Sophie Latreille, founder, director and coach.

Hula hoops and other flow props, partner acrobatics/acroyoga, silks

Sophie has been a professional performing artist for over 20 years. She is also the co-founder and director of Mini Cirque and Fire Weavers. She has been teaching as well for over 20 years, first dance then circus arts. She has trained extensively in many types of movement arts including hula hoop dancing, poi spinning, fire dancing, ballet and contemporary dance, partner acrobatics, acroyoga and many other types of circus arts. She has won numerous awards and mentions, including first place in the National Busker Competition in the fire category and finalist in the multi-disciplinary category in 2005 and 2006 as well as special mention from Ottawa’s major Jim Watson for community contribution in 2015. Her shows have been performed throughout Ottawa and Montreal such as the Canadian Tulip festival, the Lumière festival, the Jazz Fest, Canada Day celebrations, Winterlude as well as major international events in several countries abroad.

Andrée Rainville, head coach

Silks, Trapeze, prop manipulation, floor gymnastics

Andrée is an actor and a multidisciplinary circus performer. She has been part of the circus school team since the beginning. Graduate with a B.A in Arts, with a minor in French Literature and a specialisation in Theatre at Ottawa University she has been working in performing arts since 2007. In Theatre, she works with different companies around the region such as: (Théâtre La Catapulte, Créations in Vivo, Théâtre de l’île etc.) She has been teaching circus arts all around Ontario with CIV’s Artistes aux 4 coins program and coordinated the Circus Program at the Franco-Ontarian games for 6 years and teaching circus camps with Mini Cirque for 3 years. Former gymnast, with a background in clowning and Commedia, she now specializes in aerial arts, stilt walking and vertical dance all while having a very good base in other techniques such as juggling, acrobatics and balancing. Through the years, she has received many rewards for her work (Rideau Award for Female Actress of the year 2014-15) and she performed at many events and festivals such as : (Just for laughs festival, Winterlude, Grand Indonesia Mall Jakarta, Cirque du Soleil, Canada Day, Festibière, etc.). Andrée is very delighted to be part of the Ottawa Circus School Team!

Melanie Goguen, coach

Silks, trapeze, lyra

With a background including martial arts, yoga, dance, and theatre, Melanie feels that creative movement is a crucial part of keeping her life in balance. She loves to share the joy of circus arts with others through performance and instruction, specializing in aerial silks, trapeze, and lyra.

Melanie’s aerials practice came into focus in 2018 and in 2020 she started teaching her first classes with the Ottawa Circus School. In 2022 she also began performing professionally. Melanie believes there is something in circus arts for students of all levels and that it’s never too late to learn something new. She makes lessons flexible and fun to target students’ learning goals in a safe environment.

Ryan Lee, Coach

Trapeze, straps

Ryan Lee is a passionate circus artist with a deep commitment to helping others achieve their goals in the world of circus arts. With a versatile skill set that spans from aerial straps to flying trapeze and hand balancing, Ryan has been a pivotal figure in various prestigious circus programs across the globe. His expertise includes double trapeze, duo acro/porte, juggling, fire breathing/poi, and handstands, making him a well-rounded coach and performer.

Ryan’s journey in the circus world has been marked by significant roles over the last 10 years such as Flying Trapeze Head Coach at Club Med, Circus Coach and Performer at Creactive by Cirque Du Soleil & Club Med, Aerials and Trapeze Coach at Kutshers Sports Academy and Head Coach and Manager at Flying Monkeys Trapeze in Dublin, Ireland.

Claire Wang, coach

Trapeze, silks, lyra, floor gymnastics, diabolo

Claire started circus at 13, and has an extensive background in artistic gymnastics, dance, and contortion. Growing up, she also trained in rhythmic gymnastics, cheer, and figure skating. She attended l’École Nationale de Cirque in 2023 for the summer intensive program, and she trains in several disciplines including trapeze, aerial silks, hammock, lyra, corde lisse, straps, unicycle, diabolo, and tumbling. She began performing professionally in 2022, and began coaching in 2023. As a coach, Claire brings high-quality instruction along with a significant vocabulary in advanced-level skills, and she creates connections with her students to build a safe and empowering learning environment. Outside of circus, she is attending McGill University for a BSc in Kinesiology. 

Mahika De Léan, coach

Silks, props

Mahika was born and raised in Ottawa and is a proud bilingual Franco-Ontarian. She is currently attending De La Salle High School and is a part of their theatre program. She started circus arts at the age of nine with the Ottawa Circus School and now works as an aerial arts and props manipulation coach. Mahika also performs in aerial silks and hula hoops. Her main goal as a circus coach is to ensure that her students feel comfortable as well as safe, so they can find the same joy and sense of belonging that she finds through circus training.

Astyn Farell, coach

Lyra

Astyn has been training in circus arts with the Ottawa Circus School since 2020 and has taught beginner to advanced lyra to students of all ages. She trains in a variety of disciplines including contortion, tumbling, and aerial silks, and specializes in aerial hoop and hair suspension. In her own practice, Astyn applies knowledge and expertise from multiple disciplines and teachers to best learn, experiment, and discover how to maximize the full potential of an apparatus. As a coach she loves to share her passion in circus arts so that every student has fun and enjoys each class, prioritizing working together to achieve her students’ goals while ensuring training is done in a sustainable manner.