Specialty: Trapeze, Lyra, Balance Skills, Acrobatics
Devon@thecircusplace.com

Devon has also been with Circus Place for 7 years, teaching with enthusiasm, conviction and a “can do” attitude, Prior to Circus Place, Devon was a long-time competitive gymnast and circus camp enthusiast. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Education and has been a high school history teacher. Devon started circus on a family vacation and naturally transitioned from gymnast to aerialist. Along the way, Devon has also honed her skills in contortion, balance, unicycle and hooping. As Co-Director, Devon is responsible for overseeing office operations, equipment maintenance, safety procedures, teacher training and professional development. She builds the adult aerial and ground class curriculum, initiates new programming, and manages the safety and skill progressions for older teens and adults.

Specialty: Hooping, Silks, Act Creation, Rope
Amelia@thecircusplace.com

Amelia has been with Circus Place for over 8 years, bringing passion, creativity and joy to every class she teaches. Prior to her start here, Amelia was a life-long competitive cheerleader and a seasoned preschool teacher. Amelia started her circus journey as a hula hooper and quickly added all the aerial apparatuses (with Silks and Rope as her specialty) as well as various ground skills. As School Director, Amelia is responsible for class scheduling, equipment distributions, summer camps, staffing as well as many day to day day to day operations. Amelia will be overseeing the curriculum building of the youth classes as well as safe skill progressions and helping to develop new ideas for growing youth circus in New Jersey!

Coach Fenix comes to us from the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts where they have been teaching for 6 years!  Before that, they were a performer with AWOL Dance Collective in Portland, OR and Zuzi! Dance company in Tucson, AZ. Through their travels they picked up a number of skills, including wire walking on top of a moving vehicle in a parade, spinning fire poi while blindfolded, and juggling just about anything they can pick up. In Fenix's classes, you will explore the skills needed to perform these amazing feats and more in a supportive, inclusive, and energetic class setting.

Jess has been engaged in Circus Arts as a student for six years, and has been coaching for the past two years.  Jess’s focus has been in silks, trapeze, and partner acrobatics. Aside from Circus, Jess has also worked as a yoga instructor and preschool fitness teacher. She loves teaching movement in all forms and is excited to watch her students grow stronger and more confident.  When she is not at Circus Place, Jess is a mom of three children, all of whom love taking classes at Circus Place!

Lynn is a born performer. Her first starring role was in First Grade as Ms. Weathergirl. She studied dance and gymnastics for 20 years, and she started her involvement with circus at the age of 44 when her daughter became interested in Aerial Arts at Circus Place. Lynn developed and coaches our Flying Over 40 classes focusing on fun and fitness for our adult students.  In addition she is a coach and assistant coach for our level 1 and 2 bar classes and coordinates our parties and workshops. Lynn hold a BA in Economics and a Child  Development Certificate.

Ruthie Vazquez, a fitness enthusiast discovered her love for aerial arts over 10 years ago. In search of a fun way to stay fit, she took her first aerial class and the rest is history.   A lifelong learner, she’s studied and trained with various Master Aerial instructors from Southern California. She enjoys training on the Sling (hammock) and explores Corde Lisse, but her first love will always be the Silks. Ruthie’s goal is to cultivate a warm, and safe environment so that students can build physical and emotional strength and learn to challenge themselves. 

Coach Ray began performing comedy magic shows at the age of 17 and has had a career spanning more than twenty years. Born and raised in Long Island, NY, his proximity to New York City gave him the opportunity to quickly hone his skills in front of many different audiences.

Ray decided, early in his career, to throw himself into learning a myriad of circus skills: juggling, unicycling, stilt-walking, Chinese yo-yo and  many more culminating in the creation of a successful one-man show that traveled the country. In addition to performing with Cirque de La Mer in San Diego, Riga Cirk in Latvia and Circus Jeager on a U.S. tour, Ray has also performed with the Long Island Philharmonic Orchestra.  Ray loves coaching and sharing all his his skills with his students!

Sharyn opened the Circus Place in 2011 as a "behind the scenes" owner-but quickly became involved in all the day to day operations. She has 3 children, Matt, Kyra and Alec who love circus as well!