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
Ashley Smith
Circus Artist and Coach
Jessica Thomas
Circus Arts Instructor
Shyla Stewart
Circus Arts Instructor
Elina Lewis
Cirque Arts Instructor
Meredith Combs
Circus Arts Instructor
Piper Clement
Cirque Arts Instructor
Ruby Stephenson
Cirque Arts Instructor
Sue Ruark
Cirque Arts Instructor
Madison McCraner
Aerial Silks Instructor
Contact Emma at emma@expressioncity.com or call at 931-446-1672.
Sue Ruark
Cirque Arts Instructor
Jessica Thomas
Circus Arts Instructor
Shyla Stewart
Circus Arts Instructor
Meredith Combs
Circus Arts Instructor
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.
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.
Ashley Breedlove
Aerial Instructor
Madison McCraner
Aerial Silks Instructor
Elina Lewis
Cirque Arts 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!
Celebrate Big for Their Birthday
If you’re looking for a memorable birthday bash complete with circus thrills, fun, and excitement worthy of the “big top”, Nashville Circus Center is where you want to be. We have circus party packages available for kids, teens, and kids at heart for any celebratory occasion that keeps guests entertained from start to finish.
Circus Party
Our circus parties are much more than entertainment. They are hands-on experiences where guests learn circus performance arts—including aerial silks, lyra, static trapeze, sling, hooping and more—alongside a trained professional. Learn on a variety of circus apparatuses or have a more focused party and work on just your favorite apparatus. (We recommend picking 2-3 apparatus for students new to circus)
Parties are two hours long. We invite you to bring a cake, have food delivered, set up decor, and open gifts to top off the celebration.
Cost
1.5 hrs. circus & .5 hr. party room = $350
10 guests included*
Instructor Performance: $45
Extra Half Hour: $50
*$15 per extra guest. Call for pricing for more than 10 guests.
Registration Form
If you’ve already scheduled your birthday party with us, please complete the online registration form and waiver to complete your booking.