Meet the team

Claire is the education director at Circus Central. When she isn’t spinning fire or spending time upside down and in the air, she is managing and teaching on Circus Central's BTEC programme. Her circus journey began when she was offered the opportunity to dance in the air instead of on the floor, and she’s not looked back!

Board member

Mike teaches juggling but has been known to dabble in acrobatics. He loves that circus has something for everyone and that beauty and complexity can emerge from such simple beginnings as throwing and catching. When not juggling he attempts to play the piano and design video games.

Hannah joined us when she was 19 and never looked back. Now she is our Five Ring Circus director, a professional clown, aerialist and producer. She often conjures up ideas with Nat for our shows, and directs our ensemble groups and solo artists

Mike is secretary of the board and also a teacher of aerial fitness. He has a Comp Sci degree and his motto consists of two parts "enjoying" and "really good at", inserted into the following sentence: You don’t have to be _____ circus as long as you are _____ it

Nat is a teacher of circus and stagecraft, particularly manipulation and balance. He is a ringmaster despite being a professional fool. He loves the circus because of its endless challenges and the warm community where being an oddbod is welcomed and celebrated.

I’m Catherine, a pro dancer, teacher & director of Control & Move Fitness CIC. I deliver on the BTEC with dance acro and conditioning classes. In circus, anything is possible. I love to learn new ways to teach to be as inclusive and diverse as possible! And it’s proper fun!

Sarah is the CEO at Circus Central. She is also a walkabout stilts performer. "I first tried circus because I love climbing and getting fit, whilst having a lot of fun!"

Dan is a juggler and street performer. When he's not fixing things around the building, you'll find him teaching children to juggle fire... professionally, of course

Aerial and fitness tutor

Ellie is a professional ground-based acrobat who specialises in contortion. They teach on the home education class along with online contortion prep on a Wednesday evening.

Gaz is an acrobalance teacher. "I'm an acro base, infrequent flyer and occasional juggler outside of circus and the 9-5 (business analyst), you'll find me in the hills: biking or hiking. Have been known to take the odd photograph."

Aerial tutor

Aerial tutor

Tanya, aka Fiery Little T is a Newcastle based circus performer. "I specialise in hula hooping and fire but I also stilt walk and enjoy aerial. I love circus because it keeps me healthy, happy and pays my bills!"

Kirsty is a Scottish performer and teacher with a particular interest in trapeze. She loves teaching kids and adults to see their confidence and passion grow.

Jane is an artist and aerialist who teaches aerial to adults and children at CC. She also teaches yoga, acro yoga and Thai massage. If you lie down on the floor for long enough she might stretch your muscles out for you or stand on you - depending on how she’s feeling

Lynn has worked in the field of dance, body work, well-being and aerial dance for many years. She also runs Arts Connect for the Children with Disabilities Team. Lynn teaches aerial dance: "For the last 15 years I’ve spent lots of my time hanging on to aerial kit and supporting others, I seriously love the art of trapeze and aerial dance!"

Wilf teaches acrobatics and Five Ring Youth Circus, as well as handstands and stretch. Wilf grew up with the circus with a mum who teaches and performs. "I was in Troupe and then did the BTEC. Now I perform and teach. I like circus because I love learning physical skills... and there’s a lot of them in circus!"

Joe is a North East-based composer/producer, who also also teaches beginners circus groups at Circus Central. His main interests in circus training are handstands, juggling and aerial.