Alice is co-founder and director of School of Larks as well as one of the main teachers. Alongside teaching Alice has been freelance aerial performer for 8 years working for companies such as Above and Beyond, Citrus Arts and Burnt Out Theatre. Alice co-founded the contemporary circus company CirqOn the Seam with Oceane Sunniva. Alice is a self taught aerial artist and teacher, she did most of her training in Seville, helping to found a circus school. Alice is also trained in massage and dance.

Claudia is co-founder and director of School of Larks as well as one of the main teachers. A trained actress and yoga teacher, Claudia Weston was inspired to pursue aerial after attending a family circus class. Claudia still remembers the exact moment that her eyes fell on the trapeze. From then on, the trapeze became a delightful obsession and plans of aerial classes being in Stroud formed. Claudia discovered Alice doing aerial classes in Nailsworth and together they formed the business.

Siggy has dedicated over a decade to the industry. They then pursued a two-year foundation degree at Circomedia, specialising in aerial rope and handstands. Recently, Siggy obtained a personal training and fitness qualification. Despite managing a chronic condition, they continue to train, perform, and teach, gaining valuable knowledge about anatomy and safely working through injuries and illnesses.

Josh started off breakdancing at a young age before making the transition into circus, attending Circomedia’s BTEC for two years whilst teaching himself cyr wheel, which he then went on to specialise in when studying at National Centre for Circus Arts for a further three years. Graduating his BA degree, whether it’s teaching or performing, you’ll find Josh enjoying all things circus at School of Larks.

Esmée was one of our first ever School of Larks students! At the age of 14, Esmée began assistant teaching at a local dance school, she also helped out at some of our circus classes and workshops. At the age of 15, Esmée went to study dance at SGS College in Bristol. Now 21 she is going into her third year studying Dance at LMA in Liverpool. Esmée works with us every holiday when she’s back in Stroud and especially enjoys teaching in the children’s aerial classes, and appreciates how aerial and dance complement each other so well.

Aimee graduated from Circomedia with a 1st class BA degree in Contemporary Circus and Physical Theatre. While studying at Circomedia she specialised in Corde Lisse (aerial rope), and partner acrobatics. Aside from throwing cool tricks and splatting on crash mats, she also enjoys incorporating elements of theatre, dance, and modern technology, to push the creative possibilities of circus disciplines in performance.

Kai is a keen manipulator of objects, specialising in devil sticks but dabbling in juggling, diabolo, hat tricks, poi, plate spinning, nunchucks, whip cracking, kendama, staff, contact juggling and, well, you get the idea. He loves to train, perform and teach anyone willing to learn.

Edwin was inspired by his grandfather and uncle to be a clown. After studying at Circomedia he trained at a prestigious French theatre school; Ecole Philippe Gaulier. His favourite disciplines are juggling, theatre and clown. Now he enjoys teaching, training and performing with School of Larks. You may find also him making coffees at The Canteen in Nailsworth.

Eilidh attended Circomedia (Bristol) where she trained as an acrobat flyer and handbalancer on their Foundation Degree. Since graduating, she has performed as an acrobat and hula hooper internationally, and has completed multiple circus tours across the UK.

Angeliki is an Architect with a Masters in Contemporary Circus, from University of Uniarts in Stockholm (D.O.C.H). She has developed her own way of moving and practicing through space, improvisation and long durational performances. She is working a lot with silks, hoop, trapeze, ropes and bungees, and the last year she started combining bungees with aerial apparatus.

Lil Rice is a singing cyr wheel artist. She studied cyr wheel for three years at National Centre for Circus Arts before starting her own all-female circus company Alula Cyr. She is currently appearing in Giffords Circus with her singing cyr wheel act.

Enni’s own practise with the trapeze is highly based on dynamic movement. In her workshops she wants to give understanding of how to use your body, creating power, big swings, ‘air’ and time to do many different re-catches and moves, where you need to know where and how to create and direct the movement effortlesly.

Rowen is a multidisciplinary performer and teacher, and BA graduate of Circomedia where he specialised in handbalancing. He’s worked with companies across the UK such as Lavrak, Glorious Productions, and is co-founder and director of Grounded Circus.