NIK WALLENDA

Nik Wallenda is a 7th generation member of the legendary Wallenda family. Known world-wide for his incredible feats upon the high wire and beyond, Nik is the holder of 11 World Records, among these the highest 4-level 8-person pyramid on the wire, the highest and longest bicycle ride on a wire, hanging from a helicopter by his teeth, and the first tightrope crossing of an active volcano.

His career began at the age of 2, learning to walk the wire while holding his mother’s hand, and continuing with record breaking performances across the United States and around the world. In 2012, he fulfilled his life-long dream to become the only person to walk directly over the precipice of Niagara Falls live on ABC. In 2013, he became the first person to walk a wire across the Grand Canyon, an epic event aired live by Discovery Channel in 178 countries, breaking network ratings and social media records in the process. The following year, Discovery Channel covered Nik live breaking 2 more world records over the city of Chicago.

In 2019, Nik & his sister became the first to walk a tightrope directly over Time Square NY live on ABC; and in 2020, ABC aired yet another special live to the world, as Nik claimed another world record, becoming the first person to walk a tightrope over an active volcano. Nik is the author of 2 books, “Balance” and “Facing Fear”, and he carries his motto of “Never Give Up” in every walk with the purpose of “inspiring people around the world to follow their dreams.”

ALAN SILVA

Born in 1982 in Sao Paulo Brazil, Alan Jones Silva is the 6th generation of a circus family. At the age of 4, Alan started a training program with his father and grandfather who have both spent their entire lives performing for the circus. At the age of 6, he made his debut in the circus performing floor acrobatics and clown acts.

By age 10, Alan had learned the trapeze, which he performed for three more years. Later, Alan followed in his grandfather's footsteps and began performing Maromba, which is similar to a high wire act except the stunts are performed on a rope suspended between springs. However, Alan loved to be in the air. He returned to the air in 1998 when he changed his act to an Aerial Acrobatic Flying Silks and after two years was invited to audition for a new Cirque du Soleil show. In 2003, Alan was asked to join Cirque du Soleil's new production where Alan met his wife Bethany and had two beautiful children, a boy named Luken and a girl named Giana.

The entire Silva family appeared on TV when Alan was invited to audition for America’s Got Talent, season 15. Alan was a top five finalist, performing various aerial acts from Silks to Aerial Chains to Bungee straps. He is not only known for his acrobatic talent but he can also dance, play instruments and sing and act. Alan was invited to appear in the movie Beowulf by Robert Zemeckis and in TV shows such as Legacies by Warner Brothers as well as many other TV appearances in Brazil.

Alan’s wish is to carry on the family legacy and pass it to his kids. He wants to use the circus, TV and other media platforms to inspire, motivate and give hope to people all over the world- letting everyone know that nothing is impossible.

JOHNNY ROCKETT

A 7th generation entertainer, Johnny Rockett’s heritage dates back to the early years of the European circus when his grandfather dreamed of performing in America and so, made the long trip from Ireland to the United States of America. Once he arrived in America, his grandfather performed for many years on vaudeville before returning to his circus routes in the United States. Smiley Daly Sr. then passed down his knowledge of physical comedy to his son Smiley Daly Jr. who passed it down to his son and that’s when Johnny Rockett was born.

Johnny Rockett has been crowned the clown prince of comedy by proving himself to be one of the top physical comics in the circus world today. He prides himself on his uniqueness and individuality and his ability to entertain all generations making millions of people laugh around the world with his unique style of comedy.

As an entertainer, Johnny Rockett considers himself to be a comedic daredevil and describes himself as Charlie Chaplin and Evel Knievel put together. Or for the younger generation, if you took Jim Carrey and Travis Pastrana you would have yourself a Johnny Rockett.

Johnny Rockett is the type of entertainer that can have the audience laughing so hard that their eyes are watering and their sides are hurting. Then moments later, have the same audience sitting on the edge of their seat in disbelief as they witness his hilarious antics and crazy stunts. Put simply, he is the total package one of the most versatile entertainers in the circus world today.

ELLI HUBER

Elli is an internationally acclaimed aerialist and singer with a background in dance, on-screen acting and music. She trained worldwide at Aerialize - Sydney Aerial Theatre in Australia, The Beijing International Arts School in China and Ecole Leotard in Montreal, Canada with world-renowned trapeze coach Victor Fomine.

Working around the globe, mostly with her unique act of singing whilst doing aerial acrobatics, Elli has performed with prestigious companies including Australia's Silver's Circus and Circus Rio, Mexico's Circo Atayde, New York’s Hideaway Circus, Carnival Cruises touring the South Pacific, Pacha - Sydney, Swiss Dream Circus in both Canada & Malaysia, Italy’s Le Cirque - with the world’s top performers, Zippos Circus Winter Wonderland in London, Cirque Starlight touring Switzerland, Festival Arte Migrante in Italy and most recently performed at Dinner for Fun in Germany.

In 2010 at the Sydney Festival, Elli was part of a team that won ‘The Sydney Festival Award for outstanding Independent Artist’ as well as ‘The Bytecraft Exceptional Achievement Award in Production and Design.’ Later, in 2015, she won the Aerial Allstars circus arts competition, taking first place in Australia and New Zealand. In 2017, she received a Bronze Medal as well as a special juror's choice award from the Australian Circus Festival.

Elli completed a Set and Costume Design course at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) and received her BA from Sydney University, majoring in Sculpture, Performance and Installation. Most of her costumes are of her own conception.

Elli has also worked alongside some of the world’s most distinguished companies such as Foxtel, Tony & Guy, YouTube, Bvlgari, Toyota and Sony, consulting, choreographing and performing for clients internationally. She has also appeared in television shows such as X-Factor, Australia’s next top model, Germany’s got Talent and many TVC commercials like the V8 Supercars featuring pop artist P!nk.

IRINA AKIMOVA

Born in 1982, Irina Akimova’s path to performance began at the tender age of 13 when she studied at the Circus of Youth "Art-Alle" in Marks, Russia. Even as a youngster, she was focused on reaching her goal as an artist, always training and always improving. When not rehearsing, she used her free time to teach younger children the skills she was learning.

Her act known as "Game with Hula-Hoops" is a highly entertaining piece that blends fascinating tricks with flexibility at an incredible pace, making it a sensation at venues everywhere. Irina's performances are unforgettable and delight both children and grown-ups. Not a traditional act with hula-hoops, her performance is amusing, fast, fascinating and most of all, beautiful. The movement of hoops at high speeds highlights her unique artistry and creates a holiday atmosphere of boundless charm.

Circus "Art-Alle" has performed on many concert stages in Russia and at many cultural events and circus festivals. Irina was an active participant in performances in the Moscow circus named after Nikulin in Tsvetnoy bulvar, in the Moscow Palace of Youth, Moscow Palace of Congresses.

AXEL PEREZ

Axel Perez was born in Mexico City. He comes from a long line of circus artists. He is a 6th generation performer and the son of well-known circus artist, Daniel Oscar Perez.

Axel started off his performing career at the young age of eleven years old. As a young performer, his first job was for the Ringling Brothers Museum. He has traveled the country performing at entertainment venues including Canobie Lake Park, Busch Gardens and Six Flags Amusement Park. He recently added to his performing career television appearances on Tengo Talento Mucho, Awesomeness and Americas Got Talent.

Axel currently resides in Las Vegas working with his father’s circus, Cirque Legacy. Being part of The Big Apple Circus is a dream come true.

GENA SHVARTSMAN CRISTIANI

Gena Shvartsman Cristiani is a fifth-generation Russian-Ukrainian circus artist. The child of two accomplished performers, she began training at the age of eight in the art of juggling, while also being schooled in acrobatics and dance. In the span of a few short years, her phenomenal talent brought her to United States. By the age of thirteen, she was a star attraction for Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Her skills and experience growing, Gena traveled the world performing in lavish variety and circus shows, as well as competing in elite circus competitions. She was awarded a silver medal at the prestigious International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo, and a silver medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris, France. In addition, she took the coveted gold medal at the World Juggling Federation Championships in Las Vegas.

Five generations of circus talent flow through her veins and into the talented hands of Gena Shvartsman Cristiani. A dazzling combination of split-second timing, balletic grace, and acrobatic balance will leave you marveling at the reach of human abilities.

TANBA

TanBA was born in Shizuoka, Japan. He has been performing close up magic, manipulation and stage illusions since he was 18. He studied under the famous Japanese magician Haruhiko Nagisa. His unique magic has won several championships and in 1993 he won the prestigious Stage Magician of the Year from the Society of American Magicians, the same year he also won Stage Magician of the Year from the Japanese Magic Association. He has performed throughout Japan and in Shanghai, China, and the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

In 2008 he was the magic consultant for a Japanese science fiction motion picture and in the same year he joined the cast of “MATSURI” where he continued to amaze audiences with his magic. He has been featured on hit TV shows around the world including Britain's Got Talent. − “I have never seen anything like that in my life..amazing!” – Simon Cowell. Since appearing on BGT in 2017 his appearance has gone viral gaining TanBA over 10 MILLION views on YouTube! Add to this appearances on other hit TV shows around the world including Penn & Teller Fool Us, Tu Si Que Vales in Rome, iUmor in Romania, Don Francisco Te Invita in U.S., Festival International Del Humor 2017 in Colombia, Das Super Talent in Germany and many more and you have a performer that brings a wealth of talent and experience to every heart stopping performance! After performing live all over the world, he will now bring my act for the first time to Big Apple Circus!

VERANICA TCHALABAEVA

Veranica Tchalabaeva is 12-Year-Old 3rd generation performer and animal trainer/presenter. Veranica realized early on that working with animals would become her life. As a young girl growing up, her weekly chores included mucking out the stalls or feeding, watering and grooming her family’s 150 menagerie, including horses, goats, camels, dogs, cats, doves and chickens!

This precocious 12-year-old is a third-generation performer who learned the ropes of training and presenting animal acts while traveling the country with her parents who are professional trick riders and entertainers. She is as comfortable performing atop a galloping steed as she is guiding her trained poodles through their routines. When it comes to bonding with animals, Veranica is a natural!

ROKARDY RODRIGUEZ

Rokardy Rodriguez is a former competition gymnast and ballet dancer who went to study circus arts and graduated from the National Circus School of Cuba in 1995. Even before graduation, he had begun touring as a hand-balancer with the Circo Nacional de Cuba in Vietnam, France, and Mexico, before working independently in Mexico.

After graduation, he went to work with major circuses in Spain, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, and France. In 2002, he joined the cast of Cirque du Soleil‘s La Nouba in Orlando, Florida, where he originated his chair balancing act.

He remained with the Canadian circus until 2012, appearing in their productions of Viva Elvis and Zarkana in Las Vegas. He has also participated in numerous special events in the United States, Canada, Russia, and China. Rokardy received Prix Special du Jury at the International Circus Festival of Massy, France, the Bolshoi Circus Prize at the Idol Festival in Moscow, and a Special Prize at the International Circus Festival of Wuqiao, in China.