​​​​Aisha Hetzel
Country: Germany 
Specialisation: Aerial rope  
Coach: Erik Kaiel 
E-Mail: aisha.hetzel@gmail.com 
Instagram: aishahetzel 

Biography:
Aisha Hetzel is a German circus artist specialising in aerial rope. She started her circus journey in the children's and youth circus Cabuwazi (Berlin), attended the circus school AFUK (Copenhagen) and is currently graduating from Codarts Circus Arts. In her work Aisha pursues a movement-centred approach, fascinated by the fusion of static and bungee rope techniques. Inspired by her deep connection to music, which stretches from her early childhood to the present day, Aisha finds a rhythm in every movement on the rope.  

Aisha's artistic work is fuelled by explorations of dynamic movement and abstract imagery and the pulsating rhythm of her own movement.  

Act: Entropie  
music by Theresa-Marie Hetzel  

A mesmerizing exploration of tension, release, and the fluid balance between control and freedom. The German rope artist Aisha Hetzel explores physical possibilities within dynamics, abstract positions and the unique dynamics of a bungee rope. In Entropie a playful yet profound game unfolds between control and letting go, tension and weightlessness. Accompanied by her sister Theresa on the electric violin, Entropie creates an intimate atmosphere in which movement and music merge seamlessly and create a world of their own.

Alejandro García Bustos

Country:          Mexico
Coach:             Noëmi Wagner
Discipline:       Trampoline
Email:               alejandrogarcia.acrobat@gmail.com
Instagram:       a.ocric

Biography

Alejandro García Bustos, born in Mexico City (1998), is a versatile acrobat who enjoys movement in all kinds of ways. At the age of 12 he met circus through juggling, clowning and floor acrobatics. Shortly after his first performance he was hooked. By the age of 19 Alejandro moved abroad to pursue his circus dream passing by Spain (circus school Carampa 2018-2020) and landing in the Netherlands (Codarts Rotterdam) where he currently resides. His ambitions revolve around creating circus performances that are inclusive, accessible and genuine. For him, being an artist with a platform is a privilege and a responsibility.

Act

Title: Comme une plume

Comme une plume is a contemporary circus performance that uses trampoline as the medium to tell a story about a certain individual. An individual that happens to exist under a transparent and heavy veil. The veil has been with him since the beginning of his existence, it affects the way he moves, the way he sees and the way he is seen.

How and or why are pointless questions to ask, the veil is part of his life and as such he will try to learn how to live with it.

Clara Köpf

Country: Germany/Iran
Specialization: Chinese pole
Coach: Lukas Karvelis
Email: info@clarakoepf.com
Instagram: clara_kopfi 

Biography:
Clara Köpf is an upcoming circus artist, specializing in Chinese pole. She grew up in Germany, with a mixed German and Persian heritage. After quitting gymnastics, her circus journey began in a small youth circus in Germany called Circus Compostelli. Clara is afraid of heights, so it might seem weird she chooses to fool around on a 6-meter-high pole, but she enjoys challenging herself and facing her fears. For the past four years she empowered her passion for circus during the studies at Codarts Circus Arts, to enter the professional field. She specialised in Chinese pole and applies her developed skills in hand balancing and acrobatics where she specialized in Chinese pole, alongside developing skills in hand balancing and acrobatics. 

Act:   

"For me as a woman, for you as people" 

 The act "For me as a woman, for you as people" is expressed by means of a Chinese pole , standing as a metaphor for gender equality, an aspect of the Irian society. The act is not meant to be a political statement that targets the situation in Iran. The topic rather serves as the motor of the artistic research. 

Clara did not want to make a piece that portraits the negative emotional relationship that she has with this topic. On the contrary, the act is a celebration of freedom, strength and femininity in the name of those who are not allowed to celebrate freely... 

Dimitri Landoz 

Country: France 
Specialization: Object manipulation 
Email: dimitri.landoz@gmail.com 
Instagram: @skinnydope 

Biography:
Dimitri Landoz grew up in France where he practised martial arts and dance. At the age of sixteen, he simultaneously discovered West African polyrhythms and juggling, for which he became passionate. After a brief stint in the environmental sector, Dimitri decided to devote himself to the performing arts. In 2020, he joined Codarts Circus Arts for a four-year course. 
Although he is a juggler, the very corporeal aspect of his technique is at the crossroads of dance and physical theatre. In autumn 2024 Dimitri will perform his solo on the first International New Acrobatic Theatre Festival in China. 

Act: 
Hypernuit 
On a hot summer's night, a stranger encounters a restless sleep. The improbable, absurd and melancholy actions of this protagonist make us question his true intentions. In this performance, singular object manipulation, dance and theatre techniques blend to take us to the frontier between waking and dreaming, the concrete and the intangible. A white fridge, the central object of the piece, is moved, animated and transformed, creating an intimate atmosphere with a graphic aesthetic. 

Hedvig and Karin Brodén

Country: Sweden 
Specialization: Partner acrobatics/Icarian 
Coaches: Noëmi Wagner & Darragh McLoughlin 
Email:
hedvig.broden@gmail.com 
karin.linnea.broden@gmail.com   
Instagram: @hedvigbroden @karinbroden 

Biography:
Hedvig and Karin Brodén are two Swedish circus artists, together forming a partner acrobatics duo. They have trained and performed together since childhood, when they joined the local youth circus and were enthralled by the magic of the circus community. After 26 years as twin sisters, they have built a tremendously strong bond both on and off stage. This they use together with their circus technique to entertain and connect with the audience. Their artistic work is driven by a love for humor, theatricality and absurdity, always with a desire to surprise and keep the audience on their toes. 

Act: 

I have something to tell her 

One microwave. Two sisters. And now what? 

This act is a journey of expectations, an adventure of the uncertain. With partner acrobatics as the main language, Karin and Hedvig invite you into their universe where the absurd meets reality, and where the sisters meet each other.  

Inés Fraile Bernabeu 

Country: Spain 
Specialization: Globe and partner acrobatics 
Coach: Gerindo Kartadinata 
Email: fbines.contact@gmail.com 
Instagram: @firenes 

Biography:
Inés Fraile Bernabeu discovered theater at the age of 5 being cast as ‘the Moon’ in a children's play and from that moment on she has not wanted to leave the stage, whether it is performing classical plays or urban dance. At 18 she discovered contemporary circus and this changed everything (or rather ‘combined everything’). She is the co-founder of MAYBE TAL VEZ where she wishes to explore tragicomedy in combination with globe and partner acrobatics, while further developing her interest in choreography and dramaturgy. She is also a writer and is trying to learn the ukulele with still very little success. 

Act: 

‘No rainbow for Rachel’ 

Rachel just wants to have fun (and if possible she wants to achieve her dreams too!) However, she tends to ruin her chances. So Rachel shouts, cries and falls all over the place wondering why she can’t reach over the rainbow, awakening laughter and empathy from her audience. In this circus and physical theater act using acrobatics and a globe, Inés explores the theme of failure with a bombastic character that experiences all the complicated emotions that come with failing.  

Johanna Marie Küster  

Country: Germany 
Specialisation: Applied acrobatics (acro-dance) 
Coach: Hanna De Vletter 
Email: johanna.kuester@posteo.de 
Instagram:@mosaiccircus 

Biography:
Born in Hannover, Germany, Johanna began gymnastics training at age six. As a teenager, she joined the youth dance company Ars Saltandi in Hildesheim, where she trained and performed for two years. She later left her science studies to join Berlin's vibrant circus community, exploring various disciplines before focusing on partner acrobatics. In 2020, Johanna began her studies at Codarts Circus Arts, specializing in acrodance. Her years in Rotterdam allowed her to explore her style and expression within and outside her discipline.  After graduating, she looks forward to collaborating with companies and collectives, combining floor and group acrobatics on stage. 

Act:

GREYSCALE 

GREYSCALE explores the duality between individuality and societal roles, navigating the grey area between control and surrender. Utilizing acrobatic movement, the act offers a space for the audience to reflect on the image of self we create to exist within professional spaces as a counterpoint to our authentic selves. By fostering empathy and introspection, the performance delves into the struggle of being oneself in a reality where we must fulfill roles and conform to expectations, creating a shared experience that connects with the audience.

In 'GREYSCALE', an intimate journey unfolds where external pressures and internal feelings collide. It delves into the delicate balance between the need for authenticity and conformity, the tension between compliance and rebellion against norms. In order to (re)discover ourselves, we have to take a courageous look behind artificial facades and confront our vulnerability. Through movement exploration and acrobatics between surrendering to gravity and resisting its pull, the contradictory voices of inner struggle are embodied. How can we maintain clarity amidst the (sometimes surreal) chaos of thoughts and feelings? GREYSCALE encourages non-judgmental introspection and invites us to engage with the complexity of our inner worlds in an intimate exploration of the human condition.. 

José Manuel Álvarez Serqueira 

Country: Chile
Specialization: Juggling
Coach: Tom Greder  
Email: alvarez.serqueira@gmail.com 
Instagram: josealser 

Biography:
José Álvarez is a Chilean circus artist. He started with theatre studies but realised that the circus fits his ambitions better. According to José, circus offers the opportunity to relate to reality in a different way. Being a popular artform, there are no precise definitions of how to do things, or how to see them. It's a free space, where everyone can find their way to express what they want to say, no matter how extravagant or different it may be. Circus does not accept discrimination of any kind. For José, circus is sharing, a horizontal space between artist and audience. 

Act: 

Petals 

Petals is a performance in which José, through juggling and red confetti, develops a curiosity that discovers different sensations and ways to relate to the audience. Using elements of clowning and circus techniques, José discusses how curiosity drives us to discover different ways to express who we are and who we would like to be. Always with the ultimate goal of sharing it with the observer. Through humour and complicity, Petals seeks to break the fourth wall by integrating the audience's impulses into the scenic development of the act. 

Lena Kautz

Country: Germany 
Specialization: Object manipulation 
Coach: Gaëlle Coppée 
Email: lena.kautz@gmx.de 
Instagram: lenakautz_ 

Biography:
Lena Kautz is a circus artist from Germany who makes text driven and humorous work. Her artistic practice is direct and relatable. To engage the audience with topics she believes are important to address, Lena is using juggling technique, alongside text and scenography. Lena started juggling in a youth circus in Cologne and after obtaining her bachelors degree at Codarts Circus Arts in Rotterdam, Lena aims to continue the research she initiated during her studies in the coming years towards a more inclusive and transdisciplinary understanding of performance. 

Act:

Plums and T 

The act “Plums and T” narrates a story about dizziness, transitioning from a societal feeling to a physical state. For Lena Kautz, it revolves around (having to) assert herself. The act delves into the loss of control, Lena’s relationship with herself and the bond with her grandmother.   

On stage: a carpet, a microphone and juggling balls.   

She speaks about belonging and failing. She speaks about feeling nauseous after spinning on the swing in her grandmother's garden. 

Lola Husson

Country: France 
Specialization: Aerial hoop
Coach: Aurelia Brailowsky 
Email: lolajeannehusson@gmail.com 

Biography:
Lola Husson, born in 1999 in northern France, is a circus artist. She will graduate from Codarts Circus Arts in 2024, specializing in aerial hoop. She started with modern jazz and contemporary dance when at an earlier age. Later she discovered circus arts with the Isis company as an amateur and developed a passion for aerial hoop. Lola trained for two years at the Jules Verne Circus School in Amiens before coming to Codarts. There she began to explore the aspects of theater in her performances, blending them with aerial hoop. 

Act:

"La belle chute"  

A woman, Olga, from elsewhere, perhaps with a shattered destiny, slips under the soft light on the stage for a moment. Accompanied by her motorcycle helmet and her hoop, she is lulled by timeless music that carries her into another world. Belonging to the memory of a memory. Perhaps of a circus or that of her childhood? With her heart beating between dance, acrobatics, and aerial hoop, Olga soars to meet the audience. The act depicts Olga's chaotic journey as she discovers who she is, what she is capable of, while staging the quest for identity and hoping that this will reignite the stars. 

Lotte Sterringa

Country: The Netherlands  
Specialization: Cyr wheel  
Coach: Bas Kortmann  
Email: ljsterringa@gmail.com  
Instagram: @why.so.cyrious 

Biography:
Lotte Sterringa is a circus maker from the Netherlands that specializes in Cyr Wheel. She likes to use the word ‘wheel dancer’ to describe her circus discipline.  
After completing a bachelor's in scenography, Lotte started her second bachelor's in Codarts Circus Arts, which she will finish this year. Her background in scenography inspired her to make visual and aesthetically pleasing work related to space and surroundings. She likes to challenge herself by transforming everyday spaces into stages and using them in an unconventional way. Her concepts are created by observing architectural elements and shifting into the perspective of the viewer. 

Act:

Outside in 

This piece is about seeing space differently than we normally do. Outside in invites the audience to break away from their daily view of the inside and outside world. Using a large wheel as a guide, Lotte Sterringa invites you to go on a journey and explore and discover different spaces. How does a large round object move through the angular architecture we are surrounded by? And where would she be when she is wandering around out of our sight? 

Oscar Cartwright

Country: United Kingdom  
Specialisation: Tightwire, Partner acrobatics  
Coach: Luc van Esch  
Email: oscarcartwright@hotmail.com 
Instagram: @oscarcartwright 

Biography:

Oscar Cartwright initially didn’t like the circus, he thought it was full of grumpy clowns and idiots on tightropes. So, when at 17 his mum bought tickets to go see contemporary circus, you could imagine his disappointment. Little did she know it would speak to him like no other art had and for the next six years with the help of Carampa (Madrid) and Codarts Circus Arts, he has worked hard to become that idiot on the tightrope. He is co-founder of company MAYBE TAL VEZ and looks forward to the creation of its first show, which explores the fear of failure. 

Act:

The Death of an actor 

Thomas is an actor of the highest degree, or so he tells himself, though reality tells a sadder story: of a washed-up actor far passed his prime struggling to make ends meet, as he makes a last-ditch attempt at a theatrical comeback. He literally can’t afford to fail, yet not even half-way into Act 2 Scene 2 it quickly becomes apparent there’s no way he’s going to succeed. You would say he was dying on stage but even that he can’t seem to do… By combining physical theatre, text and tightwire Oscar explores the themes of failure and self-destruction. 

Susana González Blanco

Country: Spain 
Specialization: Dance trapeze 
Coach: Hanna de Vletter 
Email; susaina97@gmail.com 
Instagram: @uve_devulva 

Biography:
Susana González Blanco, a Spanish circus artist, discovered her passion for the circus at the age of 18 through a connection with the squat community and social movements. After exploring various disciplines, she completed her studies in Codarts Circus Arts, focusing on dance-trapeze and object manipulation with a ball, typical of rhythmic gymnastics. After her journey, Susana now particularly values the circus community itself. Her artistic vision is imbued with feminism and accessibility. With a diverse life trajectory, Susana finds her place on stage and in life through theater and humour.  

Act:

Susanna’s text-based performance integrates elements such as single-point trapeze and theater, with a special focus on character development and circus. It explores themes like power dynamics, insecurity, and the fundamental longing for connection. You can witness Susana navigating a spectrum of emotions and situations, from unwavering confidence to vulnerability. 

Using humour as a powerful tool, this piece offers a narrative aimed at connecting with the audience and resonating on an emotional level.