Jennifer Curry Wingrove is the Director of Astraeus Aerial Dance Theatre and Executive Producer of Wingrove Studios Presents. Jennifer has been a professional dancer and choreographer for over 35 years. Renowned Ballerina of the California Ballet Company, Jennifer has performed a diverse repertoire of lead roles in her accomplished international ballet career. Jennifer has also worked extensively as performer and choreographer with such companies as San Diego Opera, Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles, Michigan State Opera Ballet, and Ballet El Paso. Furthermore, she has taught and choreographed for California Ballet School, Coronado School of the Arts, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Cathedral City Dance Program, and Aerial Revolution Entertainment. In her training, Jennifer was invited to study the ballet arts in Russia under the tutelage of the great Vakhtang Chabukiani, and completed a Certification of the Highest Degree. Currently, Jennifer has brought her ballet expertise into the air, and has not only become a professional aerialist, but an award-winning Producer, Choreographer, and Director. In 2015, Jennifer had the privilege to work closely with the celebrated Debra Brown of Cirque du Soleil. Jennifer can also be seen dancing in Coldplay’s music video “True Love”, as well as in the movie “Petals On the Wind”. Recently, Jennifer and her company Astraeus Aerial Dance Theatre earned Best of Fringe 2015, Outstanding World Premiere and Fringe Pick 2016, and Outstanding World Premiere & Outstanding Aerial or Circus Performance 2017. Jennifer graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California, San Diego. She is the founding photographer of Wingrove Studios Photography, and is the founder and owner of Pilates On Park in San Diego.
Hugo Carreon was born in Mexico City, trained and performed with the Ballet Universitario de Queretaro and the National School of Dance, where he performed leading roles in both ballet and modern works.
Mr. Carreón holds a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and a BFA degree in Musical Theater from United States International University where he was a principal dancer with the International Festival Ballet. He is founder of The San Diego Center 4 Massage Therapy, Currently he is a student of photography and film at the San Diego City College.
Mr. Carreón has also performed with Eugene Ballet in Oregon, Ballet de Guatemala, the San Diego Opera, California Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego, San Diego Ballet, Boston Ballet II Summer Performances and Sea World, among others.
His awards include a Tommy Award for Best Partner in San Diego and best Male Actor Award in a soap opera at USIU.
His Choreographic works includes: The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Human Rituals (coming of age), Other Feelings, Ego sum abbas from Carmina Burana, Romance, Danza ritual del fuego, City Street at Sea World, among other works.
This will be Mr. Carreón's first collaboration with Astraeus.
Kiona Daelyn began dancing in Tucson, AZ with Funhouse Movement Theatre and O-T-O Dance as a dancer and aerialist. In 2009 she became a certified yoga instructor and in 2011 she graduated with a B.F.A in Dance Education from University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she performed under the direction of choreographers Silvana Cardell, Curt Haworth, Jennifer Binford-Johnson, and Elizabeth AuClair. Since moving to San Diego in late 2011, Kiona has performed with several choreographers including Angel Arambula, John Diaz, Regina Klenjoski, Zaquia Mahler-Salinas, John Malashock, Michael Mizerany, Khamla Somphanh, and Henry Torres.
Kiona is a founding company dancer and aerialist with Astraeus Aerial Dance Theatre where she also choreographs and does sound editing and design. Kiona is a freelance movement artist choreographing, performing and teaching dance, aerial arts, and yoga. She previously served three years as the Ballet Mistress and Master Teacher for Visionary School of the Performing Arts and is currently the Choreographer In Residence for Visionary Dance Theatre. She spends her free time volunteering for environmental and social justice organizations.
Laura Dasi has been a performing artist for over 30 years. In June 2014 she appeared as a contestant on season 9 of America’s Got Talent, where she amazed and inspired millions of people across the world not only with her aerial performance but by sharing her story of overcoming difficulty to follow her passion and pursue her dreams. A native of San Diego, Laura is a former classical ballerina and enjoyed a professional dance career in New York City for 7 years. After retiring from the stage and becoming a mother, Laura turned her attention to yoga and has been a certified yoga instructor for 13 years. In January 2011 Laura ventured into circus arts, focusing mainly on aerial silks and lyra, and felt an immediate natural inclination in this new endeavor. Drawing upon her extensive experience in dance and yoga, her skill level grew quickly. Laura continuously thrills audiences with her daring display of strength, agility, grace and passion while floating high above the ground. Often described as “ballet in the air” Laura feels aerial arts is where she truly excels and that she has found the perfect form of creative expression. Laura played the role of Sabine in the award winning production of “Save My Soul”, performed at the San Diego International Fringe Festival in 2015. She is also a talented seamstress, designing and constructing most of the costumes for Astraeus Aerial Dance Theater.
Cecilia Goodman is a performer with Astraeus Aerial Dance Theatre. She is trained in aerial acrobatics specializing in corde lisse and aerial silks. Her background in fitness, martial arts and dance has enabled her to pursue a passionate and fulfilling career in aerial arts. Cecilia holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from San Diego State University and has been a licensed massage therapist for 15 years.
As a founding performer in Astraeus Aerial Dance Theatre, her choreography and performance was featured in the award winning Save My Soul production; which took "Best of Fringe" at the 2015 San Diego Fringe Festival, Mythos: Opening Pandora's Box, and Echoes of Gallows Hill.
Cecilia continues to challenge her athleticism and artistry in each piece she executes. She also performs with Aerial Revolution Entertainment and Aerial Couture in San Diego.
Zoё Irvine is circus performer and educator specializing in static and dance trapeze. Zoë’s background in dance, theater, and music led her to venture into circus arts in 2011. Her training brought her to Montréal, Canada and to École Léotard where she worked extensively under the tutelage of renowned coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, Rachel Walker. In 2016, her static trapeze act earned her a place as competition finalist and audience choice selection for Circus Star 2016 in Los Angeles, CA. She has performed for Montréal Complètement Cirque, an annual international circus festival, and she was the static trapeze finalist for the 2014 Denver Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival. Zoë has worked extensively as performer with such companies as Aerial Revolution Entertainment, Background Productions, Champagne Creative, The Circus Collective of San Diego, Imagination Entertainment, Lindley-Lopez Productions and Nomad Artz. She has performed at events for corporate clients such as Sony, Intel, San Diego Chargers, Pearson, W Hotels, and Fashion Week San Diego. Currently, she is a company member of the award-winning circus troupe, Astraeus Aerial Dance Theatre, performing in the past two productions, “MYTHOS: Opening Pandora’s Box” and “Echoes of Gallows Hill”. Zoë is committed to advancing circus arts within the community. She has served on the board of directors for the Circus Collective of San Diego and volunteered for the national non-profit Circus Now as a member of the Women & Circus Team. Currently, she is a company member and coach for Fern Street Circus, a non-profit dedicated to bringing circus arts to San Diego’s families and neighborhoods. Prior to her circus career, Zoë received her Bachelor of Arts in History of Art from Haverford College, and a Master’s degree from San Diego State University in Cognitive Neuroscience.
Derek Meadows grew up in Dallas, TX. He spent his childhood training gymnastics at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy. After attending Wheaton College, where he lettered in two collegiate sports, Football and Diving, he moved to Los Angeles to perform as a trampolinist in The Parade of Roses. He was also a participant on Season 8 of American Ninja Warrior. Since moving to San Diego, he began training as a Hand-Balancer under the tutelage of Yuval Ayalon. Most recently, he will join the San Diego Opera in its latest opera, Turandot. He will also be performing at Sea World this summer in the Cirque Electrique show.
THE ARTISTS
