CHICAGO'S NORTHERN MIDWEST REGIONALS JUDGES
Meet our awe inspiring judging panel filled with world renown performers and coaches!
Danny Trinidad
Born and based in Chicago, Danny grew up in the city’s rich basketball culture. In college he eventually found his way into theatre. As an actor he enjoyed facilitating his cast mates on stage and bringing scripts to life. Along with the rush of being vulnerable in front of a live audience, he says his favorite part of being a performer was that there’s no defense.
After deciding to major in theatre and minor in physical therapy he wanted to supplement his skillset as a performer and began to study improv, sketch, and stand up at Second City. Along the way he got coaxed into taking recreational tumbling classes to help him become a stunt performer. Eventually he saw an aerial class and found his passion.
Danny’s favorite part about being a circus artist is that it combines theatre and sports. The training, the teamwork, commitment to the act and finding moments of honesty with himself and the audience are what drives him every time he performs. His main goal is for the audience to have as much fun as he’s having.
His primary focuses are aerial straps, duo trapeze, physical theatre and partner acro. Some of his favorite projects include being a part of WildCard Circus, Clara’s Trip & Rouge (Caroline Calouche & Co), Piccolo Zoppe, Cabaret Zazou, Yes Ma’am Circus, & Purple Onyx Productions
Danny coaches aerial straps and duo trapeze at Chicago Center for Dynamic Circus and Get a Grip Trapeze.
Ashley Syvlester
Ashley Sylvester (Sylvi) is the owner and founder of Chicago Aerial Arts, the largest circus training facility in Chicago, dedicated to providing high-quality instruction for all bodies and skill levels. A lifelong performer, Ashley has been immersed in the performing arts since the age of six, with a background in dance and theater that eventually led her to discover her passion for circus arts in 2012.
She refined her craft at the Actors Gymnasium's Professional Circus Training Program, graduating in 2016 with a specialization in aerial sling and hula hooping. Her training has taken her across the globe, from Greece to Los Angeles, working with top industry professionals. In addition to her circus expertise, she is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance-certified instructor with additional certifications in Yoga Sculpt, Barre, Pilates, and Aerial Yoga. Her movement disciplines include aerial sling, lyra, silks, hula hoops, aerial yoga, dance, acrobatics, character acting, and fire performing.
Beyond Chicago Aerial Arts, Ashley is the artistic director and founder of Sylvi Circus Arts, a premier production company specializing in high-caliber entertainment for corporate and private events. She has performed for major clients such as the NFL, Green Day, and LinkedIn and regularly appears at Chicago venues, including Alhambra Palace, The Drifter, and Untitled Supper Club.
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Ashley is also a curator of aerial retreats, offering immersive training experiences in breathtaking destinations worldwide and in her own city of Chicago. Through her work as a performer, instructor, business owner, and retreat leader, she continues to inspire and elevate the circus arts community both locally and globally.
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@sylvi_cirque (IG)
Sebastian Rojas
Sebastian is one of the founders and co-owner of Celeste Aerial Arts. He started off as a martial artist in 2003 and began teaching after he obtained my black belt in 2008. Martial arts has given him an understanding of the body and awareness that easily translated to aerials. He found his passion for rope and straps and, over the past 8 years, has developed his own teaching style based on dynamic movement, body mechanics, sensations and exploration. Currently he travels all over the country offering workshops & performances. His goal has been to bring both of these apparatuses into the spotlight in the Detroit area.
Kristi Alyssa
Kristi Alyssa has been a circus artist for 17 years. She first found circus by joining the Gamma Phi Circus at Illinois State University. She later went on to graduate from NECCA (2012) and Aloft Circus Arts (2015) professional training programs. She specializes in lyra, duo lyra (with Chloe Zabicki) and single point trapeze.
Kristi is a highly in-demand instructor, director and choreographer in the Chicagoland area. She is the Director of the Professional Training Programs, Director of the Youth Program, Director of the Aloft Youth Ensemble, an instructor, performer, lightning designer and photographer at Aloft Circus Arts in Chicago, IL. She also performs and teaches lollipop (plyra), silks, spanish web, flexibility, juggling, pole, diabolo and more. Kristi is known as a director and choreographer who brings strong ensemble, narrative-based storytelling to the stage. Her work is rooted in emotion, story and character.
She is the founder and director of Reminiscent Circus (@reminiscentcircus) who are the creators of the contemporary circus show "Way Home" (premiered July 2024). She also directed "Somewhere Out There" (May 2023) and "All in Good Time" (May 2024) and is currently working on a new show centered around the roots of nature set to run June 2024.
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Kristi has a masters degree in clinical mental health. Alongside her circus career, she is a professional photographer (@kristialyssaphotos). She enjoys film acting (and was in AMC's Interview with the Vampire, 2022) , figure skating, traveling, her cats and Taylor Swift.
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@ kristialyssa (IG)
Sarah
Sarah is a Chicago based aerial artist, you may know her by her stage persona “Methos”.
Sarah’s zeal and passion for aerial and dance knows no bounds. While aerial hoop, sling and strap loops hold the biggest pieces of her heart, she’s also been known to dabble in silks, flying pole, trapeze, bungee, and rope and harness. As a performer and choreographer Sarah is known for her dynamic, musically driven acts with a special interest for the moments “in between”. She loves to explore the balance of tension and release, stretch and compression and shows up with fierce authenticity on stage.
Sarah has planted her aerial roots in Chicago for over a decade. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in dance from Western Michigan University she relocated to the Windy City to pursue all things dance, performance and choreography. She began her aerial journey with 5 seasons as a resident artist, instructor and choreographer with Aerial Dance Chicago. In 2016 Sarah became a founding member of Methos Aerial Arts, a passion project with other like minded aerial babes. She has also performed nationally with Redmoon Theater, Newmoon Chicago, Magnificent Events, Stage Factor, Aloft Circus Arts, Events by Nisar, Sylwester, and Volo Aerial Arts. Sarah has twice attended the Frequent Fliers Aerial Dance Festival, was an instructor at the inaugural Apogee Aerial Dance Festival and is looking forward to her first international training experience later this year. Look closely and you can also catch her in a couple of episodes as an aerialist in “Empire”! Currently, she frequently performs as a resident artist with Unbridled at Untitled and as a freelance solo artist.
In addition to performing Sarah is also an enthusiastic instructor. She has taught dance, aerial, gymnastics and yoga in various aspects throughout her career to kids and adults of all ages and levels. She holds multiple certifications in yoga, aerial yoga and aerial fitness and values every opportunity for continuing education and exposure as an instructor. You can find her most often at AIR Lincoln Park where she’s been a Master Trainer for ~8 years and absolutely loves supporting her AIR community and inviting new students in! Outside of all things aerial, Sarah also holds a muggle job as a project manager - both require a strong grip, a soft landing and a powerful sense of “the show must go on!”.​
Kalista Russel
Kalista Russell is a multidisciplinary circus artist and aerialist whose work blends grace, strength, and storytelling across a variety of mediums. With a foundation in primarily aerial hoop, rope, and straps, Kalista brings a versatile and theatrical presence to every performance.
Her recent work includes performing with Virgin Voyages aboard the Resilient Lady in the immersive shows Persephone and Lola’s Library, where she showcased her aerial and performing skills to international audiences. Prior to that, she appeared with WOW Entertainment’s Cirque International, captivating audiences with aerial hoop and duo straps, and with AIDA Cruises as part of Musical Dreams and Augenblick, presenting full-scale productions aboard the AIDA Bella.
Kalista’s career began in the Bay Area with Velocity Circus, performing at events ranging from street fairs to corporate galas. She honed her craft through years of training and performance, including graduating from the ProTrack Program at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), and training with skilled coaches from Montreal and Quebec City.
In competition, Kalista has consistently stood out. At VIVA Fest, she earned the CircusTalk Spotlight Award in 2023, along with first place in the aerial hoop emerging pro category and second place overall. She previously secured top honors in 2019 and 2018, underscoring her long-standing excellence in the field
Megan Mallouk
Megan Mallouk is a Chicago based circus artist and instructor specializing in lyra, aerial cube, and cloud swing. Megan’s performance career began in childhood where she competed nationally and internationally as a rhythmic gymnast. Her focus later shifted to theater, and she went on to obtain a B.A. in Theater from Lake Forest College.
Megan found her way to circus after taking a flying trapeze class on vacation. With its blend of athleticism and theatricality, she was hooked, and decided to pursue a career in circus. She went on to graduate from NECCA’s ProTrack Programs and AirCraft Circus’ Full Time Program in London.
As a performer, Megan has appeared in a wide variety of theater shows, circus cabarets, full length circus productions, and has appeared in tv and film. As an instructor, Megan’s unique movement research, adaptability, attention to technique, and extensive knowledge in active flexibility, have made her an asset on teams around the United States. She has taught as a core instructor at NECCA, Aloft Circus Arts, and The Actors Gymnasium, working with their professional training programs, has guest taught workshops across the US, and has been an Aerial Trainer for Royal Caribbean.
