Our People

Steph has extensive experience as Producer, Programmer and Production Manager delivering national and international tours for Circus and Physical Theatre companies. This includes a decade of Stage Managing emerging artists at the National Institute of Circus Arts and preparing tours to hundreds of venues across the world for Circa. As Program Manager at Theatre Network Australia, Steph passionately drove advocacy and development for the Circus and Physical Theatre sector. Steph recently finished up as the General Manager of Na Djinang Circus Company, Australia’s only Self-Determined First Nations circus company. Steph has completed a Master of Fine Arts – Cultural Leadership and a Master of Business – Arts & Cultural Management, where her research focussed on wellbeing in the performing arts. In her spare time, she is a devoted aunt.

One of Australia’s premier hula hoopers, Hanne has a Bachelor of Circus Arts and over 15 years of circus industry knowledge and experience. Notable highlights in her long spanning circus career include touring both internationally and at home in Australia with award winning drag cabaret YUMMY. Still performing, Hanne now has a Master of Strategic Communication and works as a marketing and communications professional.

Siobhan started her career in Theatre in 2007 after completing a degree in Technical Production. She has spent most of her career as a lighting technician touring musicals around Australia. She moved to Melbourne in 2015 becoming an avid supporter and worker of the cities vibrant performance scene. Siobhan has worked extensively in lighting, venue and stage manager positions for companies such as City Recital Hall, Sydney Opera House, Capitol Theatre and Lyric Theatre in Sydney, Regent Theatre, and Comedy Theatre in Melbourne just to name a few. She has enjoyed expanding her tech skills into the world of arts administration - traversing the world of behind-the-scenes support from stage to office. She loves working in a feminist focused organisation that joins many of her worlds and talents together. When Siobhan isn’t working she can be found at the dog park, in her garden or hosting mad dance parties in her lounge room for her gorgeous toddler.

Franca has worked in Melbourne circus and theatre for over 20 years in a variety of roles – as a rigger, rigging designer, technician, prop maker, circus trainer and circus performer and director-devisor. In addition to her role as the Women’s Circus Resident Trainer and in-house rigger, Franca works at Footscray Community Arts Centre as a circus trainer and facilitator. Franca has been involved in various capacities at the Women’s Circus since 1995 and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to the organisation.

Inspired by people and their journeys, Sal sees circus as a vehicle for people to discover new possibilities for themselves. Sal has been a core trainer for the social circus programs across Circus Oz, Women's Circus, and Circus Nexus for the better part of the last two decades, bringing accessible circus to thousands of people across the country and around the world. Sal Frances has taught at Women’s Circus since 2003, teaching the popular New Crew six-month intro to circus program, the ever fun Teen Allsorts classes for 12-17 year olds, and Circus Mixtape, our subsidised Trans & Gender Diverse only class. Sal also works with Women's Circus on community projects, helping those who face barriers to discover the joy of circus.

Aleisha’s love for storytelling and passion for movement inspires her to endlessly create on and off stage. Originally from New Zealand, Aleisha grew up training and performing with the Southern Ballet Theatre Company before moving to Sydney, Australia and graduating from ED5 International Performing Arts. She kicked off her professional career as a dancer before leaping into the world of circus where she found her new obsession for hanging upside down. Aleisha loves being a part of Melbourne’s vibrant circus community as a performer and coach, and more recently as the Women's Circus Social Circus Program Coordinator.

Ebony Rattle (they/them) is a queer, disabled performance artist and theatre maker investigating experimental and unconventional performance making. Their practice prioritises collaboration within community; intertwining common themes of disability, bodily autonomy, resistance, queerness and rest. Recent theatre credits as writer/director include Destroyed (2024, Midsumma Festival/Theatre Works), Winona (2022/23 national/international tour, Nominated: Best International Show, Best Two Person Show, Hollywood Fringe Festival 2023), Ring, Ring! (2021, Theatre Works) and BLITZ (2019, Melbourne Fringe).

Emily Ross has been working at the Women’s Circus since 2006. She teaches on the Intermediate and Advanced Acrobalance classes. As well as being one of our dedicated trainers Emily is also an osteopathy. She loves working at Women’s Circus because of the sense of play, community, and inclusiveness of social circus.

Keslea joined Women’s Circus in 2015 through the WeFo Teen Flyers program and has never looked back. Over her years in the Women’s Circus community she has been a regular performer with our Red Coat stilt-walking rovers, and was part of the ensemble for our 2019 show THE DRILL working with acro and aerial skills. In 2018 Kelsea launched her own independent clowning business ‘Cookie the Clown’, mixing her love of juggling, stilt-walking, balloon twisting and games to entertain and delight audiences. In 2021 she completed a Certificate IV in Circus Arts at NICA.

Meiwah is a circus performer who is passionate about creating performance through the expression of aerial artistry and visual art. Meiwah has a dance and physical theatre background and has performed with companies such as Legs on the Wall, Opera Australia and Strange Fruit. Highlights from her career span over two decades and include performing at the Sydney Opera house, Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Sochi Olympic games, Map Dance Festival in Malaysia as well as taking her solo show about Frida Kahlo to Adelaide Fringe. Currently Meiwah is busy mum. She is studying Fine Art at RMIT and is exploring the crossover between artistic practice and motherhood.

Simone joined the women's circus in 2009 and has never looked back! She loves so many things about the Women’s Circus – the friendly community vibe and feminist values means it’s a place where she feels very comfortable. Squeezing classes in around her nursing work, she has tried her hand at general aerials, Chinese pole, doubles trapeze, juggling and handstands, as well as discovering an enduring passion for acrobalance. Simone teaches the acro classes alongside Emily Ross.

Maggie Church-Kopp is an Arrernte woman who was born and raised in Mbantua (Alice Springs). She has been hanging off trapezes since before she could walk and has a lifelong love of all things circus. She has performed at a variety of festivals including Woodford Folk fest, Wide Open Spaces and Karnidale. She has had the privilege of training with some of the best circus companies in Aus including Circus Oz (Blakflip 2018) and The Flying Fruit Flys (NTP 2019). While she loves circus because it makes climbing on things and people socially acceptable she is excited about the potential this art form has to unite communities and ignite passion in all kinds of people.

Polish born, Dotti trained sport acrobatics for over 20 years. This got her to World and European Championships. Acrobatics is her passion and she wants to pass her skills and knowledge and love to do acrobatics, balances, pyramids to as many people as she can. "Working with Women’s Circus was my first job after coming to Australia, always will be remembered with lots of warm feelings and great people."

Tarn uses dance, performance art and theatre, to explore the power, sensitivity and presence of the body. Her career includes highlights such as a Rope Act contract at The Friedrichstadtpalast in Germany, touring Europe and Asia with Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company (Inclusive Company) and performance work in Aerial Dance films and live site-specific performance, for Arte and Channel 4 (Dance4film) television stations. Tarn has facilitated inclusive Circus and Aerial dance workshops, for the Women’s Circus, Circus Oz and Dance Blast (UK), and co-run school programs for specialist schools throughout Melbourne. In 2017 she was involved in a creative development and collaboration between Extraordinary Bodies (UK) and Circus Oz, and was British Arts Council funded for an international Physical Theatre Chinese pole development with Laura Moy (UK) supported by Circus Oz in Australia.

Riana joined Women's Circus in 2017 through the WEFO Teen Flyers Program and has been hooked ever since. She has had a passion for circus and movement ever since she stepped foot in the space. Her favourite kind of training is acrobalance and stilts. She has a passion for bringing the circus environment to children and teenagers and watching their creativity and passion for circus grow.

Anita has taught people of many ages, abilities and in many countries. Anita's teaching includes development of ideas, skills and shows with an emphasis on creating greater body awareness, alignment, extension and fun.
Anita loves helping people develop circus skills, flexibility and strength while also enhancing self confidence, body awareness, self expression, creativity and collaboration skills.

Nikii came to circus thanks to a birthday gift in 2016. With a background in gymnastics and diving at a national level, she’d always wanted to try trapeze. But as a mum with two kids, she was unfit and a bit reluctant to start. The Women’s Circus class gift was just the push she needed and she hasn’t missed a term since! Nikii loves all things aerial, especially the silks and cloud swing. Big drops on the silks are her favourite (must be that diving) She has performed in every Women’s Circus cabaret since 2017, as well as in the larger production The Drill. She’s been a Member Ambassador and served on the Women’s Circus Arts Committee. Passionate about sharing the joy of circus, Nikii loves the confidence both adults and kids gain when they accomplish something they didn’t think was possible. When not swinging from the ceiling Nikii likes to spend time with her two kids and cat Suki.

Isabelle Champagne-Chittick grew up in Bega, NSW where she trained in dance and gymnastics from a young age. Performing as part of Fling Physical Theatre for 8 years, she then took on work experience at Brisbane-based CIRCA, while in high school.

As part of Na Djinang Circus, Isabelle performed in Social Staples in Melbourne Fringe, Catapult Circus Festival, and Adelaide Fringe. She then went on to be a co-creative in Na Djinangs second work Common Dissonance.

Jessica has been a part of the Australian circus community for nearly 20 years. Her journey began with the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, where she quickly fell in love with the performing arts. By age 19, she became a full-time ensemble member of ‘CIRCA’ Contemporary Circus, spending 11 years touring the world and honing her craft in performing, hula hoops, aerials, and group acrobatics. She later collaborated with 'Na Djinang Circus' and 'The Seven Fingers' aboard Virgin Voyages Cruise Line.
In addition to her performance career, Jessica has a deep passion for the arts, working as a photographer to capture the magic of shows and fellow artists. Currently, she’s exploring new projects that blend circus with other artistic mediums. A proud member of the Women’s Circus community, Jessica loves teaching and inspiring others to discover their unique talents and achieve their circus goals.

Niamh is currently finishing her last year of high school and is hoping to go on and study circus arts at NICA. She was introduced to circus through Women’s Circus youth classes. She attended the Tuesday class run by Franca and instantly fell in love with the circus world. Although she did end up leaving circus for a number of years, she was drawn right back to Women’s Circus in 2022. Niamh specialises in Lyra and Trapeze which she trains at a number of different locations. This has given her training and performance opportunities such as attending the Flying Fruit-fly circus National Training Project, and working with Wildhouse circus to perform their Boss Squad show. What draws Niamh in to the world of circus, particularly Women’s Circus is the strong sense of community and the ability to create art through play.

Krystal discovered their passion for circus amidst the vibrant energy of travelling big top shows and kids classes in regional Western Australia. With a diverse background in dance, physical theatre, and gymnastics Krystal’s journey led them to the National Institute of Circus Arts, where they trained in contortion, group acrobatics and creative tumbling. Recent performances, including “Piper” by Frenzy Theatre Co. 2024, "A Paper Trail" at Adelaide Fringe 2024, and "Within These Walls" directed by Katie Cawthorne in 2023. Driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Krystal continues to push the boundaries of contemporary circus, striving to make a lasting impact on both the art form and society at large.

Katy Burrows specialises in trapeze, clown and physical theatre, though she also loves to juggle, handstand and play. She recently directed Hana Fiesta's Disco Fiasco which was nominated for the Best Emerging Artist award at the 2023 Melbourne Fringe. She also has a new character comedy under construction.

Tess fell in love with circus as soon as she realised she had too much energy for ballet classes. She joined the Flying Fruit Fly Circus School when she was 8 years old, and toured all around Australia in theatres and festivals with them until she graduated high school. Her show credits with the Fruit Flies include Circus Under my Bed (2016), Girls with Altitude (2021-22) and Borderville (2016-22). Tess hasn’t yet decided if she wants to use her circus training to be a stuntwoman, a performer, a teacher or a firefighter, but at the moment she’s very excited to be teaching young circus artists to channel their energy into creativity.

Maya came to Women's Circus through the New Crew program in 2018 and was instantly hooked. She loves working and training in such an empowering environment and enjoys seeing kids and adults alike playing and supporting each other. Maya has always been passionate about the Arts and community engagement, having studied classical music performance in Adelaide in 2011. She is also currently studying horticulture.

Anisah has adored being upside down since she found circus at age 5. After training in CIRCA’s Youth Troupe during her teenage years she joined Collective Circus. In 2022 Anisah performed ‘Waitlisted’ by Collective Circus and Alex Mizzen across the stages of The National Circus Festival, Backbone Festival, Brisbane Fringe and Woodford Folk Festival. Other recent performances include CIRCA’s ‘Leviathan’ for Brisbane Festival (2020), ‘Dwell’ for Brisbane Fringe (2022) and ‘Redlight Distancing’ by David Carberry, Chrysalis Projects and Shock Therapy Productions (2022). Anisah has also worked as a roving performer for Vulcana Circus. Currently Anisah is studying at the National Institute of Circus Arts.

When Maggie first came across the colourful, chaotic world of social circus, she knew she’d finally found a space in which to bring her passions together: arts outside the box, engaging with kids, and strengthening community. She spent more than three years learning the ropes in Berlin with renowned social circus CABUWAZI, where she worked as a children’s trainer and program manager. Maggie has also worked as a facilitator of alternative education in schools, refugee centres, and yoga and theatre programs. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at VCA. For Maggie, the number one goal in her work is to create space for authentic individual unfurling, within a supportive group context. Art + people + play = magic.