Our Team

Executive Director

Dr. Corey Cheval

Founder & Director Dr. Corey Cheval has studied classical dance and music from an early age, and later took a specialized interest in the dance and music of Brazil. It was during her research on the dances of the African diaspora in Bahia, Brazil that she first began her study of aerial arts (2005). Cheval holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Florida (2015) and an M.A. in Performance Studies from the Federal University of Bahia (2008).

With a research focus on performance and identity, Cheval taught courses at the college level in both technical and theoretical aspects of performing arts. Cheval has published her research on performance studies in peer-reviewed academic journals, and has been a guest speaker at TEDxUF, Frank Conference, Harn Museum of Art & Appleton Museum of Art.

Cheval has travelled and performed across the United States and Brazil as an acrobat, singer and dancer since the early 2000s. Cheval produces Dusty’s Ragtime Circus, an award winning live music circus show. As director of the Gainesville Circus Center, she shares her passion for performing arts with the next generation of young artists. Cheval has written several successful grants for the production of shows and general program support at the Gainesville Circus Center. Cheval has also provided Visa document services, tour planning, PR and travel logistics for international artists working in the U.S. Additionally, she is the author of Cheval Aerial Training Method, an aerial teacher training course recognized by NASM / AFAA.

Assistant Director

Isabel Brazzel

Isabel Brazzel is a passionate mover and lifelong performer. She studied dance and music throughout her youth, and furthered her training with academic study at the University of Richmond. Since discovering the circus arts in 2022, she has dedicated herself to multidisciplinary performance, building a diverse repertoire of choreographed acts featured in professional shows each year. From ragtime to hip hop to Mozart, Brazzel’s work spans genres with nuance and depth. She specializes in fostering artistic synergy and meaningful collaboration with fellow performers.

In her role as assistant director of the Gainesville Circus Center, Brazzel has grown the youth program into a thriving arts education program. She invests in youth by creating a myriad of artistic and professional development opportunities. Movement as a means of empowerment is the foundation for her teaching philosophy and her commitment to youth arts education is evident in every aspect of her work. In 2024, Brazzel was named a finalist for Florida’s Afterschool Professional of the Year and was honored at the Florida Afterschool Network’s annual conference in Orlando.

Coaching Staff

Thais Torrens - she/her

Thais Torrens is a professional dancer, digital artist and a passionate educator. Thais holds BFA from the University of Florida where she trained in several art and dance forms including Ballet/Pointe, Contemporary/Modern, Tap, Jazz, and Improvisation. She has worked as a director and choreographer for youth theaters in St. Petersburg and is excited to return to Gainesville and join the talented staff at GCC. Dedicated to inclusivity and instructing diverse students with a focus on cultural and health informed arts education. Received several accolades, including a University Scholar Research Grant and Award of Outstanding Merit from the College of the Arts (UF).

Rainy Barton - she/her

Rainy Barton is an elementary music teacher, teaching grades Pre-K-5 about the joys of music making. Music and dance has always been a part of her life through her participation in band, musical theatre productions, dance teams, etc. She stumbled upon aerial arts through a friend, and has not stopped attending since. Her favorite apparatus is silks. She is very thankful for the circus community and enjoys performing and teaching there.

Jessie Rard - he/they

Jessie is a contortionist and personal trainer from Seattle WA. For his own practice Jessie trains contortion, lyra, and hair hanging. He specializes in coaching strength training for hypermobile humans in his business Twisted Fox Training. Jessie loves working with the trans community, neurospicy clients, hypermobile humans, and circus artists of all kinds.

Sam Belmore - she/her

Samantha Belmore is a professional costume designer, youth coach and technical theater specialist. She is currently receiving a BS in Business at Santa Fe College. Whether driving the GCC Bus, rigging a show, or fostering early development in toddler classes she is passionately dedicated to her work. She enjoys training aerial sling, acrobatics, stilting and flying trapeze. Promoting emotional and creative expression through movement is at core of her teaching philosophy.

Kaitlyn Downer - she/her

Kaitlyn is pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering with a focus on biomechanics, studying human movement and its applications. After moving to Gainesville, she discovered the circus center and found it to be a fun and challenging way to explore movement in ways she hadn’t imagined before. She is excited to be part of a community that has provided her with a supportive and inspiring environment away from home.

Jonathan Brooks - he/him

Jonathan is an Instructional Associate Professor in the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Florida. He teaches Flying Yoga for UF's RecSports, which is how he found the circus, and he has been hooked ever since, with silks as his favorite apparatus. When not in the air, he loves to spend time with his dog named Derp, whom he loves very much.

Olivia King - she/her

Olivia has been training at Gainesville Circus Center since 2022, and is thrilled to be joining the staff! She is a proud Lyra enthusiast with an occasional flair for Trapeze. By day, she teaches middle and high school English; by night, you can find her in the air, refining transitions, building new skills, and chasing that next inversion. Olivia is so excited to continue learning, growing, and giving back to this incredible community!

Raphaela Meloro - they/them

Raphaela began training circus arts in 2022 and quickly fell in love with creating choreography and building strength on trapeze and lyra. They have since toured professionally through the USA and Canada. Raphaela holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Florida and has published their research in peer-reviewed academic journals. They have a passion for teaching and are eager to share the magic of circus with every community.

Aislinn Chronic - she/her

Aislinn was born on Christmas Day in Gainesville, Florida, and brings creativity and energy to everything she does. Since 2021, she has been training with the Gainesville Circus Center, performing on the Lyra. When she’s not up in the air, she loves singing, getting lost in a good book, and spending time with her family. She’s all about tackling challenges with a fresh perspective and a positive attitude.

Lauren Orlik - she/her

Lauren is a NASM certified personal trainer with over 8 years of training in aerial arts. In addition to circus, she is an active runner, having participated in multiple half and full marathons, as well as a Ragnar 200-mile relay. She is a Dallas native, has a loving husband, son, and a Goldendoodle therapy puppy-in-training named Boo.

Stephanie Rivers - she/her

Stephanie Rivers began her career in the equine entertainment business in Ontario, Canada on the Canadian Cowgirls Precision Riding Team. After performing all over Canada and the United States (including the famous Calgary Stampede, the Rawhide Rodeo circuit, Equine Affairs, the Indy 500 parade and many other fairs and parades) she traveled to Florida to train with Mary Rivers and expand her performing skills and knowledge. She learned all about the art of Trick and Fancy riding, Roman Riding, gun handling and shooting. Today she trains and competes in Cowboy Mounted Shooting, performs her skills of trick riding and shooting, and is an accomplished wild west performer.

Joe Hartman - he/him

Joe retired in 2015 after a 45-year career working with kids, the last 27 of which as the guidance counselor at Madison Street Academy, a fine arts magnet school in Ocala. In addition to his counseling responsibilities, Joe established an after-school juggling program which had as many as 350 kids who practiced their juggling skills every afternoon. He worked with the advanced jugglers who performed and taught juggling in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, conferences, a special needs school, a free lunch program for low-income adults, parades, city holiday celebrations, and numerous other events. Several of his jugglers also competed and won awards in local, regional, and international juggling competitions. In 2024, Joe was thrilled to get back working with kids and coaching juggling at the Gainesville Circus Center. He loves this place, the other coaches, and, most of all, the kids. Joe lives with his wife, Beth, in Micanopy. Together they have two sons and five grandchildren.

Micki Rios - she/her

A former circus and vaudeville performer, Micki has spent her life immersed in entertainment
and the performing arts. She’s been a professional dancer, instructor and choreographer specializing in various dance forms of the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, folk and classical dances of India, and Romani (Gypsy) dances; being a Roma-Kalderash herself. She is also a yoga teacher, a gymnastics coach, worked as a zipline instructor, and practiced Capoeira for a time.