American CircusFest
2026 Artists

Born in Veracruz-Llave in Mexico, Colombia comes from an old Mexican circus family. At age fifteen, she is already an accomplished artist with an international career. Presenting a spectacular rola-bola act, Colombia and has the particularity to be the only female performer who can balance on seven rollers! Since 2020, her outstanding act has become one of the star acts of El Circo de las Estrellas, a major Mexican circus.

A native of San Diego, California, Malena was born into a family of elite-level competitive gymnasts turned circus performers. She began training in aerial arts at age four and continued more intensively when her parents opened their studio, DeLeon Dynamics, in 2014. Malena won her first gold award at age nine, at the 2017 Viva Fest competition in Las Vegas. Among other awards, she won gold again, in the professional category this time, at the 2024 Viva Fest. Her act was directed by Aurelia Cats.

Cristian Bilea hails from Romania, and Nicole Bilea is a fifth-generation aerialist of English and Czech descent. Together, they form the Duo Devotion, and they have performed their spectacular aerial strap act all over the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, showcasing remarkable strength and elegance while narrating a beautiful love story.

A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Kirill moved with his parents to Florida in the United States at age ten. Falling in love with the circus, he then developed a unique rola-bola act with which he eventually established a few world records. Kirill has performed with Cirque du Soleil, among other companies, and has been a staple of Lone Star Circus resident show at Gaylord Texan Resort, near Dallas, TX, for the past five years.

Fourth generation of an Italian circus dynasty, Davis began performing at age seven, and worked with his father, the clown Valter Vassallo. Upon Valter's retirement, Davis went to work with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, where he met his partner, Ashley Vargas. Together, they have performed all over the world, including Circus Knie in Switzerland, Circus Nikulin in Moscow, the Chimelong circus festival in China, and the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo.

Hailing from Prague, Czech Republic, Emil and Vlastia Faltyny and their children — Vanessa, Emil Jr., and Adriana — are 5th and 6th generation circus artists who have all been trained in a variety of circus disciplines since an early age.

The Faltyny Family have performed their original act, which combines unicycling and juggling, all over Europe and the United States.

Edwin Yovany Méndez is a second-generation Colombian circus artist dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of circus performance. Specializing in the Aerial Rola Bola, as well as juggling and the Globe of Death, Edwin combines strength, precision, and artistry in every performance. Since arriving in the United States in 2014, he has performed with renowned circus companies including Cole Bros. Circus, Circus Vazquez, Carden International Circus, Cindy & Mickey Circus Spectacular, Wonderland Circus, and Flip Circus.

Dúo Resiliencia is an exceptional roller-skating duo from Cuba featuring Venus María Muñoz Morera and Manuel Alejandro Gil Hernández. Both are graduates of the National Circus School of Cuba (ENA) and bring more than 12 years of international experience, with performances across Cuba, Mexico, Qatar, Dubai, and the United States. Their credits include MSC Virtuosa, major resort venues in Mexico, U.S. state fairs, and productions with Lone Star Circus, Symphony Circus, and Busch Gardens' Cirque X-Scream Show, to name a few.

A first-generation circus artist, Julian McTaggart graduated from the New England Center for Circus Arts' ProTrack in 2021, and since then has performed in over 15 countries as a Straps Artist, Acrobatic Flyer, and character actor with companies like Dragone, Cirque Dreams, Circensia, Virgin Voyages, No Ceilings, and Kaleidoscope Entertainment. He has also developed original artistic work, which was presented at the VIVA Festival, earning Silver, the Judges' Choice Award, and the Cirque du Soleil Prize in 2023 and 2024.

The Maverick Riders were founded in 2001 by Bulgarian stunt-motorcycle rider Lyubo Karamitrev. This multinational group, composed of Lyubo Karamitrev, Neker Meza (Colombia), Antonio Verti (Mexico), and Daniel Egino (Argentina), has amazed audiences all over Canada and the United States with their dangerous stunts performed at breakneck speed inside a giant sphere of meshed steel. Since 2015, they have been featured in all Circus Vargas productions.

Michael Zorzan is fifth generation of a traditional Italian circus family. A talented juggler, he specialized in the difficult technique of diabolo juggling, a craft he has mastered, working with up to five diabolos simultaneously — a record in that specialty.

Michael has performed his act all over the world and has participated in major international circus festivals in Spain, Hungary (International Circus Festival of Budapest), Italy, and Belgium. He is presently featured in Circus Tihany's new production in Mexico.

Hailing from Québec, Canada, Philippe Bélanger and Marie-Lee Guilbert have performed their adagio on unicycle for more than a decade across the world, including in Cirque du Soleil's "Kooza" and "Volta", and on Broadway in "Paramour". They have also appeared on television in America's Got Talent (2015) and Tú sí que vales (Italy, 2017).

They won a Silver Award at the 2024 Las Vegas International Circus Festival, and an Elefant de Plata (Silver) at the 2025 Festival Internacional del Circ of Girona, Spain, and they are currently featured in Spiegelworld's popular show "Absinthe" in Las Vegas.

Ukrainian acrobats Oleksandr & Viktoria have been performing their hand-to-hand adagio for over three years. Through complex acrobatic elements and refined choreography, their lyrical performance explores connection, passion, and emotion.

They have appeared in several festivals across Europe and are now appearing for the first time in the United States, proudly representing Ukraine at the American CircusFest.

Frank Chapman began his aerial journey over 15 years ago as a stunt performer in Dallas, Texas. Self-taught and driven by raw passion, he transitioned into the world of traveling rings while serving in the Marines after relocating to Los Angeles.

He began training with fellow performers on Santa Monica Beach, honing his craft under open skies and salt-kissed winds. He is returning to California for American CircusFest.

Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, brothers Ricardo, Alejandro, and Cristian Rialcris are now Mexican citizens. They began working together in 1994 in Peru, and from there their career bloomed internationally across South America and Europe in circus and variété shows.

They have appeared on television most notably on Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde in France and America's Got Talent in the U.S. They are currently appearing in Las Vegas in WOW at the Rio and ROUGE at the Strat.

Uppsala-born Patrik Elmnert started juggling at age seven and quickly showed remarkable dispositions for the art. He trained under Jay Gilligan at Stockholm's University of Dance and Circus (DOCH), where he earned a bachelor's degree in Juggling.

Known for his complex and innovative work — especially with rings and clubs — Patrik performs tricks that are considered among the most advanced in the specialty. He has performed over 2,000 shows in Las Vegas in Spiegelworld's productions of Absinthe and Opium.

Patricio is a 5th generation member of one of the most prominent circus dynasties from Mexico, the Bells family. Despite his young age, Patricio has already performed in numerous circuses, including Ian Garden, Jr.'s Big Top Trio and Tarzan Zerbini Circus. He is presently featured in his own circus, the Great Joy Circus, which is touring in Texas.