Step Right Up to the Art of Circus!
Circus arts are so unique and have such a passionate following they truly do stand alone at Expression City in our Nashville Circus Center. As proud members of American Circus Educators and American Youth Circus Organization, we offer an integrated course schedule from beginner to professional with circus education, outreach, performance opportunities and elite training.
Meet Our Talented Instructors
Emma Barberi
emma@expressioncity.com
931-446-1672
Circus Center Director
Ileen Gruchot
Aerial Silks Instructor
Madison Weiss
Circus Arts Instructor
Ashley Smith
Circus Artist and Coach
Elizabeth Melnikas
Aerial Instructor
Sydney Huddleston
Aerial Silks Instructor
Meredith Combs
Circus Arts Instructor
Shyla Stewart
Circus Arts Instructor
Jessica Thomas
Circus Arts Instructor
Piper Clement
Cirque Arts Instructor
Ruby Stephenson
Cirque Arts Instructor
Contact Emma at emma@expressioncity.com or call at 931-446-1672.
Jessica Thomas
Circus Arts Instructor
Sydney Huddleston
Aerial Silks Instructor
Shyla Stewart
Circus Arts Instructor
Meredith Combs
Circus Arts Instructor
Elizabeth Melnikas
Aerial Instructor
Elizabeth got her Bachelors of Arts at UCLA for Classical Flute Performance. She has various personal training certifications–NSCA – CPT, USAW, and TRX Certification. She has been a personal trainer at UCLA for 10 years. She teaches group exercise classes and personal training sessions for the staff and faculty. In the last two years she has been programming for their virtual classes. Elizabeth has worked for Trapeze School New York in Los Angeles and New York as well as various other trapeze schools. She has her aerial silks teaching certification through Aerial Physique.
Emma Barberi
Aerial Silks Instructor
Emma has been practicing circus arts for ten years and teaching aerial silks, lyra, trapeze, and hooping for the last five years, with lyra being her favorite apparatus. She loves watching her students grow to their fullest potential as they become confident in their skills. Professionally, she performs lollipop lyra, waterbowl acrobatics, stilts, hooping, silks, and lyra. She feels that Expression City is the best place to come if you’re looking to grow your skills in a supportive community as Expression City is known for its encouraging environment. When she’s not working, her favorite hobbies are swimming, hiking, or playing video games. Her favorite quote is, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”
Ashley Smith
Circus Artist and Coach
Ashley formally started her education in arts in 2007 as a professional dancer and then made her way into the world of circus. She received a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Colorado and then completed the Professional Training Program for Aerial Arts at Frequent Flyers. Ashley has performed all around the United States with MOTH Poetic Circus, Iluminar Aerial, Aerial Dreamworks, Frequent Flyers Inc, and Beyond Wings Circus. Alongside her duo trapeze partner Daniel Nolasco, she is the winner of the Best Artistic Award at the Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival in Denver, CO. Ashley has performed solo and duo work on board the German cruise line, Mein Schiff TUI Cruises. In addition to her life as a circus artist she loves dancing, climbing, teaching, and exploring new places.
Madison Weiss
Circus Arts Instructor
Madison teaches aerial silks in group youth and private lessons. She helps aerialists of all ages achieve their specific goals and challenge their bodies in new, artistic ways. She loves that Expression City offers a variety of aerial arts to cater to all levels and interests and that students have the opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned in a performance at the end of each semester. In her spare time, Madison enjoys hiking, attending concerts, photography, reading, watching TV, and cuddling with her cats.
Rebecca Hellemans
Aerial Instructor
Rebecca has been with Expression City and the Nashville Circus Center since
we first opened our doors and has spent 14 years in Circus and Aerial Arts.
Rebecca loves how Expression City and Nashville Circus Center fosters a
culture of community, growth, professionalism, and excellence in all
students. One of her favorite things about teaching is to see individuals
bust their own beliefs of what they can do and who they are. It brings her
so much joy to see their confidence grow as she helps them achieve
superhero status. When she’s not teaching our students, you may find
Rebecca traveling, sewing, woodworking or cooking.
Favorite Quote
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” — Thomas Edison
Hidden Talent
I make the world’s best fruit pie. It’s not even up for discussion.
Jessica Webster
Aerial Instructor
Jessica is an aerial silks and lyra instructor. She has been teaching at Expression City since 2019 and is certified to teach beginner aerial fabric by the Circus Arts Institute.
Jessica loves that Expression City offers classes to a wide variety of ages and skill levels and notes that there is a place for everyone. She encourages students to try new things and enjoys working with such a fun and talented staff. Jessica’s other loves include making art and working in her yard.
Piper Clement
Cirque Arts Instructor
Piper has been at Nashville Circus Center since 2021 starting her journey with circus on silks. Silks remains her favorite apparatus and the one she considers herself to have the most progress on. She loves pushing herself to do better and often reminds herself that she still has things to learn. She wants the same for her students! Her goal is to not only teach skills but compassion and determination. While being enrolled at Nashville School of the Arts Piper has picked up a number of hobbies such as writing and singing, taking a number of arts classes including one that offers silks! When she’s feeling down on herself she loves to refer back to her favorite quote:”do you know why this is my favorite tree? Because it’s tipped over and it’s still growing. That’s pretty cool” -The Florida Project.
Ruby Stephenson
Cirque Arts Instructor
Ruby has been a part of Expression City for over a year and has taken full advantage of the opportunity to explore every apparatus the studio offers. While she’s enjoyed the variety, she’s especially drawn to the silks and other soft apparatuses. Ruby is passionate about helping others achieve their goals and loves watching students grow and reach new heights. Outside of aerial arts, Ruby has a deep love for singing, theatre, cats, and art. Her background in performance enriches her approach to teaching, but it’s the world of aerial silks that has truly captured her heart. Above all, Ruby’s goal is to help her students fall in love with what they do and to build a strong sense of community through the shared joy of circus arts.
Favorite Quote
“Push yourself; No-one else is going to do it for you.”
Hidden Talent
Eating a whole pint of ice cream in one sitting.
Ileen Gruchot
Aerial Silks Instructor
Ileen is an ACE-certified aerial fabric instructor who’s been teaching at Expression City since 2019. She teaches Intro and Level 1 Aerial Silks in both kids and adult classes. Ileen has a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences: Ultrasound, an Associates of Applied Sciences in Radiologic Sciences: X-Ray, and she is CPR, First Aid, and AED certified.
Aerial silks are Ileen’s passion outside of her day job as a high-risk OB ultrasound technologist. But, her true escape is going home and playing with her beloved Australian Shepherd, Knox.
She loves that her students always come ready to put in the work and have fun. She believes this is truly one of the best creative outlets out there.
Ashley Breedlove
Aerial Instructor
Youth Aerial Arts
Learn varying circus skills such as aerial silks, trapeze, juggling, hooping, balancing and plate spinning in these weekly group classes. Our instructors engage and encourage you while providing the opportunity to have fun, get fit and expand your horizons by learning something new.
Adult Aerial Arts
Take part in a fun and unique learning experience in these weekly group classes guided by qualified, skilled instructors. No experience necessary for beginner classes. Gain strength as you learn!
Private Lessons
If you’re ready to dive right in, consider weekly, private lessons with one of our expert instructors. Our goal is to spur your curiosity and allow students to learn at their own pace in aerial silks, trapeze or lyra!