Instructor Bios
Rachel Stewart
I am in love with the circus. I discovered this passion through the arts of fire dancing and street theater. I consider all my experiences with these forms to be invaluable on-the-job lessons in the subtleties of performance and creative work.
As I grew and changed as a performer, I was introduced to aerial dance, modern dance, and acrobatics. This newly-discovered passion led me eventually to pursue acrobatics professionally at the New England Center for Circus Arts, through their professional-track training program, where I majored in aerial hoop and aerial rope. Most recently, I had the great honor to be awarded Best Aerial Hoop Performance and Best Artistic Performance at the 2011 Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival in Denver, CO.
I love the depth of understanding that comes from teaching movement arts, and I look forward to the interactions that come with teaching my classes. I feel constantly nourished, revitalized, challenged, and humbled by my students. Esh Aerial Arts began as a way to make ends meet while I performed. What it has become, and what I hope it will continue to grow into, is a venue for everyone, from seasoned professional to recreational amateur, to discover and hone their bodies’ amazing potential.
Ellen Waylonis May
circus, where I discovered partner acrobatics and aerial arts, and fell head over heals for the joy, sweat, and magic of circus performance. After performing in cabarets around Boston and across the country, I honed my skills in the professional training program at the New England Center for Circus Arts. During the program I studied a number of aerial disciplines and ground skills, focusing on partner acrobatics, corde lisse, and Spanish web. I now perform as one half of Off the Ground Circus.
Roger May
Roger May is a circus performer with over a decade of experience in juggling, acrobatics, partner balancing, fire performance, hand balancing, and the aerial arts. He has performed on stages across the country, been featured in instructional videos, and taught workshops from Boston to California to Spain. Today he continues to train at the New England Center for Circus Arts. Roger is a proud founding member of the Boston Circus Guild, is a touring member of the circus & fire arts troupe A Different Spin, and is endlessly excited about spreading his circus addiction to everyone – this means you!
Trevor Kafka
I first discovered the world of circus arts when I was inspired by the artists of Cirque du Soleil at age 13. I began my circus arts training in the summer of 2006 at Circus Smirkus Summer Camp in Craftsbury Commons, VT, where I realized my passions for aerial acrobatics, handbalancing, and flexibility training. After two summers training at camp, I began to train at various locations in New York City, as well as at the New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, VT.
In 2010-2011, I devoted nine months of my life to attending the Professional Track program at NECCA, where I developd my dynamic-height single point trapeze act and floor acrobatic act. In this time, I also completed the Aerial Fabric and Static Trapeze Teacher Training programs also offered at NECCA.
Since graduation from the Professional Track program, I have taught aerial acrobatics and flying trapeze at numerous institutions, including World Cup Gymnastics in Chappaqua, NY; Concord Academy Summer Camp in Concord, MA; the STREB Lab for Action Mechanics in Brooklyn, NY; and the 2011 NYC-Regional American Youth Circus Organization Festival in Queens, NY.
Upon moving to the Boston area in January of 2012, I became a member of the Boston Circus Guild, as well as a student at Brandeis University. I am infinitely grateful for all of the wonderful circus opportunities that Massachusetts offers, and I always find myself overjoyed to be a part of the driving force which makes our circus community grow. There really is no other community like it!
