Ariel Schmidtke is an interdisciplinary physical performer and multimedia artist. With roots in the Pacific Northwest and influences ranging from Southern Gothic to French Nouveau Cirque, Ariel has traveled extensively to enrich her approach to circus dramaturgy. Inspired at a young age by gymnastics she began training as an aerialist with the Dream Science Circus at the age of eighteen. She is drawn to the nonverbal expressiveness of gestures and to diversify her performance skills she has spent the past ten years studying dance, theater, puppetry, and contemporary circus.
www.alengthofrope.com

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Esther de Monteflores is one of a tiny handful of circus performers in the USA specializing in slackwire walking. In her work, Esther seeks a balance between technical skill and expressive movement and her unique take on circus has been seen across North America. 

Esther’s recent touring credits include Cirque Mechanics (Las Vegas, NV), Bindlestiff Family Cirkus (New York, NY) and Circus Bella (San Francisco, CA). Esther’s work has received grant funding from 4Culture (Seattle, WA) and Artist Trust (Washington State). Esther maintains a keen interest in building puppets and masks, enjoys commuting by bicycle and loves small, green, vintage mugs. 
www.estherdemonteflores.com
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