Jeff Raz is the director of the Clown Conservatory at Circus Center, San Francisco, and the father of two boys at Paden School. In 2007, he toured the U.S. playing the lead role in Cirque du Soleil's Corteo.

Back by popular demand, Jason McPherson wowed the audience at our first show in 2004. He has toured internationally as the comic tailor in the premiere and encore tour of Cirque Ingenieux, as well as in numerous solo, ensemble, and review shows. He currently performs on cruise ships around the world.

Weng Xiao Hong was a member of the famed Nanjing Acrobatics Troupe in Nanjing, China, specializing in chair-balancing, Chinese poles, and hoop diving, among other acrobatic forms,. He has performed extensively in China and internationally including Circus Circus Hotel and Casino in Reno and Six Flags Magic Mountain. For the last 8 years, Xiao Hong has been a principle teacher at the Circus Center San Francisco. He is a regular member of the New Pickle Circus.

Jennings McGown teaches flying trapeze and trampoline, and performs with Weng Xiao Hong in a spectacular hand-to-hand balancing act that can often be seen with the New Pickle Circus and in various venues throughout the Bay Area. He has taught circus skills and flying trapeze at Club Med and currently teaches at Circus Center San Francisco.

Zaccho Dance Theater presents work that is content driven and integrates aerial flight and suspension as a way of expanding the dancers' spatial and dynamic range. Under the direction of choreographer Joanna Haigood, the company members collaborate in the creative process by contributing important conceptual and choreographic material. Since its inception in 2002, ZYC has performed at various venues and festivals throughout the Bay Area including Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Project Artaud Theater, Dance Palace in Point Reyes, the Discovery Museum, ODC Theater, Dance Mission, The Luggage Store Gallery's In the Streets Festival, the Black Choreographers Festival, SOMArts, and Teatro ZinZanni.

The Prescott Circus Theatre is an after school performing arts education program for fourth and fifth graders at Prescott Elementary School, a public school in West Oakland. Led by Director Aileen Moffitt and Resident Artist Derique McGee, the Prescott Circus has been thrilling audiences for over 20 years. For more information, please call (510) 482-1674 or visit www.prescottcircus.org

Aerial artists from Circus Center, San Francisco.

The San Francisco Circus, one of several projects at Circus Center San Francisco, was created in 1997 by Master Trainer Lu Yi to provide pre-professional training and performing opportunities to gifted young circus students at the San Francisco School of Circus Arts. The company tours the greater Bay Area during the summer months and performs at special events throughout the year.

Tom Rust, principal of Paden School, is thrilled for this opportunity. He was born to be in a circus. While growing up in Nebraska the neighbors frequently heard his mother exclaim, "Stop clowning around!"

Judy Goodwin is an accomplished musician, singer and songwriter. In 1997, she released her first CD entitled Until Now. Her career in education has spanned 17 years working as a principal, elementary and music teacher. Ms. Goodwin is completing her third year as the principal of Lincoln Middle School.

Trombonist Johannes Mager graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1973. Johannes has also played with the Oakland Symphony, S.F. the Brass Band, Spring Opera, Port Costa Players, the Lamplighters and the avant-garde chamber group the Arch Ensemble. Under the name Ghost Opera, Johannes gave his own performances of free-form musical/theatrical improvisation.

Jeni Johnson has been creating and performing physical theater for over ten years. She graduated from the San Francisco Clown Conservatory in 2003 and has been teaching and performing all over the Bay Area ever since. This is her fourth year performing for us.

The Juggling Club is led by Math Teacher Elsa-Jennie Bliss. This is their second year performing for us.