American CircusFest
· Jury Members
American CircusFest 2026 Jury Members
CHARLIE BURROWS (United Kingdom)
A former competitive power tumbler, Charlie Burrows, competed in more than 20 World Championships and was a European Team Champion in 2006. After completing a degree in Business Management, he joined Cirque du Soleil as a performer. He appeared as an acrobat on a fast-track and a trampoline in La Nouba at Walt Disney World Resort.
Charlie later transitioned into casting, serving as Casting Advisor and Talent Scout for some of Cirque du Soleil’s most renowned productions worldwide. Now based in Las Vegas, Nevada, he holds the dual roles of Head of Scouting and Head of Casting for Resident Shows, two integral components of the company’s global casting operations.
REGINA BOUGLIONE (France)
Regina is a fifth-generation member of France’s premier circus dynasty, the Bouglione family, owners of Paris’s legendary Cirque d’Hiver—the world’s oldest and most beautiful permanent circus building, inaugurated in 1852. A versatile and accomplished artist, Regina has presented a wide range of acts throughout her distinguished career, performing both within her family’s circuses and in circuses and variety theatres across Europe. In the United States, she was featured in Feld Entertainment’s Barnum’s Kaleidoscape. Beyond her performance career, Regina is deeply involved in the creation of Cirque d’Hiver productions and is the creative force behind their renowned and magnificent costumes.
SARAH DAVISON (France)
A graduate of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Lyon in France, Sarah moved to the United States to join the original cast of Céline Dion’s A New Day…, produced in Las Vegas by Franco Dragone. While in Las Vegas, she discovered a passion for circus arts and went on to perform in Dragone’s Le Rêve, followed by Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis. In 2012, Sarah transitioned into casting with Cirque du Soleil, beginning as an Artistic Advisor before advancing to Head of Casting for the company’s Las Vegas resident shows. In 2021, she became Creative Manager for The Bourne Stuntacular in Orlando. Two years later, she joined Feld Entertainment as Director of Casting and Performance roles that, since early 2024, have also encompassed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
Frederico Reder is an internationally recognised artist, entrepreneur, and director. Beginning his career as a theatre actor at age nine, he later became the creator of the Doc Musical genre, blending live theatre with audiovisual storytelling. Founder of the award-winning Reder Circus, he has managed multiple theatres and circuses nationwide and received honours including the Picadeiro Award and the Governor’s Award. Frederico has served on juries for major circus festivals across the United States, Europe, and Latin America, and is proud to serve as a Jury Member of American CircusFest.
FABIO MONTICO (Italy)
Fabio Montico is President of the International Circus Festival of Italy, internationally recognised as one of the leading events in the world of circus arts. Raised in a circus family and inspired by his father, Giulio Montico, he founded the festival in 1999 in the city of Latina. Renamed in 2015, the festival has earned international recognition for artistic excellence and innovation, with its 27th edition scheduled for October 2026. Highly respected within the global circus community, Fabio Montico is known for his artistic vision, organisational expertise, and long-standing commitment to the advancement of circus arts worldwide.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Ian Garden Jr. was the former owner and producer of Garden Bros. Circus, Canada’s oldest and largest circus. Under his leadership, the company produced numerous landmark productions, including the first-ever circus presented at Toronto’s Skydome, The Ultimate Thrills Circus, and shows at Canada’s Wonderland, while also touring extensively throughout the United States.
Ian and Garden Bros. Circus were featured in the documentary series Circus and the A&E television movie P.T. Barnum (1999), starring Beau Bridges. Today, Ian is a leading circus producer in the U.S., creating productions for many of the country’s largest State Fairs, including The Big E, Miami-Dade Fair, Wisconsin State Fair, Illinois State Fair, Virginia State Fair, South Carolina State Fair, and other major venues.
