 Dan Butler, Founder and Executive Director. Dan walked into the Big Top of Sailor Circus in Sarasota, Florida, as a 15-year-old in 1974, and trained with world-renowned flyer Faye Alexander, Willie Edelston of the Ringling Brothers Circus and Gustino Loyal of the famous Loyal-Ripenski Troupe. He was with the Florida State University Circus from 1976-1980, while majoring in marketing and finance. Dan also coaches the Swinging Trapeze, Double & French Trapezes, Teeterboard, Adagio, and Shoot Thru Ladder acts at Circus Juventas. |
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Elizabeth "Betty" Butler, Founder and Artistic Director. Betty began her circus training in 1972, also with Sailor Circus, working with the famous Flying Wallenda Family on the high wire. Later, she performed with Florida State University’s Flying High Circus and graduated with a degree in International Business and Italian. Betty has been the creative force behind all of the summer productions - producing, writing and directing the shows, and coordinating all aspects of the productions, from costuming to music to makeup. |
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Tim Carlson, Flying Trapeze, Wire, and Russian Bar coach and CJ Head Rigger.  Tim Carlson began his circus career with the Sailor Circus in Sarasota, Florida (1987-1997) and then toured through Japan, performing on the flying trapeze and high wire. Tim is also a Guinness World Record holder with Wallenda Family Entertainment, performing the 4-tiered, 8-person pyramid on the high wire. Tim worked as the head rigger for Walt Disney World Entertainment and as an artistic show rigger for Cirque du Soleil’s “O” show at the Bellagio. |
Rhiannon Fisk, Assistant Artistic Director.
Rhiannon graduated from the University of MN – Twin Cities with a degree in theatre arts in 2002 and has remained actively involved in the local theatre and music scenes ever since. Currently, she keeps busy in her time away from CJ as owner and operator of her small craft business, backstagecrafts, and as lead vocalist and lyricist of local band Lingua Luna. Rhiannon has enjoyed applying her background in experimental theatre to the world of circus arts at Circus Juventas since October of 2006. |
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Kasey Scarpello |
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Kasey Scarpello, School Administrator.
Kasey is originally from Omaha, NE, where she went to the University of Nebraska at Omaha and graduated first with a degree in Secondary Education and then with a Masters in Theatre. An Equity Stage Manager, Kasey worked several years as Production Manager and Director of Education for the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival in addition to stage managing. She joined the Circus Juventas staff in August of 2007. |
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Nicole Arne, Assistant School Administrator Nicole Lahoz Arne received her BA in studio art from Macalester College in 2006. Since then, she's enjoyed having her hands in all too many pies while painting, schlepping artful fare, and continuing to study toward an MA in Arts and Cultural Management at St. Mary's University of MN, which she completed in the Spring of 2009. During her time there, she developed a love for the performing arts through internships with the Southern Theater and the Walker Art Center. She's thrilled to be a new addition to the Circus Juventas troupe! |
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Emily Janssen, Assistant School Administrator Emily grew up in Upstate New York and came to Minnesota to go to St. Olaf College. She has spent most of her career advocating for homeless youth and working with youth workers. In 2005, Emily returned to New York and worked for the national oral history project StoryCorps, recording the stories of everyday people and doing community outreach to organizations across the country. Among other things, she recorded interviews on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona, the stories of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees in Houston, and survivors of 9/11 in New York. She returned to Minnesota a couple years ago to work again with homeless youth, and is now excited to be working at the circus. |
Kim Thompson, Assistant to Dan Butler CEO and Founder.
Kim is originally from Guthrie, Oklahoma where she attended University of Central Oklahoma at Edmond and graduated with a degree in communications. Kim has worked several years as a Special Event Assistant for a local special event company. She joined the Circus Juventas staff in December of 2008. |
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