What is CSAW?
Connecting Circus Students Around the World
OUR MISSION
CSAW (Connecting Circus Students Around the World) was founded in 2018 to increase the accessibility of information and funding for international circus artists and circus students. Through increase of knowledge, resources, community, and financial aid, CSAW strives to assist future generations of circus artists in finding the pathways best for them.
​
OUR VISION
CSAW’s vision is to encourage more circus students to pursue professional education in circus arts. While also encouraging more circus artists to pursue professional careers. The current barriers to this are accessibility of information, thoroughness of resources and financial obstacles that keep potentially incredible artists from pursuing the next stages of career development. Our vision is to steadily remove these barriers to stimulate and encourage more inclusive and representative circus schools and by extension, the circus world.
OUR PROGRAMS
CSAW offers financial aid opportunities to increase education and participation in circus to artists of color. Our current grant programs are the CSAW Microgrant Program for U.S. Circus Artists of Color the CSAW Tuition Grant for U.S. Circus Artists of Color and the CSAW Award for New Work by Circus Artists of Color at Cannonball Festival.
​
In addition to our grant programs, we also run the CSAW Ambassador Committee Initiative to appoint student representatives from international circus schools in order to help answer questions for potential attendees. CSAW Ambassadors are dedicated volunteers who support prospective students through applying, auditioning and attending circus schools.
​
CSAW Ambassadors have created resources such as the FAQ Series to help future students find the pathways best for them.
​
​
CSAW
Board Members
SIERRA RHOADES NICHOLLS
FOUNDER (2018-present) & ACTING BOARD PRESIDENT (2024-present)
​
Sierra Rhoades Nicholls (she/her) is the founder of CSAW and is stepping into this role as Acting Board President to help transition the new Board Officers into leadership. Sierra started CSAW in 2018 with the desire to help others find their way in circus. She has been blown away by all the support that the organization has received ever since.
Sierra has been turning herself upside-down for as long as she can remember. A lover of all things acrobatic and exhilarating, she trained as a gymnast her whole life and has fallen in love with standing on her hands. After growing up in Missoula, Montana, Sierra moved across the country to receive instruction from the Maine Circus Academy Professional Level Training Program for two years. She then went on to attend Circadium School of Contemporary Circus in Philadelphia, PA where she graduated in June 2021 with a double major in hand to hand and handstands as well as a minor in foot juggling.
Sierra is as passionate about training technically as she is artistically. Sierra has devoted her life to her craft. That devotion has led her to work with companies such as Circus Evo, The Tonight Show, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Le Nouveau Sud, ABCirque Productions, Cirqovations, Fred Garbo Inflatable Theatre Company and many more!
Sierra is also Co-Founder of brand new circus company Full Out Formula
​
ARIEL MIHIC
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT (2024-present) ​
​
Ariel Mihic (she/her) has a passion for adventure and an insatiable curiosity to live a life less ordinary. Ariel is Chinese/White, cis, hetero, middle-aged, able-bodied, childfree, and English speaking.
Since 2011 Ariel has been teaching handstands and partner acrobatics primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sonoma County. Acro is a practice that relies upon thoughtful communication, trust, and accountability; these values shape the way she trains and teaches. You can find info about training techniques and teaching schedule @precisionacrobatics Ariel also shares her love for handstand drills, knitting, and French Bulldogs on her personal page @invertedlifesf
Ariel is the founder of BACCES (BIPOC Acro Collective Care Ecosystem), an organization that aims to foster more BIPOC representation at partner acrobatic events and to cultivate more inclusive acro spaces (www.BACCES.org, @BIPOCacro)
Ariel is also part of the YogaSlackers group of teachers, sharing the modalities of AcroYoga/Partner Acrobatics, slackline yoga, handstands, and Thai massage.
Ariel has a Doctorate in Pharmacy and certifications in the following yoga disciplines: Ashtanga Yoga, AcroYoga, YogaSlackers, Thai Massage/Thai Foot Reflexology/Pranassage.
​
Ariel is in charge of CSAW partnerships. Interested in being a partner and collaborating with us? Email vicepresident@csawcircus.org
MONICA MARTELLY
BOARD SECRETARY (2024-present) ​
​
Born in Haiti, Monica is a vibrant and passionate purple-haired performer. They've been dancing since the age of 6 and haven't stopped since! They specialize in aerial hoop, dance trapeze, and a variety of dance styles. Combining their breadth of knowledge and expertise, Monica has created some truly unique and unprecedented aerial acts that combine their love of aerial arts with their treasured Haitian culture and heritage. Some of their other recent accomplishments include performing professionally with The Crux Collective in Atlanta, competing at VIVA Fest in Las Vegas, and most recently training and performing at Aloft's JOLT Summer Intensive in Chicago! They are plant-based in Atlanta with their two cats and loving partner.
​
You may recognize Monica as the Feburary 2024 CSAW Microgrant Awardee! Email Monica today at secreatry@csawcircus.org
.jpg)
JULIA MARCELIS
BOARD CO-TREASURER (2024-present) ​​
​
Julia Marcelis (they/them) is an aerialist, clown, and all around mover. A nationally ranked champion aerialist in silks and hoop, Julia loves creating impactful stories. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Julia has trained with Cirque du Soleil artists, clowns from Ringling Bros, and circus masters from all over the world since the age of 7. Their love of circus is matched only by their love of accounting, which was fostered at Babson College in Boston, MA. With a desire to tell inclusive stories, Julia is passionate about empowering artists to create authentic works of art. When not flying through the air or knee-deep in Excel spreadsheets, Julia is often walking through the woods or writing amateur poetry.
​
Julia helps lead the charge on all sponsorships. Want to sponsor CSAW today? Email treasurer@csawcircus.org
SHOSHANA LEVY
BOARD CO-TREASURER (2024-present) ​​
​
Shoshana Levy (they/she) is an aerialist and partner acrobat currently based in Chicago. They attended The Actors Gymnasium Professional Circus Training Program @actorsgym specializing in aerial rope. They are a ferocious tinkerer and innovator, always looking to expand the bounds of their craft.
Shoshana holds a degree in Business and Finance from the University of Richmond, and has nearly a decade of experience as a strategic consultant for financial service and governmental social service providers. They are passionate about increasing accessibility to career mentorship resources and financial literacy education.
Shoshana joins CSAW in 2024 and is excited to help break down financial barriers for artists pursuing circus arts and ensure artists have more tools at their disposal to build financial stability.
​
Shoshana helps lead the charge on all sponsorships. Want to sponsor CSAW today? Email treasurer@csawcircus.org
PREVIOUS TEAM MEMBERS
CHISAMA KU
GENERAL DIRECTOR (2021-2023)
​
Chisama Ku is an avid pole dancer from Atlanta, GA. She teaches pole and flexibility classes, is currently training on aerial rope and occasionally performs on a lyra pole.
Chisama Ku has extensive experience as an Arts Administrator working with non-profit music and dance organizations, from the Atlanta Dance & Music Academy to the Baryshnikov Arts Center in Hell’s Kitchen. Her passion lies in making all aspects of the performing arts more accessible for students of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, and believes that money should never be a barrier. She hopes to help broaden the conversation on who is allowed to be considered a circus artist.
​
Chisama Ku joined the CSAW Team in July 2021 and has been supporting CSAW endeavors ever since!
KEVIN FLANAGAN
TEAM MEMBER (2020 - present)
​
Kevin Flanagan is a classical guitarist turned circus artist from Bronxville, NY. His love of music started with his dad, who made sure that growing up sounded strange. He started taking guitar lessons at the age of ten and hasn't stopped playing since. Kevin followed his love of playing to Ithaca College where he first discovered circus. He graduated from Circadium School of Cotemporary Circus in 2021 specializing in unicycle, juggling and partner acrobatics.
​
​
Kevin joined the CSAW (Connecting Circus Students Around the World) team in 2020 in order to aid in providing financial aid to circus students.