ALOYSIA GAVRE
FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Aloysia Gavre began touring internationally with the Pickle Family Circus at just 18 years old after training under Master Lu-Yi of the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe and at École Nationale de Cirque. By 23, she joined Cirque du Soleil as an aerialist, performing in both Quidam and O in Las Vegas. During her time with Quidam, she appeared in more than 2,000 performances across 10 countries, and her aerial hoop act was selected to represent Cirque du Soleil at the prestigious International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, where she received special honors.
Her performance career beyond her tenure with Cirque du Soleil has included appearances in the film Water for Elephants, Teatro ZinZanni, and more than eight years touring internationally with major symphonies, including performances at the Sydney Opera House, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
After more than two decades performing worldwide, Aloysia shifted her focus toward creation, education, and directing, co-founding Cirque School and Troupe Vertigo alongside her partner Rex Camphuis. Through Cirque School’s philosophy of “Anybody with Any Body,” she remains committed to making circus arts accessible, inspiring, and community-driven.
Aloysia began her directing and choreography career in 2004 with Birdhouse Factory, a collaboration between Pickle Family Circus and Cirque Mechanics that later enjoyed a Off-Broadway run. She has since continued as an ongoing creative collaborator with Cirque Mechanics on numerous touring productions.
Her choreography and circus coaching credits include Pitch Perfect 2 for Rebel Wilson, Water for Elephants for Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz, Black Adam for Quintessa Swindell and coaching Andrea Martin for her Tony Award-winning role in Pippin. Additional projects include Eclipse Shadow Acrobatics & Dance, the PBS special A Symphonic Adventure, and numerous live theatrical productions and events.
Aloysia has presented lectures and demonstrations on circus creation for TEDx, Directors Lab West, Center Theatre Group, the Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival, and Viva Fest Las Vegas. She was featured in the book Ordinary Acrobat, appeared on the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine, and is a founding board member of the American Circus Alliance.
REX CAMPHUIS
FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rex Camphuis has worked across theater, film, television, and circus production since 1986. A graduate of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and the San Diego Junior Theatre training program, he later studied acting and directing at Cabrillo College while serving as stage manager for the Tandy Beal Dance Company. He went on to join Pickle Family Circus as stage manager for both national and international tours from 1992–1995.
In 1996, Rex moved to Los Angeles to work in film and television production, serving as Production Coordinator for the television series Felicity and Alias. During this time, he also served four years as Board President of Pasadena Junior Theater.
Rex later returned to circus and theater creation, co-directing and serving as Musical Director for Birdhouse Factory, a collaboration between Pickle Family Circus and Cirque Mechanics that later toured internationally and enjoyed a Broadway run. Additional directing and production credits include High Water Radio with the Tin Hat Trio, Elevation 63, and E63: Vertigo. He also served as Associate Producer and Sound Designer in Residence for Traveling Jewish Theatre, with credits including Rose and Death of a Salesman.
In 2009, Rex co-founded Troupe Vertigo alongside partner Aloysia Gavre, creating genre-defying circus-theater works including Big Top for a New Generation, NightHawks: A Film Noir Circus which both premiered at the Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles and Tableaux.
His film work also includes producing and directing documentary shorts for the Children's Defense Fund in collaboration with J. J. Abrams and Katie McGrath, contributing to Humor Abuse with Lorenzo Pisoni, and serving as Associate Producer on the award-winning short film One Armed Man directed by Tim Guinee.