The staff of Trapeze Arts is uniquely international, drawing on a wide experience base. Our instructors have been performers, teachers and even riggers with circuses around the world. We teach Circus beginners to performing professionals. Juggle on the ground or soar with the greatest of ease knowing that the TAI staff place your safety first. All of our staff are available for private lessons.

Here you can meet our department heads and lead instructors. We also have a talented group of part-time staff to help students of all levels and ages get the most out of their experiences at Trapeze Arts.

Stephan Gaudreau

Artistic Director

Stephan Gaudreau, Owner, President and Artistic Director of Trapeze Arts, Inc. is a professional flying trapeze artist. He originally taught circus skills including the Flying Trapeze, as an instructor for Club Med. After teaching for 6 years, he decided to proceed with a professional performing career. He was hired as the lead flyer with the Flying Angels Troupe at Circus Circus in Reno, Nevada, because he is one of only a select few who have accomplished the triple somersault. He has also performed with a number of other flying trapeze acts around the world and in the United States. In September of 1992, he was recruited by the San Francisco School of Circus Arts to formalize and direct a Flying Trapeze program.

Trapeze Arts Incorporated, now in its 15th year, under the artistic directorship of Stephan Gaudreau, continues to teach flying trapeze and other circus arts to adults and children. In addition to classes at the Oakland and Lake Tahoe facilities, Trapeze Arts teaches trapeze and circus arts for corporate events, birthday parties, after school programs, and youth camps.

Stephan continues to perform on the Flying Trapeze. Stephan and Trapeze Arts Incorporated have performed for audiences such as the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Warner Bros., NASCAR, KQED, USAA, the Television Critics Association Press Tour, American Express, Bechtel, Club Med, the California Kidsfaire, the Crucible's Fire Arts Festival, and the Boise River Festival.

In addition to the recreational aspect of the Flying Trapeze Program, many of Stephan's students are now working in the professional Circus world with Cirque du Soleil, Cirque de la Mer, Velocity Circus, Flynn Creek Circus and more.

Janene Davis

Director of School

Janene Davis is in her element when she's sailing through the air. A former nationally prominent equestrian, Janene has taught adults and children in a variety of circus arts for over 15 years. She has also performed flying trapeze and other aerial arts in countries all over the world. Janene's lofty accomplishments include the founding of an aerial arts performance company, Les Aerielles, that provides entertainment for a wide range of Bay Area clubs and events. Known also for her dramatic solo and double static trapeze acts, Janene is a gifted, versatile and visionary aerialist. She joined the staff of Trapeze Arts in 2003 and assumed directorship of the school shortly thereafter.

For more information about Les Aerielles, visit www.lesaerielles.com.

Hélène Turcotte

Aerial Instructor

Born in Canada, Hélène Turcotte graduated from the Montreal National Circus School in 1989. Together with her partner Luc Martin they created a very innovative trapeze duet "Mouvance", which is choreographed as a passionate aerial tango. Their wonderful act received numerous international awards, among which a Gold Medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris in 1989, and a Silver Clown at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo in 1997. For over 19 years, Hélène and Luc have been touring Europe and Australia, in the best theaters, circuses, varietés and TV shows. Here in USA, they performed at David Letterman's "Late Show" and for five years at the famous dinner-theater "Teatro ZinZanni" as the closing act. Hélène has produced and directed several cabaret shows in the Bay Area and choreographed for Teatro Zinzanni. She has judged three international circus competitions in Paris. Hélène joined the teaching team at Trapeze Arts in May 2007.

Blaze Birge

Static Trapeze, Aerial Silks and Rope

Blaze came to the world of circus in a unique fashion. After receiving degrees in Philosophy and Visual Arts, Blaze decided she wanted a complete change of lifestyle and took an apprenticeship with a 5th generation Romanian circus family!! She was trained in 'old world' traditions on all aspects of circus life from trapeze to stake pounding. Using her new-found skills and knowledge on European Circus tours, Blaze continued to perform and train in aerial arts. Since California was her home, she eventually returned with the intent of laying the foundation for what would become her own professional performing circus company, Flynn Creek Circus. In addition to owning and operating her own performance company, Blaze continues to teach aerial arts and choreography for professional circus performers as well as sharing her knowledge with students studying circus arts recreationally. We are thrilled to have her back at Trapeze Arts, where she was on staff before leaving for her European tour.

Emily Phillips

Head of Trampoline Program

Emily grew up in the Northwest as a competitive gymnast. She graduated from high school as the class valedictorian and made a smooth transition to running hurdles, which landed her a Division I Athletic Scholarship to Portland State University. She graduated with a degree in Psychology and Professional Writing. Throughout college she continued in the sport of gymnastics as a coach for students of all ages at the prestigious Multnomah Athletic Club.

Emily joined the staff of Trapeze Arts in the summer of 2009 to lead the Trampoline and Tumble Track programs. In addition to those responsibilities, she is also the acrobatic coach for Les Aerielles, the youth performance company at Trapeze Arts, and she is part of the staff for flying trapeze classes and summer camps.