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Who are we?
Rainbow circus came out of our passion for creating inclusive and affirming movement spaces that celebrated and witnessed people in their identities. While circus can be an incredibly inclusive and supporting space, we wanted a dedicated place for people, especially those less comfortable in movement spaces, to feel safe, seen, and celebrated as their authentic selves.
Central to our work are the values of dignity, creativity, and inclusivity.
We work to find ways to reduce barriers to accessing circus, while focusing on offering inclusive programming that promotes connection through creativity and is delivered with dignity.
We’re human first, which means all of our programming is offered with sustainability in mind. We pour from a full cup, taking care as needed. All of our program staff and coaches are paid a fair living wage, and we work to offer training and mentorship opportunities. We focus on hiring folks from marginalized and underrepresented communities, not for diversity stickers, but because we love them as humans and value the knowledge they bring to the room. We’re here to do the best we can while being accountable and responsible to learn from the mistakes we’ll inevitably make. Let there be glitter!
To learn more about us, check out our coaching philosophy, policies, or circus writing. Or better yet, come take one of our circus classes!
The humans behind the curtain
Jayeden Walker (she/they) – Program Director (AKA Chaos Coordinator)
Image description: A photo of Jayeden, a young white femme, leaning against a painted black fence. She has two braids in her sandy blonde hair, wears a pink crop top with the words “compassion squad”, and striped blue and white shorts. She looks playfully off to the side, a smile on her lips, a sparkly rhinestone stuck on each cheek. Around her neck, a rainbow bandanna is loosely tied.
Jayeden is a queer, neurodivergent circus artist with a specialty in aerial arts. She lives, plays, and creates in Toronto where she runs recreational circus programming from a trauma-informed, Queer, and Disability centered perspective. She has been coaching circus for over a decade and is also a professional circus artist and performer. When she’s not performing and creating, Jayeden works to promote inclusive, justice-focused arts and movement in her work with Reason d’etre dance productions and by serving on the board of directors for Hercinia Arts.
Jayeden began working as a gymnastics coach in 2011 at Head Over Heels Gymnastics and is an NCCP-trained gymnastics coach. She began her circus journey in 2012 with The Circus Company in Collingwood, Ontario, and worked at a variety of Toronto-based circus schools before starting Rainbow Circus. She has also spent time volunteering with Special Olympics as a ski coach. Her other training includes NCCP training in disability inclusion and concussion safety. Erin Ball’s Flying Footless: Disability in Circus training, Lacy Alna’s neuro-affirming trainings, and Jumpstart’s “Girls in Sport” and “Coaching All Abilities”.
She has an honours BA from the University of Toronto in equity studies and English literature, as well as a postgraduate diploma in Dance Movement Therapy from Dance Therapy Training Aotearoa.
Cameron Chapnick (they/them) -Circus Coach
Image Description: Cameron, a white nonbinary person in a colourful floral shirt, stands with their hands draped over a white aerial hoop suspended from the ceiling. They have a friendly and open look on their face, with a slight smile. Their hair is braided back on their head, ending in dyed pigtails. The background of the studio is full of sunlit plants.
Cameron is a queer aerialist and coach from Toronto who is passionate about creating inclusive spaces in circus. They believe every body is a circus body and love supporting students as they discover their strength, creativity, and joy in the air.
With over five years of circus experience, Cameron has taught a diverse array of students, from toddlers to adults. Cameron has completed training in Alixa Flexibility 1, Coaching All Abilities (Jumpstart), and Flying Footless: Disability in Circus. Additionally, they are a trained lifeguard with advanced first aid certifications.
In their other life as a UofT student, you can find them at Robarts Library attempting to answer questions such as “What is the best crosswalk button?” and “How can I make this about Degrassi?”
Rainbow Circus 