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Board members 2022
1. Veneta Stefanova (Bulgaria)
Artistic Director and Art Manager STEFANI ART AGENCY
Producer and Impresario
Organizer of creative activities in the field of circus performances, concerts, events, international festivals and tours. Jury member of international circus festivals.
Circus acrobat (1990-2003) – Veneta worked around the world as an artist, including in the famous Ringling Barnum and Bailey Circus in the USA. In 2003, Veneta opened Stefani Art Agency with her husband Lachazar, which quickly rose to one of the world’s leading circus agencies, whose acts dominated many renown international shows and won many festivals, including the Festival International du Cirque de Monte Carlo. Veneta has decades of experience managing and providing award winning artists for small to large scale shows and events, such as dinner theatre, variete, contemporary and classical circuses under BigTop’s or on the theatre stages.
2. Jasmine Straga (Australia and New Zeland)
Jasmine sits on the Board of Directors of the Federation Mondiale du Cirque. She is the Founding Director of the Australian Circus Festival & J.S. Creations.
J.S. Creations is Australia’s leading creative direction and choreography company for circus performers wanting a career in European Circuses and Varieté.
The Australian Circus Festival is Australia’s first and only International circus competition and is hosted under 4 BigTops. It is the first festival in the world to celebrate Classical, Contemporary, Fringe, Social and Community Circus and was founded in 2013 and has now held 5 editions.
Prior to this Jasmine toured the world as a Contortionist, Aerialist and Dancer and went onto directing the Australian Institute of Circus Arts & Coffs Harbour PCYC Rhythmic Gymnastics Club from 2007-2010
She ran Gala Entertainment Management, during its time became the largest agency in the world during its time for Dancers, Circus Performers, Models & Musicians in San Diego catering to circuses, Casinos and Corporate Events. She closed the agency in 2013. She is currently also Marketing & Events Director for Action Reaction Entertainment and Action Education.
Her work as a director of the board for the World Circus Federation in Monaco includes: Raising awareness for Circus arts globally, working in fundraising events, and working on parliamentary inquiries to protect & promote Circus Arts. She’s also working with the FMC creating new initiatives with the Global Alliance of Circus Schools.
Jasmine sits on the Advisory board for the Ethiopian Circus Center, a new High Performance training center and theatre being built in Entoto Park, Addis Ababa.
3. Slava Nusinsky (Israel)
Founder and director of Dorato Circus in Israel.
President of Israeli International circus festival in Ashdod.
Slava Nusinsky is an acrobat, circus artist, founder of the Dorato Circus and circus school in Israel, whose artists performed and won prizes at the most famous International Circus Festivals in different countries.
In 2018 the act “Aerial ring”, performed by the artist of the Dorato circus won a bronze award on the New Generation International Festival in Monte Carlo.
Slava Nusinsky is the founder and organizer of the only International Circus Festival in Israel in Ashdod, which was attended by world-famous circus artists.
4. Sosina Wogayehu (Ethiopia)
CEO- Ethio Circus Entertainment
Sosina Wogayehu has almost 30 years of experience in the circus industry as a performer, director, trainer, producer and an international festival jury member.
Sosina is a graduate of Australia’s Swinburne University and Australia’s National Institute of Circus Arts .
After touring and performing since her early teens Sosina has been part of a number of leading companies as a skilled performer and as a member of the board of directors. Sosina is now based in her home country of Ethiopia where she is the founder and CEO of both Ethio Circus Entertainment and also the Ethiopian Circus Center, one of Africa’s very first purpose built circus training and performance facilities.
5. Oleg Zhovnir (Germany)
Director of the Artistic agency “OPALLA entertainment”
Education -The Russian Institute of Theatre Arts and State School of Circus and Variety Arts. Worked in Russian State Circus as a solo clown. Have been working in Germany for 30 years. Opened a circus school and artistic agency. Have created the clown variety show “Ukrainische nationalcircus” with which he received the Bronze Lion at the festival in Bucharest. Created the Gmünder weihnachtszirkus. Have created various shows for Serengeti Park iand Heide Park. Have been a jury member at many festivals.
6. Giulia Grassini (Italy)
Project manager of Atlante Servizi Culturali (Città di Castello, Italy). Since 2006 she has been working for Atlante Servizi Culturali, a cooperative in central Italy. She is specialised in accessibility of contemporary art, audience engagement and culture and musum-based social inclusion, thanks to the experience developed in the coordination of Creative Europe co-funded projects.
7. Petras Variakojis (Lithuania)
Lithuanian circus artist, founder, artistic director and director of VšĮ “Baltijos Cirkas” – aerial gymnast, trainer, clown at different stages of his career. A representative of one of the oldest Lithuanian circus dynasties.
In his professional career, he toured in Italy, Hungary, Romania, in the largest and most famous circuses of neighboring countries.
in 1994 He founded the professional organization “Baltijos Cirkas” in Lithuania.
Since 2007 – Member of the European Circus Association (Netherlands).
Since 2009 – Associations of theaters for children and youth. Asitežas Lithuania member.
in 2013 He founded a circus town in Kaunas, where “Chamber Circus”, circus studio “Kaunas Circus Art Academy” and “Clown Museum” are still operating.
in 2014 Kaunas City Award “Kindness Crystal” “For the integration of a young person into society and the development of community spirit”,
in 2018 Award of the National Circus of Ukraine “For significant contribution to the cultivation of circus art”.
8. Arthur Perici (Malta)
Director – Providing Project Management Services to support Local Councils, NGOs.
Formed part of the Organising Committee of the Maritime Senglea International Festival between 2010 and 2014. The festival celebrates authentic, traditional culture, bringing people together to honour the diversity of cultural expression and traditions. He has more than 20 years of experience in managing cultural events.
Head of Maltese delegation with the participation of Mnarja Folk Group (Gozo) in Lithuania.
9. Kestutis Stasys Jakstas (Lithuania)
Director-pedagogue of the Kaunas State Musical Theater, since 2010. Chief director of the Kaunas State Musical Theater.
Theater actor, film actor, host of events, announcer of commercials, dubbing of cartoons and movies.
2010 “Silver Crane” award in the nomination “best actor” for the role of Sylvester in the movie “Zero II”.
in 2010 “Golden Cross of the Stage” nomination in the best director category for the play “Mieloji Čariti”.
in 2020 II degree confluence badge of honor for special merits to Kaunas and Lithuania in the field of culture and art.
CIRCUS FESTIVAL LITHUANIA
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