Our Instructors & Admin

Tanya Hoover has been part of the circus and entertainment world for over 30 years. Her performance career started with stunt water-skiing. Her love of performing let her to the wonderful world of circus. She has performed for audiences, such as Warner Bros., NASCAR, KQED, USAA, the Television Critics Association Press Tour, American Express, Bechtel, the California Kidsfaire, the Crucible’s Fire Arts Festival, Circus Waldissima, Treasure Island, Macy’s, ISF Event Empoweresque and the Boise River Festival. Tanya can be seen in multiple movies, tv, and music videos, as well as the flying and double trapeze music video for a novel/screenplay “House on Black Lake”. Tanya has been coaching for over 20 years. She is experienced on trapeze, lyra, hammock, silks and specializes in specialty apparatus. Tanya has coached gymnastics and is safety certified. She has been extensively trained in rigging by Ludwig Goppenhammer, 87 Eleven, and Braun Productions.

Leisha began her career as a highly competitive collegiate gymnast, after graduation, Leisha shifted her training to dance, trampoline, and tumbling. She danced professionally as part of an award winning Acrodance quartet before joining the original cast during creation of The Beatles, “Love” by Cirque du Soleil. She performed in several disciplines and characters over the course of 8 years there. Leisha was also pictured in the feature film by Cirque du Soleil, “World’s Away”. After “Love”, Leisha toured France with Cirque Borsberg performing Aerial Straps, Aerial Silks, and as a Magician’s Assistant. She returned to the US to tour with Amaluna on a freelance contract then joined Circus Kathmandu in Nepal as the onsite Artistic Director and Lead Trainer. Leisha has been a part of breaking two world records, worked in stunts on television and film, as well as having a rich performing and coaching career. Her festival coaching and judging credits include ACE, Aerialympics, Aerial Arts Association, and West Coach Aerial Art Festival. Leisha is most recently enjoying her work here at Trapeze Las Vegas where she coaches Aerial Arts, Acrobatics, Partnering, Handstands, and more. She is passionate about circus arts, coaching, and participating in student development!

Please stay tuned for Lin’s biography.

Stay tuned for Bird’s full biography.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Marco has been doing calisthenics since 2015 and started circus a little over a year ago. He is a physical education teacher for a local school and familiar with a variety of acrobatics. Marco teaches acrobatics at our Studio and also catches at our Flying Trapeze.

Lauren was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, where she studied classical ballet and was a competitive gymnast until graduating high school.  She discovered aerial arts through Project in Motion, in Las Cruces NM, while studying dance performance at New Mexico State University. As a company member of Project in Motion, Lauren performed in multiple cities throughout the US, taught aerial arts to local communities and served as an assistant artistic director for PIMs Kids Company. Along with performing and teaching aerial arts, Lauren has coached gymnastics for 10+ years and is a licensed Massage Therapist.

Joshua grew up in the circus. He has been a in competitive gymnast since the age of 5 and placed second in 110 hurdles in track for Nevada. After graduating with a 4.6, Josh joined TLV as a trampwall coach. In addition to trampwall being his favorite specialty, he is also training to be a stuntman.

Nick began his love affair with flying trapeze at San Diego’s Trapeze High in 2006. One class turned into 5 or 6, then the owners offered him a job and he never looked back. Nick has a background in theater and dance, natural fits for the unique opportunities a life in the circus offers. Having traveled all over the world with Cirque du Soleil, rock n’ roll, and theater companies Nick has finally settled down right here in Las Vegas. At TLV, you’ll usually find him working as a Biscuit (the person who works the board; it’s a circus thing). Nick says, “One of my favorite things is to take new students and teach them to challenge their limits.  Come on out with us, and we’ll show you just how deep this rabbit hole goes!”

Chris attended Illinois State University, majoring in Secondary Physics Education; where he also participated in the Gamma Phi Circus – one of only two collegiate circus programs in the United States. While at Gamma Phi, Chris learned and performed acts such as Flying Trapeze, Russian Swing, Teeterboard, Handbalancing, Trampoline, Russian bar, Juggling, and many others. After attending ISU as a student, Chris stayed on for a year as the assistant coach of the Gamma Phi Circus. Following that year, Chris performed as a flying trapeze artist for POP Circus, traveling throughout Japan. After the 9.0 earthquake, that show went on hiatus and Chris transitioned back to a teaching role at TSNY Chicago. His performance skills as an incredibly talented flying trapeze artist were still in demand and he was soon contacted by Cirque du Soleil to train as a backup flyer while performing at Circus Vargas. After two and a half years there, Cirque hired Chris as an acrobat for the show KA, where he currently performs right here in Las Vegas!

Richie Gaona, is a fourth generation circus performer and Stuntman. After debuting with his family, The Flying Gaonas, at the age of five, he has traveled the world working with circuses such as Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey, Circus Knie, and  The Big Apple Circus, to name a few. And trainer to CIRCUS OF THE STARS for 7 years. With over 45 years of experienced, Richie can train you in the art of flying trapeze, stationary trapeze, bungee trapeze, walking the high wire, trampoline and much more. On September 18, 2013 Richie was inducted into the World Acrobatics Society Gallery Of Legends Hall Of Fame. He has appeared in many major motion pictures over the years.

Pedro, the son of renowned high wire walker Pedro Sr., was exposed to the circus at a young age. After school, he trained on the low wire and trampoline before moving on to the high wire in high school. He has performed as a catcher for The Flying Españas. With his father on the high wire for Ringling Bros Circus’ Gunther Gebel-Williams Farewell Tour. Pedro went on to perform with his father and partner Luis Posso. The pair performed on the tour and went on to share their act in several other circuses and festivals throughout Europe. After 7 years of performing together, Pedro Jr. decided to branch out on his own and form his own act with partner Luis D. Acosta. Since then, he and Luis, along with Pedro’s wife Tatjana, have performed all over the world on some of the best shows in the business, including Circus Roncalli, Circus Krone, Big Apple Circus, Cirque Du Soleil, and many more. Their act has been honored with several awards, including the Coveted Silver Clown at the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo – a recognition that both Pedro Jr. and Luis Acosta share with their fathers. Pedro Jr. and his team present an unforgettable act that has been years in the making – literally.

Lisa was first drawn to the excitement of the flying trapeze in 1987, taking her first swing at Club Med in Copper Mountain, Colorado. Within a year, she grew from an eager student to instructor level. Lisa has a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from the University of Houston and has been previously safety-certified by the USAG. After 5 years of teaching circus skills at Club Med, Lisa and her partner Stephan had a 6-year career as professional aerialists, performing the flying trapeze, double trapeze, other aerial acts, and the Russian Swing all over the world. After starting a family, Lisa worked eight summers as Head of the Flying Trapeze at Country Roads Day Camp in New Jersey, overseeing 6 sessions per day, 5 days a week (thousands of happy kids).

Stephan joined Club Med in 1987 as a swimming instructor but it wasn’t long before he was drawn to the flying trapeze rig. He quickly became a catcher and was asked to move on as a Circus Instructor. Within a year he was leading his team in various resorts around the world and was eventually tasked with opening the very first circus program in Europe for Club Med. Running away and joining the circus seemed like the most obvious next step for Stephan and his partner Lisa. They went on to perform their acts all over the world including a long stint here in Las Vegas where they have elected to stay in their retirement from performing. After a few years sabbatical, he is back at it and eager to share his knowledge and passion for circus arts.

Casey grew up in Nebraska as a competitive gymnast and dancer. She toured the U.S. as a performer and assistant with Dance Caravan during her Junior year of high school. Casey earned a degree in Dance Performance at Oklahoma City University. She began her professional career in Branson, Mo. at the Shoji Tabuchi Show before moving to Vegas in 1996. Here, she has performed in EFX at the MGM Grand with Michael Crawford and David Cassidy, Imagine at Luxor, and Farrington’s original Show in the Sky at the Rio. Casey has been a choreographer’s assistant, gogo dancer, and event manager for several entertainment companies, as well as being trained in the static trapeze, Spanish Web, and Flying by Foy. She served as a swing in many of these shows, knowing up to 15 parts at one time. Her career took a turn to teaching once she had kids. She taught gymnastics and dance at Fern Adair Conservatory of Dance for 10 years and left there as the Director of the Gymnastics Department. When Fern Adair closed, her daughter found her love of the aerial arts, and TLV soon became their second home.

Noelle has been performing professionally since the age of three and juggling since she was twelve. She is an accomplished juggler, taught by her father while touring the world during his own performing career. Her favorite specialty is the Diabolo. Noelle performed world-wide for many years with a resident 8-year stint at the Excalibur hotel as part of the strolling program. After her performing days slowed down, she spent a few years as an event and food photographer for a local private chef and as a special events rep at MGM Grand. Noelle also has a varied skill background including special event production, photo and videography, music editing and is a self-professed geek.

Karen (Ren) ran away and joined the circus in 2012. Literally. While taking a break from her studies in textiles, clothing and design she enrolled in a class at the local circus gym and got hooked! Now she divides her time between circus and sewing. She also oversees our awesome Circus Camps as administrative coordinator.