Keep checking back as we update this page with more instructors for 2018.
This year's festival is in the loving memory of Linda Farkas
It is with deep sadness that we report the passing away of Linda Farkis of Magma Fire Theater. Linda was not only an amazing dancer, performer and artist, but she was also a gentle and kind mother, wife and an inspiration to many all over the world. Linda pushed the boundaries of fire performance and art and shone joy and wonder on all who saw her perform. Our hearts and thoughts are with her family at this sad time. Much love to you Linda, go in peace.
Circus and Flow Artists
Jed Fowler - Dragon Staff - AUS
Jed has been fire spinning since 2002. What started as having some firey fun on a beach in Thailand quickly turned into a hunger to learn more about all the flow arts! Starting his time with tech poi, his attention soon shifted to contact staff, double contact staff then dragonstaff.
Over the last 15 years he has developed many innovative techniques across contact and dragon staff that are now taught worldwide. He has travelled the world learning, teaching and performing in countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Egypt, UK, USA and Canada, to name a few, with regular teaching and performing appearances in fire festivals Australia-wide. Jed started and continues to co-run Spunout festival in Perth, Australia; a fire festival that has just completed its 13th consecutive year.
He currently operates the dragonstaffshare youtube channel, which is dedicated to sharing new ideas, theories and content relating to dragonstaff. He runs and produces content for www.learnflowarts.com , which currently hosts many tutorials in the arts of double contact staff and dragonstaff, and researches specialist fire effects sold on www.theflowfx.com .
Over the last 15 years he has developed many innovative techniques across contact and dragon staff that are now taught worldwide. He has travelled the world learning, teaching and performing in countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Egypt, UK, USA and Canada, to name a few, with regular teaching and performing appearances in fire festivals Australia-wide. Jed started and continues to co-run Spunout festival in Perth, Australia; a fire festival that has just completed its 13th consecutive year.
He currently operates the dragonstaffshare youtube channel, which is dedicated to sharing new ideas, theories and content relating to dragonstaff. He runs and produces content for www.learnflowarts.com , which currently hosts many tutorials in the arts of double contact staff and dragonstaff, and researches specialist fire effects sold on www.theflowfx.com .
Tim Goddard - Poi - AUS
(Timmehtek) is internationally acclaimed as one of the top Poi Spinners in the world. A born and bred Radelaidian, Tim has performed and taught masterclasses at some of the biggest Flow Festivals and events around the world including Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, Fire Festival Korea, Psycusix camp out, Fire Drums, Kiev Fire Fest, Minsk fire festival, kinetic fire, and many more. An unmatched breadth of technical and practical poi knowledge.
Josh Smythe - Dragon staff, Staff, Swords, Tumbling
Some love clear cut planes, perfect lines, and synchronised, choreographed routines.
I am slightly different.
I prefer chaotic, spontaneous motion, explosive and unexpected changes of speed and direction, intuitive moments of spatial (and neural) exploration and collaboration. Wonky finesse for the win!
Some of the props I will be spinning/teaching: Dragon Staffs, Contact Staffs, Poi, Swords, Fans, Hackey Sacks, Rope Darts, Beatboxing / Throat Singing and Tumbling / Breakdancing.
The more experimental of my pursuits include Triple Dragon Staff, Contact Ropestaff, Fanteor, and Triple Tangles.
I will be teaching formally timetabled workshops, but as always in our lovely culture of sharing and learning, hit me up if you want to learn/share/jam/chat/hang! You can also follow me on Instagram: @jooshsmythe
I am slightly different.
I prefer chaotic, spontaneous motion, explosive and unexpected changes of speed and direction, intuitive moments of spatial (and neural) exploration and collaboration. Wonky finesse for the win!
Some of the props I will be spinning/teaching: Dragon Staffs, Contact Staffs, Poi, Swords, Fans, Hackey Sacks, Rope Darts, Beatboxing / Throat Singing and Tumbling / Breakdancing.
The more experimental of my pursuits include Triple Dragon Staff, Contact Ropestaff, Fanteor, and Triple Tangles.
I will be teaching formally timetabled workshops, but as always in our lovely culture of sharing and learning, hit me up if you want to learn/share/jam/chat/hang! You can also follow me on Instagram: @jooshsmythe
Pete "Lumos" Wyatt - Beginners Fire, Devil Sticks & Fire Zone
Lumos got involved 15 years ago as fire safety for his young son who was just getting into fire performing. He soon found himself spinning with him, many of the fire props we all had back then were pretty crappy and most of us are building much better and safer ones these days. Lumos hates to see his friends unnecessarily hurt on bad fire props so he is always part fire policeman.
Lumos loves BIG fire toys and makes or modifies all of his own gear. Sometimes ideas come to him out of the blue, other times he bounces ideas off of others to come up with great and scary new fire toys.
Devil sticks and flower sticks have been a favourite of his for many years. At the recent NZ Juggling Festival he was rejuvenated by a new angle on playing with devil sticks that he looks forward to sharing at Under the Spinfluence.
Lumos loves BIG fire toys and makes or modifies all of his own gear. Sometimes ideas come to him out of the blue, other times he bounces ideas off of others to come up with great and scary new fire toys.
Devil sticks and flower sticks have been a favourite of his for many years. At the recent NZ Juggling Festival he was rejuvenated by a new angle on playing with devil sticks that he looks forward to sharing at Under the Spinfluence.
Dorothy Phelan- Hoops - USA
Hi everyone, my name's Dotty and I am a hula hoop performer from the United States. I started hooping in 2011, and started spinning fire and performing shortly after. Although hoops are my main prop I like to spin almost anything, especially dragon and contact staff. I have been traveling, teaching workshops, busking and performing at festivals and parties for the past 2 years and could not be happier to have found the NZ circus and flow community.
Logan G - Juggling - USA
Logan G is a seasoned juggler of humble southern origins.
Having begun his juggling career in 2011 after a brief love affair with various flow arts, his pursuit of the perfect toss still shows no signs of slowing. He has pursued excellence in object manipulation, stilts, slackline, and the object of his greatest passion: fire juggling. His pursuits have found him teaching and performing extensively in the United States, New Zealand, and Central America, and at such esteemed festivals as PacFire, Spun Out, IJA, and many more! He has won multiple awards including Best Juggling Performance at the Central American Clown Convention and holds a strong claim to the well-contested title of "Tallest Fire Juggler in the World". Above all, Logan endeavors to spread the joy of juggling and the loving community of object manipulation to all those who might also find within it meaning, acceptance, and a warm embrace.
Having begun his juggling career in 2011 after a brief love affair with various flow arts, his pursuit of the perfect toss still shows no signs of slowing. He has pursued excellence in object manipulation, stilts, slackline, and the object of his greatest passion: fire juggling. His pursuits have found him teaching and performing extensively in the United States, New Zealand, and Central America, and at such esteemed festivals as PacFire, Spun Out, IJA, and many more! He has won multiple awards including Best Juggling Performance at the Central American Clown Convention and holds a strong claim to the well-contested title of "Tallest Fire Juggler in the World". Above all, Logan endeavors to spread the joy of juggling and the loving community of object manipulation to all those who might also find within it meaning, acceptance, and a warm embrace.
Sam O'Sullivan - Meditation
Experience mindful breathing - an opportunity to learn how to bring yourself into the moment, let go, and accept the world as it is. In the default world Sim becomes Sam: "Sam O'Sullivan | Clinical Psychologist" My passion in life is helping people to be their authentic self. I do this by connecting, teaching psychological skills, and helping individuals discover the solutions to their problems.
That Hoop Guy -USA
Mike (That Hoop Guy) has been hooping for over 8 years and in that time has fallen in love with hooping and teaching object manipulation technique. With his unique style and liquid flow he’s now taking his over 6 years of teaching experience to the flow community. His analytical teaching style informs intuitive, hard to explain concepts, through single technique-based breakdowns. With a successful international workshop portfolio:: Texas Flow Fest (2016), FLAME (2016, 2017), MOPS (2016, 2017), Spin All The Things Canada (2016) and Paris Hoop Convention (2017). Along with popular videos online, Mike hopes to help hoopers throughout the community expand their repertoire.
Along with years of teaching experience, Mike has also been performing for over 5 years. With his hooping skills and stilt walking antics, he has captured the mind of onlookers at such events as: Holland Street Performer Series (2012-2015), Electric Forest Festival (2013, 2014), Hyperion (2013, 2015) and Somerset Music Festival (2014) to name a few. He has hooped for major musical artists such as: Papadosio, Phuturprimitive, Shigeto, Dirtwire, The String Cheese Incident, Break Science, and Nhako.
Along with years of teaching experience, Mike has also been performing for over 5 years. With his hooping skills and stilt walking antics, he has captured the mind of onlookers at such events as: Holland Street Performer Series (2012-2015), Electric Forest Festival (2013, 2014), Hyperion (2013, 2015) and Somerset Music Festival (2014) to name a few. He has hooped for major musical artists such as: Papadosio, Phuturprimitive, Shigeto, Dirtwire, The String Cheese Incident, Break Science, and Nhako.
Mr Wizowski - Juggling & Clowning
Michael Armstrong aka Mr Wizowski has travelled around the world trying to expose himself to as many people as he can, and boy did they laugh. Especially at his balls. His Juggling balls. Mr Wizowski has performed his trademarked* comedic circus skills everywhere from the stage to the street, and from the circus to cruise ships. He is currently teaching at the Wellington Circus Trust and is bringing to UTS some special workshops to share his clowning and performance skills with you.
*Patent pending
*Patent pending
Steff - Hooping & Thai Yoga Massage
Steff is a Massage Therapist, Yoga Teacher, Hoop Dancer and Fire Pixie, hailing from Nelson, NZ. She loves hanging out at festivals meeting new folk, sharing, learning and growing. This year Steff will be holding a Hooping Workshop – The Eye of the Isolation, suitable for beginner-intermediate hoopers. She will be also be holding an introductory workshop into Thai Yoga Massage, combining passive yoga stretches with Acupressure massage points to re-balance and realign the body and mind. She also will be setting up a lil peaceful massage space for any niggles or imbalances you may need working on.
Xanthe Naylor - Poi Juggling & Passing
Xanthe Naylor is a half fire pixie, artist and aspiring fashion designer. Born in the depths of cold Dunedin spinning fire has become a way of life. She has been dedicated to practicing flow arts since 2009 and teaching since 2011. Her props range from Poi, Juggling, Hoop, and anything on fire. Xanthe has taught at many festivals throughout New Zealand like Luminate, Circulation, Under the Spinfluence, Twisted Frequencies, AUM, and recently taught across the ditch at Objectify 2015.
Along side Stephen Benge, Xanthe will be teaching a series of poi throwing techniques, ranging from beginner tosses to full on Poi juggling, and Poi passing.
Along side Stephen Benge, Xanthe will be teaching a series of poi throwing techniques, ranging from beginner tosses to full on Poi juggling, and Poi passing.
Sam Voadora - Fans - AUS
Voadora, brings back sass to the stage and to the flow classroom.
Coming from a gymnastics background, some Martial arts training (Capoeira - where Voadora comes from, meaning "flyer" in Portuguese) strength, grace and discipline define her flow style. A multiprop artist specialising in double staves, fans and hoops.
She has been spinning for 6 years, performing for 4 and teaching for the past year. Some of the festivals you may have seen her at - Rainbow Serpent, Splendour In The Grass, Subsonic, Boom, Dragon Dreaming, Defqon 1 and Sensations.
Her individual shows are unique and burlesque inspired, bringing sexy back to the circus. When working alongside the ever so talented Morphlo, together they are "BioLuminescence" their shows bring influences of dance from swing to hip hop to the stage with new chemistry not seen before
Coming from a gymnastics background, some Martial arts training (Capoeira - where Voadora comes from, meaning "flyer" in Portuguese) strength, grace and discipline define her flow style. A multiprop artist specialising in double staves, fans and hoops.
She has been spinning for 6 years, performing for 4 and teaching for the past year. Some of the festivals you may have seen her at - Rainbow Serpent, Splendour In The Grass, Subsonic, Boom, Dragon Dreaming, Defqon 1 and Sensations.
Her individual shows are unique and burlesque inspired, bringing sexy back to the circus. When working alongside the ever so talented Morphlo, together they are "BioLuminescence" their shows bring influences of dance from swing to hip hop to the stage with new chemistry not seen before
Anna Cruse - Acro
Co-ordinator of Silver Circle community circus acro in Auckland for 9 years, Anna has been enthusiastically (evangelistically) teaching beginner acro to anyone, regardless of age, fitness or ability, who comes within earshot for the past 7 years. She teaches twice weekly at Silver Circle, and has taught at two previous Spinfluence events, the last Juggling Festival and several other festivals, various circus workshops and community days, volunteering to be a playground attraction for kids to climb over at many community events, and even drunken parties.
Anna also can be found playing with whips and nunchucks, and can teach armed and unarmed stage combat, self-defense, bellydance (yes: acro, martial arts and dance are all closely connected), how to tear a phone book in half, how to have a cinderblock smashed on your abs with a sledgehammer, and how to set your hands on fire. She also knows some wonderfully dirty songs for later evening entertainment (ask about the Italian Jester). It is never too late to run off and join the circus! Come and have a go - it will change your life!
Anna will be back with UTS this year to teach her incredibly fun and amazing adagio workshops and a bonus class in How to Fall Without Hurting Yourself!
Anna also can be found playing with whips and nunchucks, and can teach armed and unarmed stage combat, self-defense, bellydance (yes: acro, martial arts and dance are all closely connected), how to tear a phone book in half, how to have a cinderblock smashed on your abs with a sledgehammer, and how to set your hands on fire. She also knows some wonderfully dirty songs for later evening entertainment (ask about the Italian Jester). It is never too late to run off and join the circus! Come and have a go - it will change your life!
Anna will be back with UTS this year to teach her incredibly fun and amazing adagio workshops and a bonus class in How to Fall Without Hurting Yourself!
Sophie deLightful - Cabaret - AUS
“One of Australia’s best cabaret voices” (Miss Friby), Sophie deLightful is classy yet brash, heavenly yet devilish, and all the time brimming with sparkles and glitter. In a world which judges all too quickly on swipe-left likability, this Melbourne-based cabaret performer and producer aims to teach that you shouldn't always judge a book by its dreadlocked cover.
Adaptable and reliable, Sophie has entertained audiences at festivals including Wide Open Space (Alice Springs), Rainbow Serpent (Victoria) and Boom Town (England). She has also produced her own sold-out productions under the Sophie deLightful Presents banner and works with a number of organisations as Creative Director for ongoing, cabaret-related projects. With her most recent Power Pussies series, she toured Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide and earned 5-star reviews as well as award nominations.
WORKSHOP INFO:
As part of the Wandering circus tour, Sophie deLightful will be offering workshops for people who love the spotlight - but don’t exactly know how to use it. Fine-tuning methods in audience interaction and the age-old art of heckling, these workshops aim to prepare budding MCs and hosts in bringing their own style to the stage while ensuring that the show must go on.
Also offering workshops in general cabaret and burlesque skills, Sophie deLightful can direct your desires from the slightly sexy to the downright devilish. Who do you want to be? How do you want to create that character? Where do you want to take them?
Group workshops and 1-on-1 consultations available.
Adaptable and reliable, Sophie has entertained audiences at festivals including Wide Open Space (Alice Springs), Rainbow Serpent (Victoria) and Boom Town (England). She has also produced her own sold-out productions under the Sophie deLightful Presents banner and works with a number of organisations as Creative Director for ongoing, cabaret-related projects. With her most recent Power Pussies series, she toured Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide and earned 5-star reviews as well as award nominations.
WORKSHOP INFO:
As part of the Wandering circus tour, Sophie deLightful will be offering workshops for people who love the spotlight - but don’t exactly know how to use it. Fine-tuning methods in audience interaction and the age-old art of heckling, these workshops aim to prepare budding MCs and hosts in bringing their own style to the stage while ensuring that the show must go on.
Also offering workshops in general cabaret and burlesque skills, Sophie deLightful can direct your desires from the slightly sexy to the downright devilish. Who do you want to be? How do you want to create that character? Where do you want to take them?
Group workshops and 1-on-1 consultations available.
Jared Cantell - Flow Arts (Australia)
Morphlo brings to the table, a changing and adaptive skill set based on 7 years of dance and 5 years of circus and flow arts to fit in well almost anywhere in the community.
From teaching workshops and performing at most festivals across the east coast of Australia, he's always happy to pass on any knowledge he has to help others up skill in their props like double staves, poi, hoop, contact and many more.
While working on his own shows, he likes to have the audiences smile in mind, to help him know he's on the right track. When working alongside the ever so talented Voadora, together they are "BioLuminescence" their shows bring influences of dance from swing to hip hop to the stage with new chemistry not seen before.
From teaching workshops and performing at most festivals across the east coast of Australia, he's always happy to pass on any knowledge he has to help others up skill in their props like double staves, poi, hoop, contact and many more.
While working on his own shows, he likes to have the audiences smile in mind, to help him know he's on the right track. When working alongside the ever so talented Voadora, together they are "BioLuminescence" their shows bring influences of dance from swing to hip hop to the stage with new chemistry not seen before.
Alice Maxwell - Contact Staff, Dragon-Staff, & Double Staff
Alice is a graphic designer, artist and performer based in Dunedin, with a passion for exploring different forms of creative expression.
Coming from a background in theater and dance, Alice met some fire spinners in late 2010 and fell in love - first with staff and then with the beautiful community that exists around fire, circus and object manipulation. It is a community which encourages growth, play, experimentation, sharing, acceptance and support and is strengthened by events like UTS.
She has been spinning since, picking up other types of types of staff (and staff-like objects) along the way - Dragon Staff, Fans, Swords, Double Staff, and recently Buugeng. Alice has performed and taught at festivals and events across the country, including Luminate and Circulation.
At Under The Spinfluence, Alice's workshops will include Beginners Dragon-Staff, Floor-work for Staff & Dragon and (co-teaching with Ryan Walker) Double Staff and Partner Dragon.
Coming from a background in theater and dance, Alice met some fire spinners in late 2010 and fell in love - first with staff and then with the beautiful community that exists around fire, circus and object manipulation. It is a community which encourages growth, play, experimentation, sharing, acceptance and support and is strengthened by events like UTS.
She has been spinning since, picking up other types of types of staff (and staff-like objects) along the way - Dragon Staff, Fans, Swords, Double Staff, and recently Buugeng. Alice has performed and taught at festivals and events across the country, including Luminate and Circulation.
At Under The Spinfluence, Alice's workshops will include Beginners Dragon-Staff, Floor-work for Staff & Dragon and (co-teaching with Ryan Walker) Double Staff and Partner Dragon.
Aerial Artists
Bethany St John - Aerials & Acrobatics
Coming from a background of trampolining, Beth has been training and teaching circus acrobatics and aerials for more than 4 years. She graduated from the Melbourne based Spin Circus Academy in 2014 where she focused on partner acrobatics and contortion. She has performed with Kelly Bros Circus and Circus Aotearoa in a variety of disciplines, including hand to hand acrobatics, aerial silks and cube, chair balancing and contortion. Catch her teaching at Under the Spinfluence before she heads off on tour with Circus Aotearoa next year.
Abigail Rose - Trapeze & Aerial Rope
Abigail Rose trained in multiple circus disciplines in New Zealand by Deborah Pope on Swinging Trapeze and then continued her training across Canada to New York, USA.
She has spent the past 8 years performing aerials across the Southern Hemisphere and running workshops in multiple schools and outreach programmes across Western Australia and South Africa. More recently performing at the Glastonbury Performing Arts Festival in the United Kingdom. Abigail specialises in Aerial Rope and Trapeze and has been working for Zip Zap Circus (Capetown) on multiple outreach projects during 2015.
Her acts will capture you through beauty and strength on the Corde Lisse and Trapeze. Taking many forms they will amaze any audience.
She has spent the past 8 years performing aerials across the Southern Hemisphere and running workshops in multiple schools and outreach programmes across Western Australia and South Africa. More recently performing at the Glastonbury Performing Arts Festival in the United Kingdom. Abigail specialises in Aerial Rope and Trapeze and has been working for Zip Zap Circus (Capetown) on multiple outreach projects during 2015.
Her acts will capture you through beauty and strength on the Corde Lisse and Trapeze. Taking many forms they will amaze any audience.
Nick "Taz" Davies - Aerial Straps & Hats
Nick Davies aka 'Taz' is a local Wellington circus performer and trainer. Expect an energetic and enthusiastic fella keen to share and collaborate! A passion for people and background in dance and physical movement blends through all his work.
Taz teaches at the Wellington Circus Trust and has a background with Circus Aotearoa, Slipstream Circus. He will be bringing his Aerial Straps and Hats. 'I love Under the Spinfluence! look forward to sharing with you all!'.
Taz teaches at the Wellington Circus Trust and has a background with Circus Aotearoa, Slipstream Circus. He will be bringing his Aerial Straps and Hats. 'I love Under the Spinfluence! look forward to sharing with you all!'.
Jaine Mieka - Lyra & Circus Hoop
Come and meet Jaine at the aerial rig for an introduction to solo and duo Lyra (aerial hoop). She will also be teaching circus style hula hoops for those of you wanting to work with multiple hoops and learn some other tricks that will make your brain hurt. Jaine has performed and taught circus arts extensively in NZ and Australia,
Jaine currently enjoys residing in Auckland and working with The Dust Palace Circus Theatre company.
Jaine currently enjoys residing in Auckland and working with The Dust Palace Circus Theatre company.
Jessie Carson - Dance Trapeze
Jessie has a wide variety of aerial skills, her favorites are dance trapeze and swinging trapeze. She has toured NZ with companies Fuse Circus and Circus Aotearoa as well as teaching at the Wellington Circus Hub and the Christchurch Circus Centre.
Jessie is now based in Australia where she has performed at the Melbourne Fringe Festival and has just completed a year of training at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne.
She is looking forward to sharing her knowledge with new and old students at UTS this year!
Jessie is now based in Australia where she has performed at the Melbourne Fringe Festival and has just completed a year of training at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne.
She is looking forward to sharing her knowledge with new and old students at UTS this year!
Mary Weir
Mary has been performing and teaching circus arts around the world since 2009. Career highlights include her current work as a physical theater performer with Playground Collective, in their environmentally and socially conscious production 'Rime of the Modern Mariner'. As well as teaching / mentoring young circus performers in one of Delhi's most notorious slums for Australian non-for-profit Vertical Circus. She is currently re-training as a multi-modal Arts Therapist and has a huge passion for the connectivity between creativity and psychology.
Twisty Twinz
Born into this world as identical twins, Jola and Nele began their strong physical and emotional bond in the womb, which continues in their play and work today. In 2002 they completed a diploma in Theatre and Performing Arts at Selwyn College (Auckland). In 2005 they completed a two-year Diploma in Circus Arts at Circo Arts (CPIT), specialising in partner acrobatics, aerial silk/sling and acrobatic stilt walking. Over the past ten years they have traveled extensively performing, training and teaching in New Zealand, Australia and Europe, working with a vast variety of artists and performers.
Jola & Nele Siezen are founding members of the Loons Circus Theatre Company, they are also Guiness world record holders (three people in a small box). The Twisty Twinz are now based in Nelson NZ- where they live and teach and perform when not on tour around the globe!
Jola & Nele Siezen are founding members of the Loons Circus Theatre Company, they are also Guiness world record holders (three people in a small box). The Twisty Twinz are now based in Nelson NZ- where they live and teach and perform when not on tour around the globe!
Musicians and DJs
Eli Joseph - Renegade MC
By day, Eli is a circus student who dreams of being an actual factual acrobat and aerialist.
But when the sun goes down (or the stage paint goes on), he becomes Victor! Nonsense spouting, cabaret MCing, boylesque dancin', stilt-walking weirdo for hire.
You may recognize him from Chur's XXX Bass at San Fran, or the Menagerie each month. He's very excited to being playing MC at this year's Under the Spinfluence, and will try to keep his clothes on while he's on stage.
But when the sun goes down (or the stage paint goes on), he becomes Victor! Nonsense spouting, cabaret MCing, boylesque dancin', stilt-walking weirdo for hire.
You may recognize him from Chur's XXX Bass at San Fran, or the Menagerie each month. He's very excited to being playing MC at this year's Under the Spinfluence, and will try to keep his clothes on while he's on stage.
Sunny Ray - Acoustic Soul/Folk/Roots
Sunshine beaming, soul light gleaming, magic, mischief and sass.
Powerful feminine songstress of hope, breathing love into hearts, with her musical Art,
weaving lyrical lines of conscious design with intent to bring joy. Oh boy.
Laying down rhythms to end all divisions, soulful and sweet,
Relax and Enjoy.
Powerful feminine songstress of hope, breathing love into hearts, with her musical Art,
weaving lyrical lines of conscious design with intent to bring joy. Oh boy.
Laying down rhythms to end all divisions, soulful and sweet,
Relax and Enjoy.
Matiu "The Hook" Te Huki - Reggae/Soulful Roots
Matiu Te Huki is known for his amazing vocal skills and energy, his ability to powerfully connect with and lifet a crwod with his mesmerising stage presence. As a singer songwriter, the soul stirring messages in Matiu's music are positive, inspiring, and unifying. Matiu's soulful roots music has a strong Maori flavour, using haka, chants, and traditional Maori instruments, backed by grabbing groves, deep beautifully crafted bass lines, funky rhythms, and magical melodies that stay with you well after the show ends. All held up by a pillar of Pacific passion.
Confusiohm (Connor Boyle) - DJ
There is a hunger in some, forcing them to consume vast oceans of pith to uncover a sliver of brilliance. Helpless but to tirelessly wander through dreary wastelands to patiently unearth the coveted truffles of inspired passion. It is a cursed life to have such an eye, a palate, an ear. The relationship of these few to satisfaction can swing and gnarl from obsessive and euphoric to bitter and gaunt, but the archived fruits of their tireless trials are treasures of human culture.
A librarian that supersedes registries: Confusiohm is a shaman of celebration, and an alchemist of atmosphere.
A librarian that supersedes registries: Confusiohm is a shaman of celebration, and an alchemist of atmosphere.
Paige Nicholai - DJ / Dance Party
Born into a musical generation defined by the rise of digital technology and motivated by a love for DIY: when DJs weren't playing the music Paige liked, she picked up the craft. When late night events were pushed back by local legislation she ran them out of warehouses and town houses on the fringe of the city and when the music she wanted to play didn't yet exist she learned to make it. Her sets are tributes to the weird underground, underlined with a love for bass you can feel and a radical enjoyment for her own unique slice of dance.
Crew
Firey Emz - Ticketing and Accommodation, Fans and Fire
Emma is co-director for Under the Spinfluence and CACTNZ and also organizing all your accommodation and ticketing needs.
Emma is passionate about community and supporting local home grown events and artists. She has been previously involved in organising Kiwiburn, New Zealand's regional burning man event and co-coordinated The Flaming Juggle Poi Toy Zone for Luminate 2013.
Emma is currently based in Queensland working with community groups and performing and supporting fire there at festivals such as Manifest 2014. She has both performed in and co-ordinated a range of shows of varying sizes in New Zealand, Australia and the UK including community and private performances with poi, fans and stilts
Emma is passionate about community and supporting local home grown events and artists. She has been previously involved in organising Kiwiburn, New Zealand's regional burning man event and co-coordinated The Flaming Juggle Poi Toy Zone for Luminate 2013.
Emma is currently based in Queensland working with community groups and performing and supporting fire there at festivals such as Manifest 2014. She has both performed in and co-ordinated a range of shows of varying sizes in New Zealand, Australia and the UK including community and private performances with poi, fans and stilts
Cherry - Promotion & Stage Manager
Cherry is passionate about circus aerials and trains at Wellington Circus Hub under ex-Cirque du Soleil performer, Rosalie Ducharme. Cherry has travelled overseas and trained at different circus schools in San Francisco, England and Australia. Her speciality is single point trapeze and you can often find her dancing around with her black trapeze ‘Thor’.
Cherry also founded Matchbox, a creative gift shop and gallery on quirky Cuba st and has ran it for over 4 years now. Matchbox has become a popular destination for Wellingtonians and travellers and is well known in the New Zealand art scene.
Cherry has a background in marketing and promotion and is looking forward to getting UTS 'out there'!
Cherry also founded Matchbox, a creative gift shop and gallery on quirky Cuba st and has ran it for over 4 years now. Matchbox has become a popular destination for Wellingtonians and travellers and is well known in the New Zealand art scene.
Cherry has a background in marketing and promotion and is looking forward to getting UTS 'out there'!
Frenchy - Site Manager, Hoopdance and Fire
Frenchy is a hoopdance and chakradance instructor, performer and project, event and festival organiser. Her true passions are fire, teaching, social circus and building tiny houses. She's travelled the world for her work and currently resides in her tiny house with her fluffy kitten in the bush in a lush valley in Wellington. When Frenchy is not organising things or teaching and performing you can find her walking in the bush, mountain biking, doing yoga and meditation, snowboarding, playing her guitar, hanging with her amazing friends, and going on adventures!
Siobhan - Youth Representative
Siobhan found her love for circus when she was quite young and became a regular at Wellington-based festivals, so it only makes sense she wants to introduce other young humans to the wide circus world. She is in love with kids and the community and is excited about what she’s going to continue to discover. Siobhan helped open and was on the BoT for a small community cafe called Homies Cosy Teahouse, and more recently volunteering with The Loki Lounge. She's been involved with other local projects and is always looking for new ways she can meet new people and learn from their experiences
Tania Whetu - Admin Queen
Tatiana Tornado spins up a storm onstage, whirling audiences into a frenzy with her dynamic acts. She has been performing for 7 years, using fire and glow, circus skills, burlesque and stilt-walking. During this time she has also taught hula hooping at schools, holiday programs and public events across New Zealand, and is passionate about sharing knowledge with the wider community. In addition to performing she manages Ebb and Flow Entertainment and works for a range of different festivals across the country as an event coordinator.
Twoflower Tourist - Workshop Coordinator
Twoflower Tourist eats food, breathes air for over 3 decades. When he's not busy being modest he loves playing with electronics and fire to create cool art. Using his technical know-how Twoflower has built his own flame thrower and awe-inspriing fire flower tornado. He is joining the UTS crew for the first time this year as our wonderful workshop coordinator.