
Anneliese!
I’m Anneliese Richardson (she/her), but most people call me Ani (On-ee). I’m 15 years old and I live in Mosier Oregon. I’ve been doing silks for about two years now, and have dipped my toes in trapeze and lira. Aside from doing aerial, I’m incredibly passionate about reading and writing, and I actually have two small published pieces of writing, which excites me all the more for the HupSquade blog! I also love skiing and acting, I’m on my school’s ski team and growing up in Oregon I have been skiing since I was a baby along with the fact that I’ve been in many plays, and am currently taking acting classes! I’m so so so so excited to join the squad and thank you so much for this opportunity!!!!!
Aodhan!
Hello, My name is Aodhan Lane. I am a 13 yr old circus artist from Cleveland, Georgia. I fell in love with the circus when I watched The Greatest Showman as a young child. I began taking circus art therapy when I was 8 years old at the Circus Arts Institute. During Covid, my life changed and I moved across the US briefly to Austin, TX, where I had the opportunity to attend the Uprise Circus Flying Trapeze program and several classes at Sky Candy. Now, I am back in Georgia, training at Akrosphere with one of my first coaches, Michael Edwards from Circus Arts Institute. Currently, I am a level 2 static trapeze artist and company member. I am also a student in the Academy of Clown Arts and Circus Smirkus summer camp in 2021. It is my dream to go to a circus college and be a part of a professional circus someday.
Outside of the circus training, I busk as a mime, create short films, homeschool, and am a working actor.
I am excited to be a part of the AYCO Hup Squad. As a person with disabilities, I hope that being a part of the squad that I am able to bring awareness to the benefits of circus for people like me.


Daisy:
Hi there! I’m Daisy, I’m 17 years old, and my pronouns are she/her. I live in Chicago and train at Aloft Circus Arts, Chicago Center for Dynamic Circus. I started doing aerials when I was about 3 and absolutely fell in love with silks. My favorite skills to train are silks, straps, and trampoline, but I work on a lot of other skills as well, including handstands, clown, and teeterboard. I love to train my circus skills, but I also love to teach, and currently teach silks and kids circus at Aloft Circus Arts. Even though I love my circus community in Chicago, I’m grateful to have trained in the summers with Circus Smirkus, San Diego Circus Center, and NECCA.
Emily:
My name is Emily Fulton (she/her) and I am a 16-year-old circus artist from New Hampshire. I have been training since 2017 and especially enjoy my time spent creating art with lyra, contortion, and hand-balancing. I have recently become fascinated by the rapidly-emerging field of circus films which lead me to become the Festival Assistant for the Circus International Film Festival. When not circusing, you will find me snuggling with my cats, reading tons of books, researching random fun facts, and trying new vegan recipes off the internet.


Emma:
Hello! My name is Emma Weill-Jones (she/her), I’m 13 years old, and I am from the crazy city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! I’ve been doing circus since I was 5 or 6 years old at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, and over the last few years I’ve also been taking lessons with a coach at a separate studio as well. I’m also a runner and dedicate a few days each week to go running with a program at my school! Running helps to engage the muscles that I don’t really use during circus, and I love how it lets me explore my community. I’m a bit of a generalist and focus a lot on fabric, but I also train on some other apparatuses, but I also do partner acro, contortion, unicycle, some wire, a little bit of juggling, and I’m always open to try something new. When I’m not in circus I’m usually doing homework or sleeping, but I also love horror movies, writing, journalism, STEM, and TV shows that I can binge watch in 2 days. I am so ecstatic to be a part of this year’s Hup Squad and what it will bring!
Laci:
Hi! My name is Laci (she/her) and I’m a 17 year old aerialist from Annapolis, Maryland. I’ve been training aerial once a week for almost four years now at Studio 180, now The Newman Dance Center, and additionally at Rise Above Aerial Arts. My favorite apparatus that I’ve only discovered this past year is trapeze, but sling is a close second. I also have basic skills on silks and on pole. My favorite skill to do on trapeze is an inverted Montreal! Other than aerial, I do pointe and ballet, enjoy art (drawing, painting, charcoal, and alcohol markers), hanging out with my dogs, and hope to join the women’s rowing team at Loyola next year. If you’re interested in following my circus and art journey, feel free to follow me on instagram @_freckledlemons. I’m so excited to be part of the Hup Squad and share my love of circus with everyone!


Lyra:
My name is Lyra Gross, I live in California, and I’m 16 years old. I’ve been doing circus since I was 7, and have been in hup squad for two years now. I practice circus arts at Le PeTiT CiRqUe and often travel for shows with them! My main disciplines are forms of aerial arts (Mostly hard apparatuses and straps) but I also love foot archery, juggling, acro, and fire spinning. Aside from circus arts I love to play piano and guitar as well as sing. I also just joined my school water polo team which has been a really fun experience since I haven’t done too many team sports before. I’m so excited for this year’s Hup Squad and can’t wait to see what awesome projects are going to be created with this team!
Olympia:
Hi! My name is Olympia Davis (she/her), and I am 15 years old. I have been training aerial for 5 years at Empowered Movement Aerial in Hood River, Oregon. My favorite apparatus is the static trapeze, but I also really enjoy silks. I have tried flying trapeze and love it, but unfortunately I don’t get to do it often because the closest location is four hours away. My favorite skill on silks is pillar splits, and chocolate croissant or flip to stand on trapeze! Other than aerial, I spend most of my time riding and caring for my horses, and baking! I am so excited to be part of the Hup Squad!


Sylvia:
Hi everyone! My name is Sylvia Faulk (she/her). I’m 12 years old and I live near Washington, DC. I started as an aerialist and circus performer when I was 8. I perform with the Trapeze School of New York, Washington DC Youth Circus Troupe. (Shout out to my TSNYDC pals!) My favorite apparatus right now is the Silks, but I also really enjoy Lyra. When I’m not doing Circus, I’m usually snuggling with my dogs or reading romance novels <3. My Insta is @supersylviestar.
Thayer:
Hello everyone! I’m Thayer and I use he/him pronouns. I’m 18 years old and living it up in Minneapolis, Minnesota! Circus has been a part of my life since 2016. Most (if not all) of my free time is spent Juggling and clowning around or something related to the arts. I work for a branch of the International Jugglers’ Association called the Youth Juggling Academy as a social media manager and graphic designer. Outside of circus arts, I am a senior at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists in the Theatre track. My favorite things to do when I’m not doing circus are theatre, show tech, visual arts, and learning about the world in general. I’m so thrilled to be a part of this team! My Instagram is @thayerslichter if you want to give me a follow and/or talk about juggling!


T’Kai:
Hello everyone! My name is T’kai (ta-kai), I am 17 years old and my pronouns are she/they. I live in Chicago IL and I attend Circesteem on the advanced troupe which is known as Team. This will sadly be my last year on Team because I am a senior in highschool. I have been practicing for 7 ish years now. And my favorite circus skill is balance on the rolla bola which I am now working on stacking them and doing more jumps with a jump rope on it. When I’m not doing circus I like to watch films, draw and listening to a ton of music. Feel free to follow me on my instagram @sinecidal I’m so excited to meet you all!