Here is our introduction to our volunteers who are at this very moment making their way to their first week of their tours.

Kenya

Jamie Mulligan Smith, 42,USA    –   Combining over twenty years of performance experience in theatre, dance, fire arts, and original spoken word with twenty years of experience working with children, Jamie is returning for her second tour with PWB after touring to India earlier in 2017. We are happy to welcome her experience and energy in helping to make this tour to happen.

Tyler Spades,31, USA   –    Tyler joins us for his second adventure with PWB, having been part of the 2016 India tour we welcome him back to share his skills and experience with our partners in Kenya. Tyler is also helping to run the tour. He entered the circus world with a passion for staff spinning in 2007 and loves multiple forms of contact multi-staff, juggling, dance, performance technique, theatre, and movement arts.

Rachel Butler, 34, AUS    –   With more than 15 years of professional theatre, circus and dance experience, as well as having lived and worked in Kenya previously, Rachel is going to be our ‘in country coordinator’, helping to acclimatise and guide the team through their adventures. Rachel founded and runs the successful company ‘Meraki Circus’.  Touring with PWB combines sharing her passions, giving and travelling  – we think that’s a perfect fit for PWB.

Ariana Madappa, USA   –    A multi skilled circus and flow artist, Ariana has stepped up to join the Kenya Team at late notice and brings with her extensive travelling and teaching experience.  Ariana majored in international studies and dance and since then has performed extensively across the states as well as wider afield.  We are excited to have her join Team Kenya and glad she was available to get involved.

Julia Schmitz, 37, GER   –    An experienced traveller and having travelled in Africa before, Julia wants to return to share her knowledge and skills.  She catches people’s attention with her mime and juggling skills and quit her teaching job earlier this year to follow her dream of working more full time with social circus. She is currently studying on the social circus course at Ecole National de Cirque de Montreal.

Enrico Vinholi, 26, USA/BRAZIL    –    Professional performer and avid traveller Enrico brings with him a variety of flow arts and dance experience.  He has created the ‘sponser a staff’ initiative, and has his own company ‘Solriso’. He says for him that travelling and connection with people from other communities and cultures is the most valuable experience.

Nicaragua

Jacob Hirsh Holland, 30, UK     –      Professional highline and slack rope artist and juggler Jake is returning to the Nicaragua tour for the 4^th time and we are so happy to have him facilitating the tour this year! Jake has more than 20 years experience performing and teaching circus as well as travelling widely across the world.

Darine Flanagan, 25, IRE    –     Darine has been trying to master the art of having fun for the last 24 years and reckons she is getting pretty good at it. She is an experienced Irish dancer as well as being a hula hooper and training partner acrobatics. She says: “The thought of the project gives me the feel-goods and when I have the feel-goods, I think they get contagious and then the others around me get the feel-goods too. I want to share this with whoever I can!”

Will Borrell, 27, UK    –     Juggler Will is a multi talented performer and says ‘I love circus, I love teaching, I love travelling!’ What better way to combine these 3 things than on a PWB tour?! He has worked with Circus Alba and was part of a youth circus tour for the commonwealth games in 2014 and since then has been a full time performer and teacher.

Sara Noelle, 28, USA     –    Sara joins us for her 2^nd PWB tour, the first being to India in 2016.  She is an experienced juggler specialising in club juggling and manipulation and also makes clothes and costumes.  We are excited to welcome her back with the experience of a tour under her belt and that she has the chance to share her skills with even more young people on the Nicaragua Tour this year.

Leonardo Astorga, 28, USA    –     Theatre and circus performer Leo specialises in contact juggling, bubble manipulation and clowning.  He has worked with Humboldt Circus and has years of experience community living, citing 3 important aspects of teamwork as Communication, Organisation, and Respect. He also mentions that there is no angry way to say bubble 🙂

Helen Wardle, 26, AUS     –     Also known as ‘Helly Hoops’, Helen is an experienced hoop dancer and teacher, as well as having skills in balance and character work. She has travelled the world for the last 5 years and is excited to have the opportunity to give something back, to work with children, to work with a team, to be immersed and use her skills in a profoundly different environment and create something magical.

Sarah Ivy Mayer, 28, USA    –    Sarah Ivy is a playful artist always in search of the next adventure. She will twirl any prop in her path, but her main joys include skill sharing, and creating collaborative choreography with any and all who wish to partake. she says: I want to do something that matters… and I am convinced this opportunity could be one of the most rewarding experiences i could ever hope for.

India

Livi Little, 30, UK    –     Livi is a professional circus artist and therapist returning for her 4^th tour with PWB, previously touring to India and Sierra Leone. She specialises in hoop and has performed at many Hoop events across UK and wider afield with her unique style and skills. Livi is also a qualified acupuncturist and therapist with a degree in Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

Poppy Avison-Fell, 22, UK     –     Poppy has always dreamt of going to India and has just finished a degree in drama, specialising in community theatre and workshop facilitation.  She is a circus performer with skills in workshop facilitation and creating immersive performance pieces.  She says: Play is a basic human right that is taken for granted. Your company brings light and joy into what is becoming a darkened planet. Thank you Poppy!

Kiera Blaney, 25, AUS    –     Kiera has previously lived in India for 2 years in a rural community.  She has travelled extensively over the last 7 years and has a wide variety of circus skills – Hula hoop being her main discipline.  She has worked with various volunteer projects across the world and believes that her purpose is to share my skills and joy with underprivileged communities across the world – touring with PWB definitely gives you that opportunity.

Jules Cooke, 21, UK   –    Jules hails from London, UK and is part of the supportive community of circus and flow artists in our capital city.  She won Silver Award at British Young Juggler of the Year with her main discipline, contact staff and is also trained in dance and theatre.  She believes that circus can break the language barrier and express the indescribable.

Daniel McGuire, 26, USA    –    Daniel is taking time out from being Denver’s favourite children’s entertainer to join the PWB team this year.  A professional entertainer his whole adult life, Daniel brings joy with his clowning, balloon modelling and circus skills.  Clients say of him ‘He is very talented and patient…. a great performer’ We are proud to have you on board Daniel!

Sophie Zuniga, 19, USA    –     Sophie aka Geez Louise, works with Cirque Mythos and is part of  fire troupe MDSO Flow arts and Circus have brought her great happiness in her life, something she hopes to share with others.  She loves children and has travelled for much of her life.  She specialises in fire arts such as staff and hoop and also is a musician and is developing her clowning skills. Welcome to the family Sophie!

Mason Martinez, 24, USA     –     Mason says ‘To me life is a play, so what else to do but play the play?!’ Mason hails from Portland, Oregon and practises yoga, is a qualified yoga teacher as well as being proficient in various circus arts including poi and juggling.  His heart is in circus and he hopes he can help others to find the joy that he has found with these arts.

Xander Paris, 26, USA     –     Zander is an easily excitable flow artist with a martial arts background.  He has a wide variety of skills from dance to rope dart and has taught for more than 10 years.  Xander says ‘I love performing. I love teaching. But mostly I love spreading joy to others.’ That’s what PWB is all about Xander, welcome to the family!