Guests and Workshop Instructors

An alumni of the Ruby Karen Project, Brande Lee started her training in circus/aerial arts since 2009 with the Ruby Karen Propject and participated in the apprentice program, gaining her first aerial performances through its troupe, the Orange County Aerial Arts,  She performed in OCAA’s “Airborne” and “Nightmare on Air” and still trains and performs with them to this day. Brande furthered her professional training at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) in their 2013-2014 Intensive Training Program.

Over the past five years Brande has performed with her company, Elevated Aerial Dance, VIP Woman’s Dance, Wire Monkey Dance, SHOW Circus, and has been one of Cirque de la Mer’ aerialists in the 2014 through 2016, performing at Sea World in San Diego. Brande competed at the  2014 West Coast Aerial Arts Festival in the professional division and garnered 1st Place in her division as well as the overall winner.

When in town, Brande teaches at the Ruby Karen Project.

The partnering of the Ruby Karen Project and Sir Uday Deshpande’s Institution, Mumbai’s Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir is just one of the many cultural international education that the RKP school actively promotes, as it visions to provide a platform to future aerial arts education with other international cultural arts and sports around the globe. Master Uday specializes in Mallakhamb Rope and Pole and teaches at the RKP when he is in town.

Renowned master teacher in dance and aerials, teaching all over the world from the great cities of Paris, Prague, Tokyo, to the countries of India, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Australia and China. In his 15 years of training and teaching aerial Terry has set standards of quality the surpasses most.

From France, Aurelie made her professional debut at the age of 17 in “Le Jeune Ballet de France,” a company in which she performed principal modern roles all around the European continent. She was also in “Scottish Ballet,” directed by Robert North. in Austria for “ABC Dance Company” directed by Nicolas Musin, performed and developed aerial pieces at “Jean Ann Ryan Company’s cruise ship productions, principal to modern dance company “Maryse Delente”, and an acrobat and aerialist with the “Transe Express Company.  In Asia, she was a special guest for “Empat Mata TV show”.  After finishing 5th in “Tu Si Que Vales”, the Spanish version of America’s Got talent, she joins Cirque du Soleil in Japan for the “OVO” show as a principal role and since then, has become Cirque du Soleil’s  resident aerialist.

Rachel Walker is a Montreal based aerial trainer. Teaching at the famed Ecole Leotard, and National Circus School, and formed by legendary trapeze coach Victor Fomine, and ‘7 Doigts de la Main’ co-founder Shana Carroll.

Rachel Walker starred in Cirque du Soleil’s “KOOZA” on solo swinging trapeze. She has also performed with TV 5, Circus Discordia, Paradiso Festival, and The Dresden Dolls. When in town, Rachel is invited to teach at the RKP

Odgerel Gombo has performed at Circus related productions and events just about everywhere. He was a silver medalist at the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo and a legendary instructor who has taught at at several schools all over the continent, including his very own school in Mongolia. He is a key element to many successful contortionists today.

He is RKP’s contortion coach, but currently he on leaving, having accepted a touring job.  When he finishes his contract, Odgerel will resume his post as contortion coach at the Ruby Karen Project.

A household name in break dancing and chinese pole, Kujo teaches both breaking and the circus arts. In addition to teaching b-boy master classes and workshops around the world, Kujo has been featured in a number of high-profile media projects – Levi’s, music videos and .. the list goes on.  Kujo is also an accomplished circus artist – he excels on aerial straps and Chinese poles, and has performed in numerous circus shows both nationally and internationally. He was also hired by Cirque du Soleil as a consultant for The Beatles: Love in 2004, and again in 2011.  He’s been a preeminent figure in the global b-boy/breakdance scene for 20 years, performing, competing, judging competitions, and teaching in 35 countries on 6 continents. His creative contributions to b-boy culture and movement vocabulary are indisputable, and continue to inspire and influence b-boys around the world to this day.

Montreal aerialist SPENCER CRAIG has been madly in love with circus for over 16 years. Beginning his training in aerials and handstands at the National Circus School in Montreal, while being mentored by Cirque Du Soleil’s Meaghan Wegg and Victor Fomine.

He has gone on to perform throughout North America, Europe and Africa with his unique aerial hoop number in multiple festivals and companies. Catch him currently performing with Cavalia’s Odysseo under the big top in Irvine, California until March 20th

Originally from Chicago, Antonio Moore is a 10 year veteran with Cirque Du Soleil as an acrobat. Aside from tumbling and other gymnastic skills, he specialized Chinese Pole.  He started his coaching career in the early 2000, training tumbling and gymnastics to girls & boys.

From Winnipeg, Canada, Liz Cooper has been teaching and performing aerial circus arts since 2001. She is also the co-director of Momentum, a company devoted to creating original works fusing dance and aerial arts. Together with artistic director Monica Goermann, Liz choreographs and performs in Momentum’s full-length productions. Other performances include annual concerts with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the World Gymnaestrada in Finland, Switzerland, Austria, & Portugal, the Festival of Aerial Arts in Houston Texas, the Contemporary Circus Arts Festival of Toronto, the grand opening of Winnipeg’s MTS Centre Arena, and as a guest artist with Frostbite Circus, NAfro Dance Productions, Bolero Dance Theatre, and Manohar Performing Arts of Canada. In addition, to her classes in Winnipeg, Liz has taught aerial dance workshops in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Toronto, Seattle, Houston, Honolulu, and Oulun Tahti Sirkus, Finland.