CS COACHES
Rick Andreoli
Aerial 101, Trapeze Coach and Community Director
I've been with Cirque School since its original opening in West Hollywood, and have been coaching under Aloysia Gavre's direction for more than ten years. I have a background in group fitness classes -- including aerial, partner balancing, body sculpting, and boxing -- as well as experience in writing and improv comedy. With a keen understanding of Cirque School's "Anybody with Any Body" philosophy, I make my classes accessible to everyone, entertaining as hell, and hard enough that you'll feel alive in both body and spirit.
Credits: Viva Fest, Guest Artist with Cirque Mechanics Cabaret, Performer at Scot Nery’s Boobie Trap Cabaret. Education: UCLA & The Groundlings Graduate.
Gana Oyunchimeg
Flexibility, Handstands & Contortion Coach
My contortion training began when I was only 7 years old in my home country of Mongolia. I feel fortunate to have studied with the Mongolian State Circus, giving me a strong foundation in both contortion and hand balancing training which has led to a 25-year career performing around the world. I started coaching at Cirque School in 2012 where I have been able to share my unique hybrid of Mongolian contortion technique with a more modern body inclusivity approach that has helped me stay both strong and flexible, as well as have a long and healthy career as a circus artist.
Credits: Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Mechanics and Troupe Vertigo.
Awards: Cirque du Mondial Paris & Monte Carlo International Circus Festival
Bailey Scherer
Trapeze & Cirque Kids Coach
Growing up in the Los Angeles area, I’ve never been a stranger to performing arts. I grew up as a competitive baton twirler from the age of seven and began training in aerial arts when I was in high school. In May 2022 I graduated from the New England Center for Circus Arts’ 3 year ProTrack Program with a focus in dance trapeze and baton twirling. I love working with students of all levels and abilities, and I’m particularly passionate about helping students discover the natural pathways and movement patterns their bodies and hearts want to follow. Having both a strong technical foundation and a curious mind opens the door for endless opportunities, and I’m so happy to help students develop both skills here at Cirque School!
Justin Anderson
Acro Fit & Handstand Coach
Daniel Blackwell
Aerial Rope & Silks Coach
I recently relocated to Los Angeles from Boston, Massachusetts where I worked for 8 years as a wearer-of-many-hats in the small and fringe theater community, including as actor, director, and producer. After dabbling in various other circus disciplines for a few years, I started focusing on aerial rope in 2017. It wasn't long before I pursued advanced training at Esh Circus Arts' Professional Preparatory Program and learned to weave stories into aerial performance. I love rope's capacity for dynamic movement and creative pathways, and I'm excited to share all the possibilities of rope with students at Cirque School. (He/They)
Alayna Pipkins
Cirque Youth & Acro Fit Coach
I grew up dancing and tumbling in my hometown of Rochester, NY where my passion for the Performing Arts began. My fun fact is that I have a Black Belt in Tae Kwon-Do!
I have an empathetic and enthusiastic approach to teaching by instilling a sense of accomplishment for all while increasing each student’s personal growth and confidence of their body in motion. My education has led the ability to rely on various skills learning methodologies to encourage and motivate the beginner to advanced level student. I am excited to share my commitment to bettering the growth and development of bodies, of all ages and backgrounds at Cirque School.
Stage Credits: Harlem Globetrotters Halftime, Disney, SXSW Festival, LA Black Pride, West Coast Dance Explosion & multiple music videos.
Education: AMDA Los Angeles {BA- Dance}, Acting: Arber Mehmeti, Troy Metcalf, John Balma
James MacDonald
Aerial Fabric/Silks Coach
I began my circus adventure by walking through the red door at Cirque School more than 10 years ago; I was hooked after his first class. My primary aerial interests are Silks and Rope but I continue to explore other apparatuses, loving the combination of strength and grace present in aerial work.
I am a nurse by trade, and have always had an interest in the body and its fluidity. My dance hero, Bill T. Jones, once told me, “The body wants to move." This sentiment has lived in my heart as I began exploring many forms of movement. I’ve taught yoga for over 10 years in the Los Angeles area, frequently train with aerial dance company Bandaloop, and enjoy dance, cycling, spinning, and swimming – all of which inform my work in the Circus Arts. When teaching, I celebrate the exploration of the body’s intelligence by encouraging students to discover how their individual expression of movement is manifested in the air.
I am grateful to coaches, mentors, and fellow students who have supported his journey.
Dallys Newton
Cirque Kids & Youth Coach
Lindsey Covarrubias
Aerial Coach
I’ve been a coach with Cirque School since 2013 and enjoy sharing my passion for being upside down no matter the apparatus. While I mostly perform on the Aerial Rope I enjoy cross training in both Aerial Hoop and Straps giving my body various opportunities to find harmony with momentum and speed. Credits: Specialty aerialist with Cirque Mechanics & Troupe Vertigo.
Education: RYT 200 Yoga Certification, B.A. in Dance & Communications UCSD and CSLA TTP.
Tristan Cunningham
Cirque Kids & Youth Program Director
I’ve been a Cirque Kids coach at Cirque School for the last 3 years with a focus on juggling and clowning. I started my own performing career when I was only ten years old touring with Vermont’s own home- grown country circus, Circus Smirkus. After running away with the circus for eight summers, I decided to change my focus to acting and graduated from S.U.N.Y Purchase Theater Arts and Film conservatory with a B.F.A. I now work between the Bay Area and Los Angeles as an actor, teaching artist, and circus performer.
Credits: California Shakespeare Theater, Aurora Theater Company, African American Shakespeare Company, Shotgun Players, San Francisco Playhouse, Marin Shakespeare Company, Circus Bella, Medical Clown Project and many more. I feel incredibly blessed to do what I love and share it with the rest of the world.
Rachel Tatem
Aerial Straps & Aerial 101 Coach
I’ve have been a coach with Cirque School since 2014 and am a firm believer that physical fitness should not be a chore and I want your circus training to be as enjoyable as possible. Before becoming a circus coach and performer, I was a competitive gymnast and a mechanical engineer. I think my coaching style is representative of my background: I emphasize strength training to safely build up to special skills, and I love to problem solve and take small methodical steps to create great results.
Ed York
Aerial 101 & Cirque Kids Coach
I approach teaching as a union of movement & mindfulness through a captivating, effective and fun approach to whole body wellness. By providing motivation and encouragement for all students I hope to spark change and development so that they become better versions of themselves. In addition to teaching various fitness classes I have enjoyed teaching specialty workshops including “Combat Yoga” for Veterans, Mitigating Performance Anxiety for students, Music Therapy for gang reduction & intervention, Music Therapy for seniors & Mindfulness through movement, music and meditation.
Education: International Sports Science Association {ISSA} with a focus on Exercise Therapy, Green Yoga India, Trains in Motion Anatomy, Row House University, Trigger Point Multi-Tool Mobility, Inbound School of Yoga -Thai Massage & B.A. in Music, CSU Northridge.
Aza Sharavnyam
Flexibility & Handstand Coach
My circus training began at the Mongolian National Circus School when I was six years old and I have been performing ever since. Acting has become my new passion which has landed me in Los Angeles. I enjoy sharing my hybrid of Mongolian coaching techniques with the students at Cirque School. I especially enjoy helping each individual reach new goals and applaud all their wins.
Credits: Tours with- Mongolian National Circus, Ringling Brothers Circus, MSC Cruise & Aerosmith Live Tour.
Music Videos: Jennifer Lopez & YG.
Awards: Gold Medal-Monte Carlo International Circus Festival, Silver Medal Domont France International Circus Festival, Bronze Medal Wuhan Acrobatic Festival
Courtney Burness
Aerial Hoop & Aerial 101 Coach
A home-grown Cirque School coach, I have studied static and single point trapeze and aerial hoop at Cirque School since 2017. I quickly fell in love with circus training and performance and enjoy passing on the same circus bug I did when I first walked through Cirque School’s red door onto my students. Outside of aerial training, I enjoy training flexibility and contortion, as well as long-distance running. I’m passionate about instilling the same excellent training I have received throughout the years onto my students, emphasizing technique, safety, and curiosity to build a strong foundation. I aim for my students to find individual successes in their bodies, exploring pathways and movement styles that resonate with them.
Performing Credits: THE POLITICIAN, EUPHORIA, MAD MEN, ICARLY, GILMORE GIRLS, and more.
Education:UCLA Film School (BA), Emerson College Screenwriting (MFA), Margie Haber Acting Studio, Scott Sedita Acting Studio
Aloysia Gavre
Aerial & Flexiblity Coach
As the Cirque School Director, I have found that teaching the circus arts has offered me balance and diversity throughout my career, offering new perspectives from being both a performer and business owner. I have always viewed teaching as a form of performance in the hopes of helping my students find their own unique way of expression. I thrive on witnessing my students’ progressions both in technical and performance skills.
Credits: Cirque du Soleil, Teatro Zinzanni, Pickle Family Circus and toured the globe with symphonies spanning a 25-year performance career.
Awards: Monte Carlo International Circus Festival representing Cirque du Soleil. Education: San Francisco Circus Center, Ecole Nationale de Cirque, Pilates Certificates with Cirque du Soleil Retro-Fit.
Kate Minwegen
Aerial Hoop & Cirque Youth Coach
Brittni Johnson
Virtual Pilates Conditioning Coach
I am so excited to be joining the Cirque School family! I thoroughly enjoy spreading my love and passion for fitness and movement to all. I am here to share with you my combined knowledge of dance and gymnastics with fitness to create new functional -based workout programs focused on the needs of circus bodies. Credits: Performances with Troupe Vertigo, Eclipse Shadow-Dance & Walt Disney Company. Education: BASI Pilates certified and a B.A. in Dance Science CSU Long Beach.