Meet Our Team
Discover Circus is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors and a highly skilled team of Instructors who work together to ensure high-quality, inclusive, and community-centered circus programming.
Our Board provides strategic direction and organizational oversight for Discover Circus, supporting sustainable program development and ensuring that our values of accessibility, creativity, and safe participation remain central to everything we do.
Our Instructors bring expertise, professionalism, and a deep commitment to student growth. They create structured, supportive learning environments where participants of all ages can build skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging through the circus arts.
Together, the Board and Instructors uphold Discover Circus’s mission to offer meaningful opportunities for exploration, connection, and artistic expression within the Kootenays.
Want to learn more?
Use the links below to see our team bios
Instructors
JAKE THELADY
DC Executive Director & Aerial Silks-Sling Instructor
Jake TheLady is a multidisciplinary circus artist and dancer, known for her energetic teaching style and captivating stage presence. With a background in classical dance, Jake discovered her true passion for Circus Arts over a decade ago, starting with hula hooping and quickly branching out into various disciplines such as Aerial Silks, Sling, Hoop, Cube, Stilting and Fire Eating.
As one of the foundational members of the performance troupe, Circus Acts Insomniacs, Jake has showcased her exceptional talents on stages throughout Western Canada and has recently expanded her training worldwide.
Alongside her performance abilities, Jake also possesses event production expertise, bringing her keen eye for detail and organizational skills to create unforgettable circus experiences. Recently appointed as the Executive Director of Discover Circus School in Nelson, BC, she combines her artistry and performance background with her event production knowledge to deliver exceptional productions. She also works as an Aerial Instructor, inspiring emerging circus artists. With her unique blend of creativity, grace and unparalleled dedication, Jake continues to push boundaries while empowering artists everywhere.
Photo Credit - Greg Rogers
Jodie Michelle
DC Assistant Executive Director & Aerial Silks - Hoop/Lyra - Trapeze Instructor
With over 25 years of experience in dance and a rich background in theatre and performance art, Jodie brings deep creative roots to the circus world. After moving to the Kootenays three years ago, she discovered aerial arts as a beginner student at Discover Circus, and was instantly hooked. Since then, she has trained intensively, taught for the past two years, and has become deeply connected to the Circus community in the Kootenays.
Now as Discover Circus Program Director, Jodie is passionate about building inclusive, inspiring spaces where people of all ages can explore movement and self-expression. She credits this vibrant circus community with changing her life, and is honoured to help it grow.
Photo Credit - Greg Rogers Photography
JOY WEICK (she/her)
It was love at first flight… Joy’s passion for movement was kindled early, bringing complex characters to life in her ballet school’s full length productions. She's studied and apprenticed in classical ballet and explored many other dance forms extensively. Inspired by the creativity of festival culture and cutting edge cirque nouveau companies like L.A. based Lucent Dossier Experience and Kansas City’s Quixotic Fusion, she started training with Victoria Mihalyi of Flying Dreams on Salt Spring Island in 2012. Fast forward a few years and Joy now regularly performs with Vancouver based theatrical circus troupe Omnika in Motion. Highlights include appearances and collaborations with Calgary's revered Cirque de la Nuit and various B.C. festivals and events including Diversity and Shambhala Music Festival.
While she loves to be on stage and in the studio creating new works with Omnika, she's equally passionate about coaching. Joy has experience offering youth and adult classes in Victoria, and has completed the New England Centre for Circus Arts' (NECCA) Intro and Foundations Fabrics courses in July 2015. NECCA offers the highest caliber teacher trainings in the industry and Joy intends to complete their full certification program over the next few years. She also has a slight obsession with aerial safety and rigging and has devoted many hours of study to promote injury prevention and safe studio practices. Joy is continually grateful for the opportunity to inspire students to empower themselves and develop their strengths through the aerial arts. She's honoured and excited to work with Discover Circus and the Nelson community!
DC Aerial Silks Instructor
Photo Credit - Louis Bockner
MACKENZIE SAVILL (She/her)
Mackenzie has dedicated years to the development of her aerial practice. She is a multi-disciplinary aerialist, performer and instructor. Her background in competitive gymnastics and dance engrained a deep sense of mindful practice, functional strength training and body awareness.
In more recent years, Mackenzie has travelled internationally to deepen her practice. She has attended several aerial intensive workshops and classes in exploration of both classical and contemporary circus arts. She is an NCCP certified coach and has been teaching at Discover Circus for 4 years and counting.
Her classes include skill development, technique, conditioning, aerial stamina, safety awareness and act development. She hopes to inspire her students to find their own sense of expression through aerial movement.
DC Aerial Silks - Hoop/Lyra Instructor
Photo Credit - Unknown
JORDYN PENRY
As is a lifelong performer it was only a matter of time before Jordyn would find herself in the world of circus. As a classically trained dancer, Jordyn has been dancing her entire life, always pushing to try new things and advance herself in all aspects of performance, Jordyn has trained around the world. Taking her first-ever aerial class in london she was immediately addicted.
Jordyn Is apart of the performance troupe Circus Acts Insomniacs, Jordyn’s performance experience and 6 years of teaching dance makes her the perfect fit for discover circus, she lives to do what she loves and no one can stop her.
DC Aerial Hoop/Lyra - Straps Instructor
Photo Credit - Greg Rogers
ALLY ROBERTON
More comfortable upside down, Ally naturally gravitated toward aerial arts. She began training dance trapeze in Toronto in 2014 and has since expanded her training to lyra, static trapeze, silks, dance, and partner work.
Ally pushes herself to dive deeper into self-exploration and growth by training solo, with her peers, and training with world renowned coaches in Canada and internationally. She is a certified hatha and yin yoga teacher, black belt in Karate, and holds certificates in Costuming and Rigging for aerialists.
Ally is passionate about the many different aspects of circus theatre, and expresses this passion by creating and touring with local troupe Circus Acts Insomniacs. She hopes that she can share this passion with her students at Discover Circus!
DC Aerial Dance Trapeze Instructor
Photo Credit - Louis Bockner
SIOVHAN WILLIAMSON
DC Handstand & Partner Acrobatics Instructor
My circus journey began unbeknownst to me on Saltspring Island in 2013, where I completed a 200h yoga teacher training as a prerequisite to enrolling in Acro Yoga Montreal's teacher training in 2014. My time in Montreal sparked a deep interest in the circus arts, and upon returning to Vancouver, I began training and performing with The Underground Circus in Vancouver. I did a variety of work over 4 years with TUC including hand-to-hand balancing, aerials, puppeteering, and harness work, dabbling in teeterboard training, fire, and the flow arts as well.
I relocated to Nelson BC in 2017, and am honored to be part of the vibrant and talented circus community in the Kootenays. I perform as a member of Acromada, taking part in various BC festivals and events. Circus has expanded my world and changed my life, and the journey continues.
My philosophy as a movement educator is that people are innately experts of our own individual movements, and that movement is a joyful expression of our beings. My role as an instructor is to offer technically precise information about the ‘how to’ of skills while inspiring my students’ confidence to explore their own innate movement. This approach is informed by my extensive experience as a competitive artistic gymnastics athlete and coach, ballet and contemporary dancer, a teacher within BC's education system, and my current work as a Registered Massage Therapist.
Photo Credit - Gen Letourneau
ANDREA LEGG (she/Her)
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. I studied classical and contemporary dance and eventually moved to Montreal to attend LADMMI, a professional dance program. After graduating in 2004, I realized my love for aerial acrobatic arts and quickly turned my sights to the Montreal circus world.
I worked as an independent artist for 6 years traveling the world working for various companies and producing my own work. Then in 2010 I began the creation journey with Cavalia, Odysseo and spent the last 5 years of my career touring this show all over North and Central America.
Aerial Silks Instructor
Aziel Macmillan (she/her)
DC Instructor
Aziel’s aerial journey started in the winter of 2016: After her first class at Discover Circus, she was hooked. With a childhood filled with dance, gymnastics, and an incessant passion for climbing, Aerial arts immediately became a passion for her.
For years, Aziel trained Aerial Silks single-mindedly, but over the past couple years she has begun to expand her passion to apparatuses such as Aerial hoop/lyra, Aerial sling and more.
Aziel started teaching at Discover circus in the spring of 2023. As a teacher of small children, she has continued her passion for Aerial arts by sharing her passion with the newest generation of Aerial artists. She teaches with the goal of communicating her Aerial philosophy of finding joy, creativity, and confidence through the exploration of Aerial arts.
As of 2025, Aziel knows she has a lot to learn and intends to continue expanding her aerial knowledge and understanding in the future.
Photo Credit - Greg Rogers
Eowyn Lawrence Fry (she/Her)
DC Instructor
Belen Martin Ruiz (she/her)
DC Instructor
Originally from Spain, Belen Martin Ruiz moved to Nelson in 2017, where she quickly fell in love with the town’s mountains, community, and relaxed outdoor lifestyle. With over a decade of ballet and flamenco training, Belen has always been passionate about movement and expressive physicality.
After three years of exploring gymnastics, she realized her true creative spark lay elsewhere—circus had been calling to her for years. It wasn’t long before she joined Discover Circus, beginning her journey on aerial silks and soon developing curiosity for other apparatuses such as trapeze and aerial hoop.
A graduate in Early Childhood Education, Belen now teaches little ones at Discover Circus, sharing her passion for movement, creativity, and the joy of circus with the next generation of young performers.
Photo Credit -
Ailani Hobbs (she/Her)
DC Instructor
The world of circus captured her heart at the age of nine, after seeing her first Cirque du Soleil performance in Calgary. From that moment on, when asked what she wanted to do with her life, her answer was simple: run away to the circus.
At ten, she began training in gymnastics, where she quickly excelled physically. However, as progress became increasingly tied to competition—an environment where art and people are measured and compared—she chose a different path, one rooted in creativity, expression, and community.
For her twelfth birthday, her mother gifted her a pair of aerial silks. At the time, formal training opportunities were limited, and Discover Circus had not yet been established, so she became her own first aerial silks teacher—learning through exploration, persistence, and passion.
From ages thirteen to seventeen, she trained primarily at Discover Circus under the mentorship of Joy Weick. During this time, she studied not only the technical movements of aerial silks, but also the art of teaching itself. Her dream evolved from performing alone to sharing circus through instruction. Joy remains her greatest inspiration, embodying strength, grace, and the lifelong potential for growth as a performer, artist, and educator.
After stepping away from circus for a period due to injury, she reconnected deeply with her practice in the early summer of 2024. She returned to regular training at Discover Circus in preparation for attending Ollerup Gymnastikhøjskole in Denmark—an educational institution dedicated to developing physical excellence while integrating wisdom through movement, personal responsibility, and community engagement.
Upon returning from Europe, she began training with clarity and intention toward the only career she has ever dreamed of. She is deeply excited for the journey ahead—the learning, growth, and connection that come with dedicating herself to teaching and serving her community through aerial arts.
She may not have run away to the circus—but she flew home to it.
Photo Credit - Greg Rogers Photography
Our Board of Directors
The Kootenay Circus Arts Association is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors who bring a rich blend of artistic vision, community leadership, and professional expertise. Our board members support the growth of Discover Circus by shaping strategic direction, strengthening organizational sustainability, and ensuring our programming remains inclusive, accessible, and rooted in creativity and connection.
Together, they steward the mission of infusing circus arts into the culture of the Kootenays—fostering joy, belonging, and meaningful artistic expression for people of all ages.
Current Directors
VIVIAN HUGHAN (She/her)
With extensive experience serving on many different Boards over the years, Vivian is an integral part of the KCAA board. Her role as secretary helps the organization stay organized and accountable. She is also one of our Instructors at Discover Circus, currently teaching the Acro Class and hosting Open Gyms.
Vivian comes from a Gymnastics background and has been coaching gymnastics for over 20 years mostly with non-profit gymnastics clubs around the globe which gives her both highly rated skills as an instructor and also as a board member. On top of this, she also facilitates coaching courses around the Province for instructor training.
Vivian’s passion for circus started when she was a young child with dreams of being a circus acrobat, so when Nelson had a Circus School opening, she was in! She trains as a student at Discover Circus. Her main passions are aerial silks and partner/group acrobatics, but she’ll delve into a wide variety of aerial apparatus. Vivian is also a member of the performance troupe, Acromada, creating performances involving dance, choreography, acrobatics and aerials.
KCAA Secretary & Director | DC Instructor
Photo Credit - Bruce Binder
Greg Rogers (He/Him)
Greg Rogers is a board member with the Kootenay Circus Arts Association and an active member of the Discover Circus community. Training primarily in aerial straps and silks, Greg is inspired by the power of movement to build confidence, connection, and creative expression, circus has provided a place for Greg to explore artistic movement outside of his other sports and activities.
Alongside his artistic practice, Greg supports KCAA as a technical lead—managing and improving much of the organization’s digital and tech infrastructure. With a background in web development, geospatial analytics/development and a long-standing passion for visual storytelling, he brings a unique blend of creativity, problem-solving, and care to the circus community.
Greg is committed to helping make circus arts accessible, inclusive, and sustainable in the Kootenays, and believes deeply in the value of play, collaboration, and embodied expression.
KCAA Board Director/Technology Lead
Photo Credit - Mr Dr Brotherman
Jill Gow (She/her)
I love circus arts, and am so grateful to have the opportunity to explore the world of circus & performance, and stay connected to that kind of art in different ways through work. We have a very special community at DC, rooted in creativity, accessibility & inclusion—it’s an amazing environment to learn, be challenged and contribute.
I joined the Board in January 2025 to help the KCAA succeed in whatever ways I can, so that more people have the opportunity to experience everything the circus arts have to offer.
This past year, I’ve sat on the KCAA HR & Communications committees. The majority of my time is spent supporting marketing initiatives (fundraising, promotions, social media, registration, etc.) and contributing to the overall business strategy of the organization.
My background the past 10 years has been in digital & communications marketing and sales, with a focus on larger, dynamic campaigns involving a variety of touchpoints—like social media, paid advertising, email marketing, events, and website development.
My biggest goals are to help the organization to build sustainable, long-term income streams, and to continue expanding our offerings to the larger circus community.
KCAA Board Director
Photo Credit - Unknown
SAMI Clements (she/her)
With over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, primarily in healthcare, Sami brings a strong commitment to transparency, safety, and accountability to her role on KCAA Board. Her professional background has shaped a passion for building resilient, community-focused organizations. She specializes in strategic development, grant acquisition, and fostering initiatives that enhance community well-being and safety. As a board director, she is dedicated to supporting Discover Circus’s mission through thoughtful governance and impactful community engagement.
Outside of KCAA Sami works as a yoga instructor, sound Healer and childcare provider in our community.
KCAA Board Director
Photo Credit - Unknown
PHIL MAHER (HE/HIM)
KCAA Board Director
Phill is an Australian expat who travelled extensively before stumbling upon Nelson and deciding to call it home. Shortly after arriving in Nelson, he started practicing Acro Yoga and began adding more props to the repertoire of flaming things he liked to spin around.
His growing interest in circus arts coupled with his ‘why not’ attitude led him to go along with the idea of founding a not-for-profit aimed at furthering the propagation of said arts. Phill’s distinction as the last remaining founding director of the KCAA is a testament to both his commitment to the organization and his contributions to it over the last decade.
Phill has been honored to work with all directors, past and present, to help foster our amazing circus community in to being. He is truly proud to have been a part of what it has become and grateful for all the efforts of all who have contributed to its success.
While Phill has performed Acro and Aerial Hoop in the past, his focus is solely on prop manipulation these days. In this discipline, he is among the most proficient performers in the region, performing under the pseudonym Philosofire.
JEFF RHUDE (HE/HIM)
KCAA Board Director
Jeff Rhude is a board member of Discover Circus and the KCAA, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in business, technology, and leadership. He is currently an executive at a medical technology company and began his career in computer consulting, supporting large oil and gas organizations in Calgary.
Jeff brings a global perspective shaped by living and working in multiple countries and extensive international travel, giving him a deep appreciation for diverse communities and collaborative cultures. Introduced to Partner Acrobatics in 2021, he has become a strong advocate for the circus arts and their positive impact on connection, creativity, personal growth, body positivity and inclusivity. Jeff contributes technology, finance, business, and project management expertise to the KCAA board, supporting the organization’s mission to build inclusive, sustainable, and community-focused circus programming.
NEIL PRETTY (HE/HIM)
KCAA Board Director - Lead Rigging Specialist
Photo Credit - AWAITING IMAGE
BILL BURKE (HE/HIM)
KCAA Board Director
Bill first joined the board because his two daughters are passionate and active circus students, and he wanted to support both their growth and the organization that inspires them.
He is especially dedicated to how circus education uplifts every member who walks through the door, fostering confidence, connection, and personal development. Bill also believes that circus-style movement is a powerful pathway to longevity, and he is committed to helping cultivate a vibrant, inclusive environment where people of all ages can thrive.
Photo Credit - Greg Rogers
Our Partners of KCAA
& Discover Circus
Our goals as an organization would not be achievable without the immense amount of volunteer support that has been provided from the community. Thank you to everyone who has taken time out of their lives to make Discover Circus what it is today.
We also recognise the powerful progress that has been achieved through the financial support of the below organizations.
The financial support of the Province of British Columbia, via the community gaming grant, has allowed the continued growth of our services to the community.
Discover Circus is supported by British Columbia Arts council
The Columbia Basin Trust assisted Discover Circus through the Non-Profit Advisors Program in building our capacity as an organization. This allowed us to achieve our strategic objectives of creating active living programming to support healthy growth and development in youth and adults.
If you are as passionate about the circus arts as we are, or simply agree with our goals and would like to offer your support. Please feel free to donate below or contact us and find out how you can help our organization in other ways.
