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.