CIRQUE

Performing at the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway

Performing at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Norway

Birthday performance for His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama

Birthday performance for His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

I learned early that when you pursue your passions, no matter how random and unconventional, the world will reward your enthusiasm. That’s how my hooping career began. A personal challenge led to more goals, more opportunities, and more fulfilled dreams. I started at six and, by the time I was ten, I appeared on the local news and became the youngest certified hoop instructor in the United States. I joined an all-children humanitarian circus —Le Petit Cirque—when I was 13. Then there was no end of incredible, life-changing opportunities: from performing at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's global compassion summit, to traveling to Oslo, Norway to perform at the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, to teaching hoop tricks to the widow and daughters of Wham-O founder Spud Melin (who created the hula hoop in the 1950s), to raising money for more than a dozen worthy charities.

When I was little, people would often say, “That’s cool! But where can it lead?” Just wait, I thought. I’ll show you . . . .

Selected Photos and Videos

  • Gallery of photographs from some of my shows.

  • Video of fire hooping on the Utah Salt Flats with music by Jonah Borgenicht (4 mins)

  • Video of my performance with Le Petit Cirque at 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Oslo, Norway (5 mins)

  • Video of my solo performance to benefit UCI Mind and honor Maria Shriver & Suzy Melin, Newport Beach (3 mins)

  • Video of my performance with Le Petit Cirque at Place des Arts Theater, Montreal (3 mins)

  • Video at Oak Canyon Nature Center by Melissa Badamain (3 mins)

  • Video demonstrating my process for assembling professional hoops

Performances with Le Petit Cirque

2019

  • Performance at Young Artists Awards, Hollywood

  • Two performances at Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach (video)

2018

  • Private law firm holiday party, Los Angeles Zoo

  • A Team Annual Holiday Show, Le Studio

  • Performance at Miller Children’s Hospital, Long Beach

  • Two performances at Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach

  • Cirque du Tam Performance to benefit The Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Foundation, Coachella

  • Bar Mitzvah performance at Le Studio

  • 17th Annual Russian Arts and Culture Festival, West Hollywood

  • Private party, Belair

  • Two performances of MAGNIFICENT at Le Studio for Baby PJ's cranio-facial surgery

  • Performance at Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena

  • Performance at UCLA Gymnastics Meet, Westwood

  • Three performances at Bob Baker’s Marionette Theater

2017

  • Performance at Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Oslo, Norway

  • Performance at Miller Children’s Hospital, Long Beach

  • Dream Halloween for Starlight Children’s Foundation, Los Angeles

  • Two performances at Bob Baker’s Marionette Theater

  • Performance at Disneyland for Certiport Global Partner Summit

  • Two performances at Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach

  • Performance at National PTA Convention, Paris Las Vegas Hotel

  • Performance at Young Artist Awards, Glendale

  • Performances at opening ceremony for Pro Series at Viva Fest, Las Vegas

2016

  • Video appearance at Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Oslo, Norway

  • Performance at holiday party at Le Studio

  • Holiday party for Grant Thornton, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles

  • Holiday party for Valley Hunt Club, Pasadena

  • Dream Halloween for Starlight Children’s Foundation, Santa Monica

  • TuTu Foundation fundraiser, Armstrong Theater, Torrance

  • Grace Rose Foundation Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser, CBS Studios

  • A Team Annual Cirque Showcase, Le Studio

  • MemorialCare Health System All Hands Summit, Disneyland Hotel

  • LA Circus – Chester Cable 85th birthday celebration, Riverside

  • B Team Annual Cirque Showcase, Le Studio

  • National Youth Arts Awards, Westlake Village

  • What’s Up For Kids Family Expo and Camp Fair

2015

  • Two performances at holiday party at Le Studio

  • Holiday party for Spin Master, Culver City

  • Holiday party for Valley Hunt Club, Pasadena

  • Halloween party for Westwood Charter School

  • Cirque du Sukkot festival for American/Israeli Council, Woodland Hills

  • Performance at screening of The Flight Fantastic, Egyptian Theater, Hollywood

  • Opening Ceremony for California Games, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego

  • Two performances at the invitation of His Holiness The Dalai Lama at his global summit, University of California, Irvine

  • Six performances at Steve & Kate’s Camps, Los Angeles

  • Performance for Ometz charity, Place des Arts, Montreal, Canada

  • Performance for Camp del Corazon charity, Dolby Theater, Hollywood

  • Party for Warner Pacific Insurance Services at Disneyland Hotel

Other Performances

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

  • Meadows Elementary School Fall Winter Festival, Manhattan Beach

  • Ulympics Sports Day, Irvine

  • University Hills Fiesta Days, Irvine

  • Top of the World Elementary School, Laguna Beach

2015

  • Santa Ana Elks Club Charity performance to benefit the Tustin Area Woman’s Club

  • SEEDS program at Anneliese School, Laguna Beach

2014

2010

  • Annual Town Festival, Leiden, Netherlands

Humanitarian Organizations Supported   

  • California Games - Youth athletics

  • Camp del Corazon - Summer camp for children with heart disease

  • PJ’s Cirque - Children with Treacher Collins Syndrome

  • Grace Rose Foundation - Cystic Fibrosis research

  • His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama - Promotion of compassion and tolerance

  • Israeli-American Council - Strengthening ties between Israel and the US

  • LitLaguna - Supporting the Literary Arts in Laguna Beach

  • Miller’s Children’s Hospital - Care of terminally ill children

  • Nobel Institute - Promotion of world peace

  • Ometz - Children’s social services

  • Organizing Crew - Support for Democratic candidates for local offices in California

  • Starlight Children’s Foundation - Assistance to hospitalized children

  • Theresa A. Mike Foundation - Scholarships for Native American children

  • Tustin Area Woman’s Club - Southern California Philanthropic organization

  • TuTu Foundation - Subsidizing the arts for underprivileged children

  • UCI Mind Institute - Alzheimer’s research

Hooping Competitions

Hooping Education

  • Jul 2018 Instruction from Rachel Sullivan

  • Nov 2017 Instruction from Morgan Jenkins

  • Nov 2016 Instruction from Melissa Daly

  • Sep 2016 Instruction from Debra Lynne Brown, choreographer, Cirque du Soleil

  • Jun 2016 Workshop with Kay Dent

  • Nov 2015 Instruction from Zeph Robinson

  • Jun 2015 Workshop with Kay Dent and Zeph Robinson

  • May 2015 Instruction from Valentina Robinson

  • Mar 2015 Instruction from Chika Shin

  • Aug 2014 Fire Hooping workshop with Lila Margaux, Paris

  • Jun 2014 HoopDance 2 Certification class with Pamela Crawford

  • Jan 2014 Instruction from Chika Shin

  • Oct 2013 Workshop with Tiana Zoumer, Caterina Suttin, and Aileen Lawlor

  • Mar 2013 Workshop with Anah Reichenbach

  • Jul 2012 Awarded Instructor Certification for HoopDance by Hoopnotica

  • Jun 2012 HoopDance 1 Certification class with Pamela Crawford

  • Jan 2012 Workshop with Katie O’Brien Eychis of Hoopnotica

  • Nov 2009 Instruction from Kay Braun

Media

  • Jul 2019 Profiled in Stu News Laguna ARTICLE

  • Oct 2018 Profiled in Stu News Laguna ARTICLE

  • Jul 2018 Profiled in Stu News Laguna ARTICLE

  • Apr 2018 Profiled in Pegasus Magazine (p. 35) LINK

  • Dec 2017 Profiled in Stu News Laguna ARTICLE

  • Nov 2017 Profiled in Stu News Laguna ARTICLE

  • Aug 2017 Profiled on Sage Hill School website ARTICLE

  • Jul 2017 Profiled in Stu News Laguna ARTICLE

  • Dec 2016 Featured in The Values of Le PeTiT CiRqUe LINK

  • Oct 2016 Profiled on Sage Hill School website ARTICLE

  • Jul 2015 Interviewed by Tani Tinuviel, KUCI radio AUDIO

  • Jan 2010 Profiled in Orange County Register ARTICLE

 

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