Dan Butler is Founder and Executive Director of Circus Juventas. He walked into the Big Top of Sailor Circus in Sarasota, Florida, as a 15 year old in 1974 and trained with world-renowned flyer Faye Alexander, Willie Edelston of the Ringling Bros. Circus and Gustino Loyal of the famous Loyal-Ripenski Troupe. Dan was with the Florida State University Circus from 1976-1980. Dan also coaches the Swinging Trapeze, Double & French Trapezes, Teeterboard, Adagio, and Shoot Thru Ladder acts at Circus Juventas.

Elizabeth "Betty" Butler is Founder and Artistic Director of Circus Juventas. Betty began her circus training in 1972, also with Sailor Circus, working with the famous Flying Wallenda Family on the high wire. Later she performed with Florida State University's Flying High Circus and graduated with a degree in International Business and Italian. Betty has been the creative force behind all of our summer productions, producing, writing and directing the shows, and coordinating all aspects of the productions, from costuming to music to makeup.

Zinaida "Zina" Avgoustova is a graduate of the Belarus National Sport College in the USSR and the National Studio of Circus and Theatre Art in Moscow, Russia. Zina traveled and performed with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1997-1998. From there, Zina performed as an acrobat with the Big Moscow Circus on their World Tour. Zina received the 2nd place award for the International Festival in Italy and 1st place in the USSR exhibition of New Circus acts. Zina came to Circus Smirkus in 1999 and was the primary trainer of aerial and acrobatics. She also has worked with special summer camp for kids with Down Syndrome and cancer. Zina joined the Circus Juventas staff in 2008.

Wheel gymnastics has been a passion of Jasmin’s since 1991. She is a member of RHONRADswiss (federation responsible for wheel gymnastics in Switzerland) as well as a leading member of the sports club SATUS Zuri 12 located in Zurich, Switzerland. She coaches three different groups of wheel gymnasts at the club ranging from beginners to advanced who have participate in national and international championships. She also coaches the Swiss national team for international championships such as world championships and team world cups.

Jason Burnstein was among the first class to graduate and earn an MFA from the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA) in conjunction with Naropa University. He has worked professionally as a teacher and performer for the past ten years, focusing primarily on clowning and physical theatre. He has been teaching at Circus Juventas since 2005, and looks forward to many more collaborations.

Rachel Butler has been training, performing and teaching at Circus Juventas since 1994. She has studied several areas including the aerial hoops, silks, Spanish web, pas de deux and triangle trapeze as well as mid-wire, dance and theater. In 2007, she traveled to Latina, Italy with her triangle trapeze team for the Circos Festivale Internazionale di Latina. In 2008, she performed as part of the Children's Theatre Company production Madeline and the Gypsies. Rachel received a B.A. degree in advertising from University of St. Thomas in 2008. She continues to train professionally with circus gold medalist, Zhang Xu on numerous acts including the pas de deux, juggling and hand balancing.

Tim Carlson began his circus career with the Sailor Circus in Sarasota, Florida (1987-1997) and then toured through Japan, performing on the flying trapeze and high wire. Tim is also a Guinness World Record holder with Wallenda Family Entertainment, performing the 4-tiered, 8-person pyramid on the high wire. Tim worked as the head rigger for Walt Disney World Entertainment and as an artistic show rigger for Cirque du Soleil show at the Bellagio.

Risa Cohen was born in Calcutta, India. She grew up in Germany, the United States, and England where she studied dance at the Contemporary Dance School of London. After graduating from university, she moved to New York City where she spent five years performing with The Margolis Brown Company. Risa has won several awards for her choreography including the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Grant, The Minnesota State Arts Board's Artist Initiative Grant, and was awarded a Momentum: New Dance Works Commission. Her work has been presented numerous times at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, Choreographer's Evening at the Walker Art Center and Red Eyes, Isolated Acts Series.

Allie Cooper began learning the fundamentals of aerial work in Santa Cruz, California in 2008. Her honest style has developed to utilize momentum and natural pathways and to embrace functionality.  She has worked closely with Kevin O’Connor and has supplemented her training with a study of the movement theory Axis Syllabus.  Allie has traveled extensively in Europe and has had the privilege to share and learn from the artists who inspire her most.  Allie enjoys traveling and has performed and taught across the United States, Europe, and in Asia. She continues to be inspired by the constant innovations in aerial worldwide and is grateful to be a part of it.

Marissa Dorschner started training at Circus Juventas in 1998 at eleven years old, when it was Circus of the Star. She has since trained in several aerial acts and continues to train and perform on the silks. Marissa has been working as an aerial coach at Circus Juventas for the past five years. She recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Spanish Studies and a B.S. in Elementary Education. She will continue at the U of M in the fall in the teacher licensure program, working towards a kindergarten through sixth grade teaching license and a middle school math specialization.

Born and raised in Sarasota, Florida, Michael learned to walk the wire at the age of nine. As a student, Michael was involved in the Sarasota Sailor Circus. In 1999 the Wallenda family invited him to travel and perform with them. His achievements include performing three person and seven person pyramids. In 2001 he performed an eight person pyramid for the Guinness Book of World Records in Japan. He has traveled all around the world performing and rigging. His most recent performances include Circus Sarasota and "Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale" in Chicago.

Rachel Freeburg holds a BFA in dance and minor in art history from the University of Minnesota, where she had the honor of performing works by artists such as Pat Graney, Uri Sands, and Anna Sokolow. Also a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Rachel studied ballet at the American Ballet Theatre, and the Milwaukee Ballet summer intensives and modern dance at the Limon Institute, the Bates Dance Festival, and with The Seldoms in Chicago. Locally, she teaches yoga and dance at Ballareteatro Performing Arts Center, as well as the St. Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts, and has performed works by Kaleena Miller, Jessica Briggs, and Alanna Morris. She feels honored and excited to be working with Mathew Janczewski and her fellow ARENA Dances company members.

Zaccurus "Zacc" Fricke is a St. Paul native who started his performance career as a street juggler at the age of 8. At age 12 he began training in unicycle at Twin Cities Unicycle Club, and competed for many years at a national level. In 1994 he joined Circus Juventas, where he studied unicycle, juggling, acrobatics, team adagio, clowning, double and flying trapeze. Zacc is proud to be a member of the Circus Juventas coaching staff, and is currently performing as a professional musician.