Our team
Robin Szuch
president & Creative Director
Founder of Spectacle Blue, Robin Szuch, spent almost 20 years as a dancer, training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern and contemporary dance. Armed with those of years dance training, and a degree in Fine Arts in Drama and Dance, Robin moved to Toronto to pursue her love of theatre and dance. While working as a dancer and actor and continuing her professional training, Robin found the element of artistry she was looking for to complete her artistic vision, Aerial. Taking the plunge with fellow artist Stacy Clark, High Strung aerial dance was born and the two spent the next decade training, performing, coaching, and creating dance, circus, and aerial dance works around the globe.
After ten successful years on the road High Strung aerial dance officially retired and Robin opened a full-time training and coaching studio, Spectacle Blue Studios. Spectacle Blue is a place where students of all ages and skill levels can train safely, explore their creativity, and build self-confidence and discipline as both technicians and performers.
Having made the full-time transition from choreographer/performer to choreographer/coach Robin had time to look at her world, the world of Aerial Dance, only to discover a gap in formal training methodologies for youth for this exciting genre. And so began the diligent work to create a solid, safety-conscious syllabus of training to help young dancers delve into the world of Aerial Dance and Circus. The culmination of Robin's years of experience in Dance, Aerial, Theatre, and fitness, along with the guidance and advice of experts in a variety of sport medicine fields, dance, circus and acrobatics is the Spectacle Blue Aerial Dance Syllabus.
Breanna Stewart
Coach/party coordinator
Breanna started dancing at the age of four and not long after, found her true love of circus. She has attended The School of Alberta Ballet in her younger years, as well as The National Centre for Circus Arts for university to further her passion. Performing has always been a big part of her life in both her dance and circus backgrounds. It has given her a way to express herself in a way that impacts people in your not-so-ordinary way. She has had the opportunity to learn from many different coaches around the world, bringing in new perspectives and ways of thinking towards who she wants to be as a person, a coach, and a creator in this industry.
Holly Bates
Coach
Holly Bates spent the first twenty years of her life trying to find her niche. Holly dipped her toes in everything from dance, gymnastics, cheerleading and even synchronized swimming and nothing really stuck. In 2009 Holly finally found her calling and fell in love with circus in the small town of Turner Valley, now called Diamond Valley, in a small circus studio where she first met Robin Szuch. Holly has followed Robin to the many studios as the business grew and as she grew as an aerialist and also as a coach. Holly has performed professionally in venues from the festival stage to corporate venues to private events. Holly has been seen Vertical Wall Dancing at the Kaleido Festival in Edmonton, on the silks in the Calgary Opera’s production “Die tote Stadt” as well as the Calgary Opera Gala at the Jubilee Auditorium. Holly’s main focus now is coaching and sharing her love of aerial circus with others.
Ellen Breeze
Coach
What started out as an interest in gymnastics quickly turned into a love of Circus.
Ellen's work as a youth leader made her a natural leader in the circus studio. Transitioning from circus student, to leadership student, to coach was a natural progression.
We are thrilled to have Ellen coaching birthday parties for kiddos of all ages when she's not pursuing her own big dreams.
Between post secondary education in business, coaching kiddos in circus, youth leadership duties in her community, and baking amazing cakes, Ellen is pursing the things that give her joy.
Chris Gibbs
Videographer
From a very young age, Chris always had an interest in technology, specifically photography & video. That passion has taken Chris on a 25+ year journey through the broadcast industry. From controlling the equipment and programming on the front line, to overseeing technical operations of local and national televisions stations, to being involved in the launch of many specialty television networks and Pay-Per-View services. Over the past 5 years Chris has taken his photographic passion to the next level, especially in nature, wildlife, sports, and architecture, and is currently working on his goal of becoming a Master Photographer. He has also ventured away from the broadcast industry, and with his wife have created Gibbs Media, which provides photo, video, and social media services to small businesses and the real estate industry. Chris has been a part of the Spectacle Blue team for over 5 years making photo and video magic.
Michael King
Rigger
Michael is a Calgary based rigger and stage carpenter with a specialty in flying effects and acrobatic rigging. His work has been featured on stages from the smallest black box theatres to the world's biggest stadiums as well as high -end retail installations all over the world.
Michael is available for rigging consults and to install your initial rigging at your facility... just contact him at info@spectacleblue.ca.
Jennifer fell
cONSULTANT (teacher training)
Jennifer Fell is an Aerialist, Fire Performer and Teacher. A graduate of the George Brown Dance Performance Program, Jennifer began working in the Circus Arts in 2004. She has performed with many companies including Circus Orange, Hit & Run Productions and Zero Gravity Circus. Jennifer currently teaches aerial silks for Artists' Play School of Dance. Having toured across North America, Mexico, The Canary Islands, Barbados, Dubai and Bahrain, Jennifer is happy to be home in Toronto sharing the love of aerial silks with those eager to learn