Meet Our Lead Instructors for RVA CIRCUS ARTS CAMP!

Heather Bailey: Aerial Arts

Heather Bailey founded Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus in 2010. She teaches the Host of Sparrows Aerial Silks Classes (both Beginning and Intermediate/Advanced) and Beginning Aerial Lyra at Soul Aerial, and is a certified aerial instructor and trained circus rigger. She performs solo and duo aerial silks, aerial rope (corde de lisse), aerial lyra (aerial hoop), solo and duo static trapeze, stilt-walking, modern dance, duo pole, and as a living statue. Heather has experience teaching children, youth, high school, college, and adults, including special needs.

Jesse Joyner: Juggling

Jesse Joyner is a full-time professional juggler and entertainer based here in Richmond, VA. He travels nationwide as he speaks and performs at schools, libraries, festivals, and community events. Jesse started out as an entertainer with Paramount Parks and has since gone solo for the past decade with clients such as HBO, The Marine Corps Marathon, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He lives in the Laburnum Park neighborhood on Richmond’s Northside with his wife and two daughters. Read more about Jesse at www.JesseJoyner.com

Christopher Hudert: Clowning

Christopher Hudert is a versatile artist whose skills include script writing, sculpting, set and puppet construction, puppetry, clowning, stilt walking, juggling and much more. A 9 year veteran of Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus, Christopher has performed live for millions and appeared in TV shows, commercials, magazines and newspapers in both countries. He was Boss Clown for Ringling Bros. before leaving the show to join Master Puppeteer Terry Snyder in the creation of Applause Unlimited. He has returned to Clown College as an instructor and has given lectures and workshops on both clowning and puppetry throughout the country. 

Heidi Rugg: Puppetry

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Heidi is on a mission to change the way people think about puppetry.  
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Heidi writes, builds, and directs shows for her company, Barefoot Puppet Theatre. She also performs and leads workshops on puppet building and puppetry skills for youth, adult hobbyists, and professional puppeteers. Her passion for combining science and puppetry has led her to expanding her practice as a teacher artist and advocating for arts integration. Puppeteering allows Heidi to integrate her fascination with stories, goofy voices, creativity, and writing with her love for art. Heidi has become well-known for her puppet voices, her innovative puppet mechanisms, and original designs.