Circus

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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.

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Meet Our Talented Instructors

Emma Barberi

emma@expressioncity.com
931-446-1672
Circus Center Director

Madison Weiss

Circus Arts Instructor

Ashley Smith

Circus Artist and Coach

Shyla Stewart

Circus Arts Instructor

Jessica Thomas

Circus Arts Instructor

Meredith Combs

Circus Arts Instructor

Piper Clement

Cirque Arts Instructor

Ruby Stephenson

Cirque Arts Instructor

Isabel Rothenberg

Cirque Arts Instructor

Sue Ruark

Cirque Arts Instructor

Madison McCraner

Aerial Silks Instructor

Elina Lewis

Cirque Arts Instructor

Have questions about our circus program?
Contact Emma at emma@expressioncity.com or call at 931-446-1672.

Sue Ruark

Cirque Arts Instructor

Sue has been involved in the circus arts since 2023. While she has tried several different apparatus and wants to learn more on them her favorite is lyra. Sue’s goals aim mainly toward mental wellness in her students. As a teacher she wants to always bring a smile to her students’ faces (even when the moves are challenging) and remind them that they are in a safe and encouraging environment where they can grow and learn without judgement. Sue also loves singing, dancing, arts and crafts, crocheting, and painting. Her favorite quote is “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.” – Les Brown

Isabel Rothenberg

Cirque Arts Instructor

Isabel has been doing circus for the past seven years. She specializes in silks and sling, but also trains rope, straps, stilts, poi, and canes. After high school she plans to train at the San Diego Circus Center then travel around performing. In her free time she likes to play ukulele, do puzzles, and snuggle with her cat Gracie.

Jessica Thomas

Circus Arts Instructor

Coach Jess has been dancing since she was two and began her aerial journey in adulthood while living in Rhode Island. Since moving to Nashville, she has claimed Lyra as her main aerial apparatus and became passionate about teaching! Besides her love for circus, she also enjoys sewing, writing, and taking hikes on the trail with her cat. She aspires to learn more ground acts and continue building her skills on and off stage.

Shyla Stewart

Circus Arts Instructor

Shyla has been at Nashville Circus Center since 2020 when she started her journey taking silks and quickly fell in love with circus. She has performed on every apparatus offered at NCC however, she prefers silks and straps. She loves helping students get the tricks that feel impossible. Her goal is to give students a variety of ways to do tricks and figure out what works for each of them. Her hobbies include, playing violin, running, singing, and watching tv. Her favorite quote is, “Be yourself; everyone else is already,” – Oscar Wilde

Meredith Combs

Circus Arts Instructor

Meredith Combs has loved the performing arts since a very young age. She grew up dancing, transitioned into a professional dance career shortly after graduating high school, and ran away with the circus in 2019. While dance will always have her heart, she has had the opportunity to expand her career with Lyra, Silks, and Poi, performing across the country for award shows, live events, music videos, and television. As a teacher, her passion is to help students unlock their potential and achieve their dreams. She focuses on building technique and strength so students feel confident performing. Outside of the studio she enjoys hiking, puzzles, and exploring new places.

Emma Barberi

Aerial Silks Instructor

Emma Barberi is the Director of the Circus Center. Having trained in circus arts for 11 years, she has progressed through the roles of student, teacher, and now manager. This comprehensive journey has given her a deep understanding of every role, making her a stronger, more empathetic leader. Emma’s vision is to provide a studio where students of all ages feel safe, supported, and encouraged. She ensures that mental wellness and growth-in skills, confidence, and community-are at the heart of the Center’s mission. She is extremely proud that the studio’s culture reflects these values, where everyone is kind, supportive, and celebrates each other’s progress.

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.

” Together we Rise”. “Beyond Fear lies Freedom”, “She believed she could, so she did”, “Slay that dragon”

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.

“I love watching people learn to do things they never thought they could do. I particularly love teaching people with no prior dance or gymnastics experience because they begin to see themselves in new ways.”

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.

Ashley Breedlove

Aerial Instructor

Ashley is a yoga instructor, partner acrobatics teacher, and an aerial instructor. When she’s not teaching she’s training. Her teaching is fueled by her passion for these arts. She began acro with her partner in 2017 and hasn’t stopped since! Aerials came along shortly after in 2018. After practicing acro and aerials, she decided she had to share her love and experience when others and that’s when she began teaching!! She loves to help others start and continue their journey in acro and aerials. Ashley also loves to perform partner acro and lyra doubles any chance she gets.

Madison McCraner

Aerial Silks Instructor

Hi! I’m Madison, and I’m proud to be part of the teaching team here as an aerial silks instructor. I’ve been training in aerial silks for almost four years, and I’ve had the amazing opportunity to compete at events across the country. I began my training in California, where I learned a wide range of techniques and styles that I now bring into my own teaching. With over a year of experience as an instructor, I love helping my students grow stronger, more confident, and more creative in the air.

Elina Lewis

Cirque Arts Instructor

I have been training on several apparatus since 2021 and my favorite one to teach and train on is lyra! My goal as a teacher is to build strength and confidence and always encourage my students to do their best. My favorite quote is “Diamonds don’t shine, they reflect.”

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.

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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!

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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!

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Class Registration Schedule

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Step Right Up to the Art of Circus!

Meet Our Talented Instructors

Emma Barberi

Madison Weiss

Ashley Smith

Shyla Stewart

Jessica Thomas

Meredith Combs

Piper Clement

Ruby Stephenson

Isabel Rothenberg

Sue Ruark

Madison McCraner

Elina Lewis

Youth Aerial Arts

Adult Aerial Arts

Private Lessons

Class Registration Schedule

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