dedicated to circus arts.
Genis also directs the Great Christmas Show also based in Girona and Circusland, the International Palace of Circus, Besalu, Spain, which has grown to become the world's largest museum and archives of circus artefacts.
Stacy Clark
Canada
Co-founder of the newly minted Creative Athletic Performance, a premiere consulting service. She also teaches career development and act development to the next generation of circus artists training at San Diego Circus Center.
Most recently the Director of Casting at Cirque du Soleil, Stacy managed a team of international talent scouts and advisors. Stacy's journey at Cirque du Soleil began in 2007 when she joined the Casting department as a Talent Scout, recruiting athletes and circus artists for the company’s shows worldwide. In 2011 she became Acrobatic Coach on Amaluna, touring North America.
A former gymnast and professional circus performer, she later toured the world on stage, at festivals and on screen.
Stacy holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts and is completing a Leadership diploma at Concordia University. Previously, Stacy co-owned FirePower Kids, a premiere youth fitness facility and High Strung aerial dance, where she honed her entrepreneurial skills.
Stacy is a certified Performance Enhancement Specialist (National Academy of Sports Medicine), nutrition coach and a CrossFit Level 1 and CrossFit Kids Trainer. She is also a cottage and nature enthusiast, lover of travel and dedicated people leader.
About Creative Athletic Performance: We connect and develop exceptional talent – on stage, on ice and behind the scenes. We design unique workshops and events, supply coaches and specialists to clubs and organizations, and create innovative content for shows, performers and teams.
https://creativeathleticperformance.com/
Peter Dubinski
USA
Peter Dubinsky was born in Odessa, a city on the Black Sea, on September 26, 1960. At 17, he was accepted to the famed Moscow Theatrical Institute and graduated in 1983 with a Diploma of Excellence. He was then made a Director for the Moscow Circus, working with circus programs, and representing circus acts in over 70 countries.
For over 25 years, he has lived in Florida, USA, where he founded Firebird Productions, Inc., an international entertainment company. Firebird Productions, Inc., produces shows and provides performers for such famed entertainment venues as Walt Disney World, Disney’s EPCOT Center, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Cirque du Soleil, Tokyo Disney Sea, Universal Studios of Japan, Chimelong Zhuhai International Circus, Beau Rivage Casino in USA, and many others around the world.
He is also the Artistic Consultant and Jury Member for many Circus Festivals around the world, including Festivals in Italy, Spain, France, China, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Chili, Mexico, Israel, Brazil and many others.
For his work, he has been awarded the prize of the Mayor of Monaco for “Outstanding Achievement,” TEA award for “Outstanding Achievement” for his entertainment program at Tokyo Disney Sea, among others.
Pavel Kotov
Canada
Senior Casting Director of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, Pavel Kotov is a former Russian National Team world-class acrobatic gymnastics athlete and Judge for the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). He held a number of positions in Public Relations and Marketing in the industry of sports and fitness, and also performed in the Russian Bars act of the Great Moscow State Circus.
Pavel was invited to join the Casting Team of Cirque du Soleil in Montreal, Canada in 2004, and currently holding the title of the Senior Casting Director, he is responsible for recruiting and casting of artists for all new creations and existing shows of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
Erdene Nergui
Mongolia
Erdene Nergui is the President of the Center for Development of Mongolian Circus NGO.
Erdene also sits as President and producer of Mongolian Circus Production ERDENE.
General producer and artistic director of the international circus gala show in Ulanbator "World Circus in Mongolia".
Erdene's act creations have graced the stages of the world's most famed circus festivals such as the Festival Internationals du Cirque de Monte Carlo, International Circus Festival Nikulin, Moscow, China, Wuqiao International Circus Festival, Festival International del Circ, Giron, Spain, Wuhan International Circus Festival and many more.
Jessica Hentoff
USA
Jessica Hentoff has been teaching and performing circus arts for over 45 years. She was a founding member of both the Big Apple Circus in New York City and Circus Flora in St. Louis. Ms. Hentoff is the founder and Artistic/Executive Director of Circus Harmony, St. Louis’ only social circus school. She has been using circus arts to motivate social change since starting the St. Louis Arches youth circus troupe in 1989.
In 2001, she created Circus Harmony to expand youth circus opportunities in St. Louis and beyond. In 2009, Ms. Hentoff was named both St. Louis Arts Innovator and Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year. She was honored to be the first person to receive the American Circus Educators’ Excellence in Circus Education Award in 2014. In 2020, she was honored to help found the Global Alliance of Circus Schools and serve on the founding board of Omnium, A Bold New Circus. Jessica also serves as youth circus advisor to the Circus Fans Association of America and the World Circus Federation. Her students have gone on to perform with circuses around the world including Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, and Circa Contemporary Circus.
Through Circus Harmony, Ms. Hentoff has created Peace Through Pyramids partnerships bringing together children from different backgrounds in St. Louis and around the world. Through her remarkable vision, Jessica uses circus arts to build character and expand community as she helps children defy gravity, soar with confidence, and leap over social barriers, all at the same time!
Dmitry Chernov
Russia
Dmitry is Founder & Artistic director of the Chernov Creations one of the world's leading artistic creations company in circus arts. His act creations have won multiple awards in international festivals.
Dmitry is also the Founder & Organizer of the "Online Circus Festival», the first online festival created to support artists during the Covid19 Pandemic.
Dmitry is a highly successful large balls juggler from Russia, his unique act became a Prize winner in the International Circus Festivals in Paris, Moscow, Budapest and the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo (“Premiere Rampe”).
Dmitry was artistic director of the Israeli International Circus Festival in Ashdod (2016-2017)
We are thrilled to welcome Dmitry for the first time to the Australian Circus Festival!
Yasmin Smart
United Kingdom
Born in Windsor, England, she is the granddaughter of the famous English showman Billy Smart. Yasmine made her debut in the ring at age 11, at Billy Smart's New World Circus, with a group of twelve Shetland ponies. She was tutored in horse and animal training by John Gindl, who was at the time Billy Smart's Circus's head trainer. Although an equestrienne by choice, Yasmine also worked with exotic animals and elephants, animals she presented in other British circuses, such as Blackpool’s Tower Circus and Belle Vue Circus in Manchester, after Billy Smart's Circus folded its tents in 1971. She also presented horses for other circuses, notably for Circus Knie in Switzerland and Circus Krone and Circus Hagenbeck in Germany.
Eventually, Yasmine became a celebrated "Ringmistress"—a role she originated at the Billy Smart’s Circus Christmas Spectacular, a BBC Holiday special that aired for several years after the Billy Smart's Circus had ceased touring.It is in her capacity as Ringmistress that Yasmine participated for the first time in the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo in 1975. The following year, she presented a group of horses "at liberty" from Circus Krone at a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee at Windsor. Yasmine was the first British circus artist to be awarded in Monte Carlo and remains the only artist to have been awarded three times.
Rongquan Xie
China
Executive committee of China, Wuqiao International Circus Festival, known as one of the world's oldest and largest festivals of circus arts, dedicated to the oldest acrobatic city in the world, Wuqiao. The festival is based in Shijiazhuang the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei Province, 266 kilometres (165 mi) southwest of Beijing. The China, Wuqiao International Circus Festival is arguably one of the largest in scale of the world's circus festivals and often invites not only China and the world's leading acts to perform, but also Chinese traditional dance and opera troupes to perform in it's famous opening ceremony.
Mr Xie was most recently a jury member of Festival Internacional del Circ Elefant d'Or de Girona, Spain and Sat as a jury member of IDOL festival in Moscow, Russia 2018 run by the famous Zapashny family in the Bolshoi Circus.
Mr Xie also visited Australia in 2019 and sat as a Jury member for the 4th Australian Circus Festival and awarded a prize on behalf of the Internat
Xiao Shige
China
Deputy Secretary-general of China Acrobats Association, in charge of foreign exchange affairs. He is deeply researched the status and development of circus at home and abroad. His focus is the development of acrobatics in China and the innovation of art creation, promoting Chinese acrobatics to the world. He has led Chinese acrobatics shows to attend the international circus festivals in Monaco, France, Russian and Italy and more...
Some shows win the highest award in the above festivals.
China Acrobats Association(CAA) is a non-governmental organization of professional acrobats from all ethnic groups all over China. It is serving as the bridge and bond between circus at home and abroad. “The China Acrobatic Golden Chrysanthemum Award” sponsored by CAA is the highest honor award with most authoritative and influential in Chinese acrobatics field. It is also one of famous awards in the world. It is including acrobatic, magic and comedy awards. The performance won the “Golden chrysanthemum award”, has repeatedly won the highest award in the international grand acrobatic festivals.
Bud Tumurbaatar
Mongolia
Bud has a long history in the circus industry and is Vice President of the Mongolian Professional Circus Artists Joint Association and is Chairman of the Mongolian Professional Contortionist Association and is an industry leader in Mongolian Circus Arts.
Bud sits as General Director of X Roses Contortion Center, one of the world's leading contortion facilities, where he and his wife have produced award winning group contortion acts for festivals around the world.
Bekki Ashton
Australia
Bekki is the 6th Generation from the Ashton Family, one of Australia’s oldest and largest circus dynasties.
Bekki grew up touring with her grandparents Ashton’s Circus.
Bekki has performed in a many throughout Australia and the world. Bekki has spent the past few years touring with Circus Joseph Ashton and she is currently working with Australia's Circus & Cabaret sensation "Infamous". She is extremely proud to be the 1st and only Australian woman to date to perform the triple somersault on the Flying Trapeze.
Bekki is a respected mentor to many up and coming performers in the industry and has been closely connected with the Australian Circus Festival since 2014.
Martina Marraccino
USA
Also known as Martino Mayotte, Martina attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York and is an actor, writer, producer, music director, choreographer, educator, costumer, and orchestrator. They have taught for Youth Performance Company, Steppingstone Theatre for Youth Development, Top Hat Children's Theatre and more. Professional Stage and Production credits include Silver Slipper Productions, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, The Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Minnesota, American Repertory Theatre, Cardinal Theatricals, Bloomington Civic Theatre, Lyric Arts, St Odilia’s Theatre Ministry, Heritage Theatre Company, Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center, Midsummer Thespian Project.
Winner of Distinctive Achievement Award for Costumes at Wild Rose Film Festival. Martina has been seen as full time cast member and producer of Queer Circus and the Super Drag Story Time. They’ve been Featured in the New Orleans, Colorado and Michigan Burlesque Festivals as well as The Seattle Boylesque and locally in the Twin Cities Cirque Festival, Capitol City Cabaret and more.
Kristian Kristof
Hungary
Artistic director of the International Circus Festival of Budapest (1996-2012).
Winner of 12 different International Circus Festivals as performing juggler.
Master of Arts graduate of Directing Circus from Bath Spa University UK.
International manager of Recirquel contemporary circus company Hungary
Internationally acclaimed entertainer, artistic and creative director with 30 years of
experience. Recently worked as circus consultant and choreographer for Disney
Pictures on “DUMBO” a movie directed by Tim Burton and was the production
director for the creation of MANDANA the 2019 touring show of Circus Krone in
Germany. The "Guinness Book of World Records" listed his quadruple pirouette
with 3 cigar boxes, as record that remains unbroken since 1994.
Kristian had the
honors to manage the biannual editions of the International Circus Festival of
Budapest (1996-2012) and directed dozens of productions, later becoming the
artistic director on the Capital Circus of Budapest (2008-2011). Also founded
Maciva Master Studios, the most successful circus creative studio in Hungary
Genis Matabosch
Spain
Genís Matabosch has an International Degree in Administration and Conservation of the Patrimony by the Patrimony National Institute in Paris and holds a Bachelor in Arts History.
Genis is well known around the globe for his passion and philanthropy in Circus Arts.
Genis obtained his doctorate in Circus History by the University of Barcelona.
He is president of Circus Arts Foundation based in Besalú (Girona).
Genis is the director of one of the world's most prestigious circus festivals, the International Circus Festival "Golden Elephant" in Girona, Spain, which is known for its high level circus acts and multiple circus activities surrounding the festival, including the Circus World Expo, a trade expo dedicated to circus arts.
Genis also directs the Great Christmas Show also based in Girona and Circusland, the International Palace of Circus, Besalu, Spain, which has grown to become the world's largest museum and archives of circus artefacts.
Zsuzsanna Mata
Hungary
Executive Director Federation Mondiale du Cirque. Zsuzsanna started working for MACIVA in 1988. Where for 6 years she was Head of the International Department and from 1994 she also acted as Head of the Artistic Department of the company. Zsuzsanna held the position as director of the European Circus Association (ECA). From 2003 until the nomination, she represented the Hungarian State Circus (MACIVA) on the Board of Directors of ECA.
Mrs Mata is one of the founders of the Budapest International Circus Festival and, since its first edition in 1996, has been member of the Organizing Committee of the Festival. She has vast experience in the circus world, being determined to dedicate her knowledge and energy to the mission of ECA and the fulfillment of its goals. Mrs Mata’s contribution to circus art was recognized by the state award “The Silver Merit Cross of the Republic of Hungary” in 2005. She is author of several books and articles on circus issues.
Craig Bullen
Australia
President of the International Circus Festival of Italy, Fabio's childhood was spent in the atmosphere of the circus, as his father - Giulio Montico, was a versatile circus performer who mastered various circus disciplines.
In 1999, the first edition of the International Circus Festival "City of Latina" was held, which deliberately contained the name of the city of Latina in its title, this was what Giulio Montico wanted.
In 2015, due to the inclusion of the festival among the most important events in the world of circus, the Festival became known as the "International Circus Festival of Italy". In addition to the circus festival, Fabio runs two family – owned companies: "New Cover", a leading agency in the rental of metal structures for events, concerts, fairs and other cultural events, and "Gommalandia", very famous children's park in Latina city. Fabio is also a jury member of different international circus festivals and contests.
Kahurangi Bronsson-George
Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Ko Maukatere te mauka, Ko Rakahuri te awa, Ko Makawhiua te waka Ko Kāi Tahu, ko Ngāti Mamoe, ko Ngāti Porou ngā iwi. Ko Kahurangi Bronsson-George tōhoku ikoa. (Maukatere is my mountain, Rakahuri is my river, Makawhiua is my canoe, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Ngāti Porou are my tribes. Kahurangi Bronsson-George is my name).
Kahurangi Bronsson-George was inspired to join the world of Circus by seeing a Māori Circus production called “Maui, One Man Against The Gods” in 2006 by Taki Rua Theatre Company and began his training at the Wellington Circus Hub.
In 2013, his adventures took him to Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland, where he learned from Mike Edward and Eve Gordon and later attended Spin Circus Academy in Melbourne, Australia.
In 2016, he attended the Whitireia Circus and Dance Course at Te Kāhui Auaha in Te Whanganui-A-Tara/Wellington and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts, and created the circus production known as “Iti Kahurangi” which emphasised his Māori identity and journey back into his heritage. The values he has learned from his culture are what he places at the forefront of all the work he engages in to this day, and he has never felt happier nor more artistically fulfilled from it. He dreams of seeing more Polynesian diversity in the Arts worldwide.
Veronica Blair
USA
Veronica Blair is a professional aerialist with over 15 years of performing and teaching experience.
She is currently Aerial Director for Celebrity Cruises Entertainment Expanding her portfolio beyond performing, Veronica launched the development of “The Uncle Junior Project” in 2010. The ongoing documentary series shines a light on the careers of African-American circus performers, including Emanual “Uncle Junior” Ruffin who remained largely uncredited for his contributions to American Circus until after his death. In 2010.
She was invited to speak at the Smithsonian FolkLife Festival about her experience as producer and director of “The Uncle Junior Project”, and served as organizer and moderator on a panel highlighting the African-American circus experience. She’s also worked with the African-American Art and Culture Complex to stage "Entrapment to Entertainment: A Celebration of Blacks in American Circus", a three-month exhibition that ran from October, 2013 – January 2014 with over 1,000 attendees.
To find out more about The Uncle Jnr Project or Veronica, visit:
www.VeronicaBlairAerial.com
and
www.unclejrproject.com
Maria Teresa Chirinos Versace
Peru
Founder and CEO of Prodartes Perú S.A.C. with more than 25 years dedicated to managing high-level international cultural shows, promoting different genres such as classical dance, folk dance, theater, classical music, folk music and circus.
Her most recognized circus production is "Gran Circo de Rusia" - this show is renewed every year with different acts and artists of the main circuses of Russia, being one of the circus projects with greatest prestige and growth in Latin America.
This project began 10 years ago in the city of Lima-Peru and currently travels for more than 10 cities in Peru and more than 25 cities in South America. This event is enabled by the Ministry of Culture in Peru and also supported by the Russian Embassy.
Veneta Stefanova
Bulgaria
Veneta Stefanova is Artistic Director/Co-Director Stefani Art Agency, Europe's premier entertainment agency for circus artists. Veneta has decades of experience managing and providing award winning artists for small to large scale shows and events, such as dinner theatre, variete, contemporary and classical circuses under BigTop's or on the theatre stages. A member of the Bulgarian National team in Rhythmic Gymnastics and a Coach in Rhythmic
Gymnastics with the National Sports Academy of Bulgaria.
She went on to becoming an award winning international Circus performer, winning prizes at many well known circus festivals & performed in the world re-known Ringling Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Joanna Nagle-McMenamin
Australia
Director of Circus Guide Entertainment, Joanna is a classically trainer dancer and a graduate of the dance program at the Queensland University of Technology.
Joanna went on to dance at the famed ‘Moulin Rouge’ in Paris, and the ‘Friedrichstadt Palast’ in Berlin.On meeting her her future husband Vladimir Tatarchuk, an acrobatic base in a banquine act from Ukraine, she moved to Kiev with him and began training as an aerialist.
The pair worked together around the world on silks, aerial ring, and finally trapeze. As a vocalist Joanna created singing acts on silks and with Vlad on trapeze touring the U.S with Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey. Since 2007 Vlad and Joanna have run the Circus Guide Entertainment Agency specializing circus and speciality acts. As well as representing thousands of artists world wide, Joanna has also been involved in the casting, creation process, and touring of various circus productions.
Hera Direen
Australia
Hera is a playwright, and circus & cabaret creator based in Nipaluna (Hobart), Australia. Having grown up in the Huon Valley starting in community musicals, they have had a varied career in burlesque and drag to circus and acrobatics.
Hera has found their voice as a transgender woman returning to song and cabaret creating work for and by transgender people. They are the founder and artistic director of QT Cabaret, a space for transgender and gender queer performers to trial new cabaret and circus work, which won Artfully Queers unifying voice award 2019. I believe that visibility and advocacy are the best way to change how structures function in the short term. QT is a space for queer people to meet, be safe, have fun, and create community.
Hera is also the winner of 2020’s Out For Australia Community Champion award. As a circus performer she is described as a wailing banshee, and an acid breathing chimera of musical whimsey and physical degustation, specialising in lyra and general bendiness.
A message from the founding director
Jasmine Straga
