Meet the Team
Meet the team brought together by a genuine love of circus and everything that comes with it — creativity, movement, challenge, confidence and the excitement of learning something new. We each bring different skills, experience and personalities to Nottingham Circus Arts, but share the same passion for creating a welcoming space where people can explore what they’re capable of, develop at their own pace and enjoy being part of the circus community.
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Sara — Senior Instructor & Circus Practitioner
Sara discovered circus as an adult and quickly fell in love with it. With no background in gymnastics or dance and definitely no natural flexibility, she built her skills through determination, countless hours of training and taking every opportunity to learn.
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Over the years, Sara has trained across a wide range of aerial and circus disciplines and performed at shows, festivals and events. Although she enjoys performing, teaching is where her heart really lies.
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Alongside Nottingham Circus Arts, Sara teaches flexibility, conditioning and pole at Loughborough University and has also delivered aerial hoop workshops for the University of Nottingham.
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Sara leads Nottingham Circus Arts, our Youth Circus and safeguarding, while being involved in pretty much every aspect of circus life behind the scenes.
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Having grown up without access to opportunities like circus herself, she is passionate about making circus accessible to people from all backgrounds, helping them build confidence, develop their skills and discover what they're capable of.
Gareth — Lead Aerial Instructor & Professional Circus Artist
Gareth is a highly experienced professional circus artist and aerial instructor, with a career spanning performance and teaching across the UK and internationally.
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After studying Drama at Goldsmiths College, Gareth trained in Circus and Physical Theatre at Circomedia, developing expertise across a range of aerial disciplines and becoming particularly known for his work on Corde Lisse (vertical rope).
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His extensive performance career has included work with NoFit State Circus and Incandescence Circus Theatre, alongside cabaret, festivals, corporate and international performances. He has also appeared on the Royal Variety Show.
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As a teacher, Gareth has worked with leading circus schools including Circomedia, the National Centre for Circus Arts, DOCH in Sweden and the Tyuan school in China, as well as lecturing on the University of Derby's BA (Hons) Dance degree.
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Gareth has been a valued part of our circus community for many years and continues to share his extraordinary depth of knowledge and experience with our students.
Molly — Instructor & Professional Circus Artist
Molly is a Nottingham-based circus artist and instructor who has been part of our circus community since she was a young teenager, progressing from student to professionally trained circus artist and instructor.
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After developing her skills through the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) programme, Molly went on to study at the National Centre for Circus Arts in London, graduating with a BA (Hons) degree and developing experience across a range of circus disciplines.
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Since graduating, Molly has worked professionally as an aerialist, including performing aboard an MSC cruise ship across Europe and South America, gaining valuable experience within a professional performance environment.
Molly now brings that training and experience into her teaching at Nottingham Circus Arts, working with both young people and adults across aerial, acrobatics and flexibility.
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Having grown from a young circus student into a professional artist and instructor herself, Molly understands that journey firsthand and loves helping students build confidence, challenge themselves and discover what they're capable of.
Nicolette - Safeguarding & Community Support
Nicolette is mum to Addison, who has been training with Sara since 2022, and has been a familiar and much-loved part of our circus community ever since.
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Nic works with students at The University of Nottingham and is fully DBS checked, with experience in safeguarding, risk assessments and health and safety. She forms part of our safeguarding team, providing another trusted person students and families can approach if they ever have a concern.
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You'll also regularly find Nic helping behind the scenes, supporting us at events and attempting to capture the action with her camera — not always easy when circus performers refuse to stay still! Whether it's a student mastering something new or the team performing, you can guarantee she'll be one of the loudest cheers in the room.
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Having been part of our journey for several years, Nic brings both professional experience and a genuine understanding of the people, values and community that make Nottingham Circus Arts what it is, and is always ready to lend a hand when it's needed.
Natalie — Assistant & Developing Circus Artist
Natalie has been part of the circus world since she was seven years old, progressing from a young student through years of training to become a valued member of our assistant team. Her favourite disciplines are trapeze and aerial hoop.
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As part of her circus journey, Natalie gained a place on the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) programme and trained and performed at the National Centre for Circus Arts in London, exploring a range of disciplines and performance styles.
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Natalie has a natural way with our younger students. Her calm, gentle approach makes her particularly brilliant at supporting children who may be quieter, nervous or need a little extra reassurance, and you'll often find them naturally gravitating towards her.
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Alongside circus, Natalie has always been incredibly dedicated to her studies. Whatever direction she chooses next, we're very proud to have watched her grow from one of our young students into the wonderful assistant and young person she is today.
Amber — Assistant & Developing Circus Artist
Amber is a developing circus artist and a much-loved member of our team, with a particular passion for dance trapeze.
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After working hard to gain a place on the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) programme, Amber now combines her training at Nottingham Circus Arts with specialist training at the National Centre for Circus Arts in London.
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Dance trapeze is where you'll most often find her, trying or creating new moves and sequences and exploring movement through music. Her dedication has developed into a beautifully graceful style that is very much her own.
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Alongside her own training, Amber assists with several of our younger circus sessions, where her warm and encouraging nature makes her hugely popular with our students.
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Balancing circus with college and work within an after-school programme, Amber is a dedicated young artist and a wonderful part of our circus community.