Workshops

Elevate will offer a variety of professional-level workshops and lectures open to both competitors and the general public. Stay tuned for more info on specific workshops and times!

Tanya Burka is a veteran of the contemporary circus industry and a consummate professional in all her polyvalent roles.

With a unique background – she first earned her SB from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Nuclear Engineering, followed by a diploma of studies from Montreal’s renowned National Circus School – she is highly renowned not only as a performer, but now also as a director, project coordinator, coach, and manager in contemporary circus.

Highlights of her stage career include performing in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC, and touring with Cirque du Soleil shows “Quidam” and “TORUK: The First Flight” as a solo aerial silks performer across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

She has also worked with Cirque Eloize, Wonderbolt Circus, Pacha Ibiza, and recently performed at the St. Johns International Circus Fest, Moisture Festival, and the Alberta Circus Arts Festival.

Alongside her thriving performance career, Tanya has created a strong portfolio in coaching as well as in artistic direction and management work.

Since 2015 Tanya has worked with Short Round Productions as assistant artistic director and company manager. She was instrumental in the development of the company’s debut show

“Filament” and its successful runs at the 2017 Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a month-long tour of Germany, Italy and Luxembourg in fall 2019.

Tanya has also worked as artistic coordinator with Le Radiant Créatif, assistant

director/producer and rehearsal stage manager for Cie Chimère’s show “NYX”, and stage manager for Frostbyte Circus’s show “Deep Dish” which has played in three Canadian provinces.

Tanya has also recently been a Guest Instructor at the Aloft Circus Arts professional development program, a guest lecturer at The Actor’s Gymnasium, and was most recently artistic director for the Circadium School of Contemporary Circus’s 2022 graduating class with her original scripted show “In Human.” This coming spring, she will direct the 2024 cohort of the Aloft professional development program in their graduation show.

Tanya also took advantage of the pandemic both to complete a Continuing Education Certificate from McGill University in the Executive Production in Creative Industries program, and to learn lock-picking and underwater breath holds with daredevil Jonathan Goodwin in order to to perform an underwater tank escape with “Illusionarium/Magic Immersive” over 250 times.

Duo Workshop
Grow together. Learn together. Better together. Come have fun working with a partner on different aerial apparatus to create duo magic. Join Knotted n’ Art Duo, an international aerial and adagio couple who perform professionally throughout the USA, Europe, Asia and Cruise Ships. You will learn duo techniques on straps, silks, trapeze and ground acro. No partner required to attend, “flyin” solo is okay.

How to market yourself as a Professional Artist
Do you want to be a professional aerialist or increase your contracted opportunities? Sign up for this workshop to learn the business tools necessary to book your dream jobs. Learn how to build a resume/CV, put together an eye-catching promo video and how to build contacts with industry companies and professionals. “Elevate” yourself to the professional level!

The Acrobatic Duo Workshop
Combine balancing, partnering, flexibility and strength to this combination of dance and gymnastics. Learn to work together to create shapes and poses on the ground while laying and standing.

Adv Flying Pole Skills PLUS – Body Loop

(Advance Fly Pole & Hand Loop Skills) Prepare to take your flying pole flows to the next level.  In this workshop you will explore several of Skittles’ favorite advanced pole skills on flying pole.

During the workshop students will also explore introductory body loop skills. This workshop is designed for the student already familiar and comfortable with fundamental Fly Pole technique (entries, exits, & spins) and is comfortable with aerial inverted skills and two point contact skills).

Pre-requisites: Student must be comfortable inverting aerially without assistance repeatedly and be comfortable with inverted two-point contact skills (i.e. inverted ayesha).

About:

Vakiesha Wimberly is a Fitness Professional and Pole Athlete with over a decade of experience as a Fitness Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Pole Competitor, and Performer. Vakiesha is best known as “Skittles Pole Dancer ” in the pole world and is considered to be one of the “Pole Fitness OG’s”.   Vakiesha is a United States Pole Dance Federation (USPDF) Professional Pole Athlete, XPert International Trainer, and holds several fitness & pole certifications. She most recently earned first place at Viva Fest for Flying Pole.

Destiny Vinley will be providing up to 18 artist Demo reviews/consults on Thursday, July 11th (Depending on judging scheduling) This is a complimentary service Destiny is providing to the first 9-18 artists that reserve this very valuable opportunity . 15 minute booking windows are available through the Dragonfly events calendar.

Artist Demo Reviews:
Are your demo videos portraying you in the best way? Maybe they’re too long, redundant, lack important skills, or have a mismatched music track. Demos are often the first impression you give a casting agent or director. You need to catch and keep their attention while showing your capabilities in a very short amount of time. Sit down with Destiny for a consultation on your existing demo reel, get feedback to help present you clearly and professionally or ask questions about how to create your first demo.

Send your demo videos in advance so Destiny can watch them and make some notes- in order to make the 15min time slots more feasible and productive. Limit, no more than 2 demo type videos (either act sizzle/teaser videos or overall skill demo videos).