Siobhan Ferns - Aerial silks

Siobhan joined Secret Circus shortly after it opened 7 years ago after her best friend dragged her along. Her friend hated it but despite kicking her instructor in the head, Siobhan wasn't embarrassed enough not to come back. 

Siobhan's first love was hoop but after some serious determination crossed over to the dark side that is the silks and hasn't looked back but has looked down, often in panic.

Deciding on a song wasn't easy, with a different song every week until watching Aladdin with her daughter and having to listen to the songs on repeat.

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"What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?"

Fran Drake - Aerial hoop 

Fran has done aerial hoop for about 3 years now. She found Secret Circus after seeing an aerialist at a circus. In awe of how the performer could look so effortless and graceful whilst defying gravity she left desperate to find a place where I could learn such an art form.

For her, aerial hoop is the time to be truly free, to defy gravity and to have 100% confidence in her body: especially as all her favourite moves involve hanging by her ankles! 

The song that she is performing to spoke to her on many levels. 

‘It serves as a great reminder that no matter how rigidly we plan things, life is unsteady and that is ok, we all need someone to hold onto sometimes.’

Gemma Rattew - Aerial hoop

I started Circus a little over 3 years ago now although it feels like a lot longer. As a former gymnast I soon fell in love with the hoop and all the moves with my favourite being the Jigsaw Split. Being at circus brings freedom and I love to play with new moves and sequences. Outside of circus I am a primary school teacher constantly on the go. I am glad to have my circus family around me for advice, new ideas and for a laugh. For my routine I chose my costume first, as this inspired a dramatic music choice alongside the routine. 

Quote: You do not wake up and become the butterfly. 

Growth is progress - Rupi Kaur

Ellie and Sophie - Doubles hoop

Ellie

Hi I’m Ellie and I have been doing Aerial for 5 months. I am an 11 year old dancer. My best friend suggested we try circus skills and I absolutely love it . It’s a good job we are close (and clean) as my face does often end up in her armpit and her feet in my face ! It’s hard work but rewarding,  I can’t wait to learn more.

Sophie 

I am Sophie, I’m 11 years old and have been doing Aerial for 5 months. I love being upside down and spinning so this is ideal for me.  I also enjoy gymnastics and dance. My favourite move is the ‘superman lifts’ not sure if that’s the real name but that’s what I call it.  Who wouldn’t want to be a superhero !I do circus skills with my best friend and we have so much fun together ….when we’re not kicking each other in the face

Sarah Phillips - Aerial hoop

As much as I love being curled up on the sofa with my labradors, I've always enjoyed being active too. I got into aerial about 5 years ago, simply by googling "unusual hobbies near me"! It gives me the freedom to come away from any stresses or challenges of life and just have fun doing something... I love in a galaxy far far away. My piece expresses both my passion for aerial and the movies, after all, I'm a sucker for an epic fantasy adventure!

Chloe Bradwell - Aerial hoop

Chloé has been doing aerial for almost 7 years. After her first session spinning in the air, she got kicked off a taxi for feeling sick because the driver thought she’d been drinking - that’s when she knew she found the right sport! She loves dropping and rolling on the hoop (in spite of the many bruises it gives her!). Outside of circus, Chloé works as theatre practitioner with people who have dementia and loves getting up to mischief with her 3year old. This performance is for her daughter Ivy who is a big fan of Frozen! She’s thankful to her talented friend Siobhan who helped her make her own Elsa costume for the show.

Delilah Jarman - Aerial silks

Delilah is 11 years old and has been coming to Secret Circus since she was 9. Her favourite equipment is the silks and she loves climbing up high and doing drops! She has really enjoyed bringing together all the moves she has learnt and putting them into a routine. 

Delilah has just started in year 7 at secondary school in Weymouth, and is loving new subjects, her favourites being fashion and design. Other than Secret Circus, she keeps busy with gymnastics and scouts, and is a budding home baker! 

Faith Burgess - Aerial hoop

Faith has been doing aerial for three years, though her passion for it started long before that. After learning the basics on the hoop when her performing arts group, SCAPA, did a show based on The Greatest Showman, she has wanted to pursue aerial as a regular activity and develop skills on all the equipment offered. The song she is performing to is called Sincerely and is the opening song from her favourite show, the Japanese anime Violet Evergarden (hence the fact that the song is in Japanese). She chose this song because it delves into the emotions behind letters and the power that words can have, and while you may not be able to understand the lyrics, the sentiments can be heard in the singer’s voice. As an author herself, being currently in the process of writing a trilogy, she truly believes in the hidden meanings behind each phrase and the beauty that is unleashed when pen is put to paper.

Amanda Gate - Aerial hoop

Amanda started aerial hoop nearly 4 years ago. Growing up doing dance, she instantly fell in love with the gracefulness of spinning around in the air. Her favourite moves are anything that involves a split. Aerial also gives her a way of destressing from work and meeting new friends. She is very excited to perform and see everyone else’s performances!

Tegen Jones - Aerial hoop

Tegen is a singer, dancer and actress by profession and started aerial 3 years ago with the intention of adding a new skill to her performing CV. Little did she realise quite how addictive it was and nowadays the studio is like a second home! Through the many laughs in the studio she's acquired a few different names for her inner aerial gremlins, including Questioning Quentin, Lazy Susan and Joanna the performance persona who doesn't rehearse. So she hopes you all enjoy Joanna's performance.

Joey and Yan - Duo hoop

Joey and Yan met at a beginner's class at Secret Circus in 2018. After making a pact to perform together in the last student showcase in 2019 with the goal to conquer their fears and do something that scares them, they've teamed up again for this performance to celebrate aerial circus and the happiness it brings to all the students.

They've chosen a song that represents the empowerment and sense of joy that anyone can achieve anything if they put their mind to it - also, who doesn't love Hugh Jackman?!

Georgii Stidson - Aerial hoop

"Georgii started aerial in early 2018 as a fun way to keep fit and meet new people. She is currently a student radiographer in Exeter and enjoys several hobbies including art, climbing, and outdoor swimming.  

Doing this piece for the showcase is nerve-wracking but it's so much fun trying to piece it all together! It's a great challenge to do something different that combines elements of strength, balance, and grace - that last word I still struggle to relate with! 

Aerial hoop is the equipment of choice and it’s been a valuable way to develop confidence with a supportive, like-minded group of people."

Fi and Phoenix - Doubles silks

Fi and Phoenix are a mother/daughter duo. They both started Ariel in 2018 and attend Secret Circus together. They both prefer silk burn over hoop bruises… Fi’s favourite move is Star Drop because it looks really circusy and Phoenix’s is ‘The Phoenix’ because she made it up herself.

Becca Evans - Aerial hoop

Becca went to her first aerial class 4 years ago and has never looked back. After spending most of her life avoiding physical exercise, there was something very different about aerial and something that she wasn’t sure existed - exercise that she actually enjoyed doing! 

Her favourite equipment is the hoop, and she loves nothing more than learning new rolls and the satisfaction that conquering new moves brings! When she isn’t in the hoop, Becca works as an illustrator and graphic designer, and can be found walking her dog along the beach.

Ebony Cursley - Aerial hoop

Ebony has been with secret circus for about 3 years now (with a little break to have a baby!). Her favourite equipment is the hoop and she loves a spinny routine! Having always been fairly bendy for no reason, she finds it good to put it to use somewhere. Ebony chose the song for her performance because it's got a beat which makes you can’t help but wiggle to. The costume she is wearing is something she's been lusting over for ages, and now she's had an excuse to finally buy it!! If Ebony isn't at secret circus, you can find her at crossfit classes, at a breastfeeding group supporting a new mum or at home looking after her 3 children and little sausage dog. 

Gemma Nation - Aerial hoop

Gemma has been doing circus for 7 years and got hooked after being inspired to try something she had never done before. Gemma loves the challenge hoop brings and laughing at all her failed attempts. She has been nicknamed ‘legs’ by her fellow upsidedown gang for the many near misses with so many circus students having dodged getting a leg/ foot in the face. Gemma’s performance has been inspired by the idea of going on a journey- at times challenging but one step in front of the other gets you further than you thought.

Georgie Boyden 

What's your favourite move and why?

One of Georgie’s favourite moves is the Figure Head Drop. This move is where you lie on the top of the hoop and hold the strop which is attached to the hoop. Then one hand goes on the hoop, you release with the other hoop, and fall forwards through the hoop so you are sitting inside the hoop. Georgie includes this in her routine, and it always scares her dad.

Did you make your costume your self?

Georgie made her own costume for the performance. She has been making her own clothes and costumes on and off since she was 12 years old, and loves the creative process. The costume has been dyed by hand to get the right colours, and the ribbons and gems were also added by hand.

Who was the inspiration for your performance?

Georgie’s boyfriend, Adnich, lives in Italy, and due to the pandemic, they have not been able to meet. He follows her acrobatics through the videos she shares, and he is really supportive. As he cannot make it over, Georgie is dedicating her performance to him, so they both feel he is involved.

Sofia Gara - Aerial Silks

Sofia is a professional dancer. She has worked as an artist in a travelling circus. When she's not at circus, you'll find her hugging her cat or teaching pole.