Jay Nunns is Artistic Director and one of the founding members of Cirkids, now CircusWest, back in 1984.
He has created and directed CircusWest productions yearly in-house, as well as throughout the Pacific Northwest, at fairs, festivals, corporate and community events since 1991. As a coach, Jay specializes in teaching acrobatics, trampoline, swinging trapeze, and tightwire. Jay is excited about CircusWest's future and realizing Sea to Sky Circus!
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In 1985, Brian was a founding member of CirKids. In his early 20s, he taught for "Circus of the Kids," a travelling circus school in the US. He came back as a coach for what we now call CircusWest in 1993, and the rest is history!
Brian’s coaching specialties feature a little bit of everything, including unicycle, trampoline, juggling, and pyramids.
As Operations Manager, Brian is responsible for addressing building and equipment concerns, purchasing updated apparatus, and coordinating with the heads of all departments. Brian organizes our PrePerformance Programs for students in CirKids streams. He also works with School Groups and Camps.
Alice joined the CircusWest coaching team in 2018. In 2021, they added administrative duties to their role, eventually becoming CircusWest's whoManager.
Alice specializes in aerial arts and has been coaching adults and children for over 10 years. As a coach, they are passionate about sharing their knowledge and supporting creative exploration and expression.
Alice believes that circus arts are not only a way to express oneself but a way to create community and support healing, especially for people who feel they do not fit in.
Sylvain Drolet is a seasoned circus artist with decades of experience in rigging, coaching, and performance. Sylvain’s eye for detail and commitment to safety creates standout experiences for students, artists, and audience members.
As a coach, Sylvain shares his wealth of knowledge and passion, mentoring aspiring artists and guiding them towards their full potential.
With a career marked by dedication and innovation, Sylvain continues to push the boundaries and inspire the next generation of circus artists worldwide.
Former Figure Skating Champion and International Medalist Samantha Marchant has a passion for movement and motivating others. After 14 years of skating worldwide as a Principal Performer, she transitioned to coaching and consulting for skaters and circus artists.
For the past three seasons, she has worked for CircusWest, guiding the curriculum and marketing initiatives for adult offerings, including the Provincial Performance Preparatory Program. Certified in Personal Training and Sports Sciences with a diploma in Arts & Entertainment Management, Sammi delights in identifying growth opportunities for artists of all ages.
Circus West is a non-profit organization dedicated
to delivering memorable experiences to students
and circus lovers of all ages.
The staff and students of Circus West work and play on the unceded, ancestral lands of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, Sto:lo, Stz'uminus, Qayqayt and Squamish Nations. We are grateful for this land and the ongoing stewardship of it by these nations.
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