For 3 years I studied contemporary dance in London with the most incredible artists, but when I returned to my hometown I was clueless what was next. I had all this creativity but was at a loss where to place it... until I joined the circus.

I'd already spent 2 years training aerial, now I was introduced to clowning and soon fire. Initially I thought fire would make for a great 'additional skill' to be listed at the bottom of my CV, but once I started training, I knew this was what I should be doing and it's been my professional priority since 2018. Combining dance, fire manipulation and technical prop spinning I found Zehra. Circus has taken me around the world as a performer, choreographer and teaching sold out fire workshops.

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My aesthetic varies from the pastel romantic, elegant, theatrical and fetish. With extensive costumes to match most requests​​​, when I'm not accidentally super gluing rhinestones to myself, creating these costumes and acts are one of my favourite parts of my job. Although they are polar opposites, my biggest influences come from both the macabre and a dreamlike state; if I'm lucky enough an event calls for an unsettling combination of the two.

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Teaching continues to be one of the most joyful parts of my job. Despite how busy we are with work, performing can often be a very lonely career, so having that opportunity to slow down and get in to a studio with a group of people all with a shared interest makes my people person heart so happy!

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Toni x