The Artists

• Guillaume Biron

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  Guillaume grew up in France and discovered the circus at the age of 10. Five years later he enrolled in the École Nationale de Cirque de Châtellerault where he majored in hand-to-hand, trampoline and static trapeze. When he was 18 years old he was drawn to the National Circus School in Montreal. There he specialized in Korean board and static trapeze, while also practicing juggling, balancing, acrobatics, dance and theatre arts. His professional career subsequently has taken him to points around the globe: the Olympic Games closing ceremonies in Turin, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and Mexico, France and Norway.

  Main role: Michel Michel, who Hears Voices
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian, little boy, several park passers-by, guy in bar, drugee, psy
  Disciplines: Trapeze fixe, hand-balancing, group juggling

• Mohamed Bouseta

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  Mohamed grew up in a family of eight children in the north of France. Hyperactive by nature, he began to try different sports as a means of channelling this energy. His life took a turn for the better when he met the great Rumanian gymnast Adrian Munteanu, then retired, who had opened a circus school in front of his home. Beyond a teacher he found a true mentor, and the circus quickly became more than a passion. Before joining The 7 Fingers, Mohamed continued his training at Rosny-sous-Bois and the Centre National des Arts du Cirque in Châlons-en-Champagne.

  Main role: Danny the Manic
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian, psy, Papa, guy in bar, WWF Wrestler (the Head Shrinker)
  Disciplines: Hand to hand, fly mat

• Jean-Philippe Cuerrier

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  Jean-Philippe was initiated into the circus arts as an 8 year old at the Verdun Circus School in Montreal. Quickly hooked, he practiced juggling and acrobatics for the next ten years and then entered the National Circus School of Montreal. There, he perfected multiple disciplines and took on the aerial cradle. Following graduation, he set off to Switzerland for an eight-month tour with Circus Starlight. He soon joined Cirque Eloize for two creations and adventures: Rain and Nebbia. He regularly returns to the Circus School in Verdun as a teacher, in hopes of passing on the same passion he once discovered.

  Main role: George the Paranoiac
  Secondary roles: Psy, Pedestrian, clown, several park passers-by, guy in bar
  Disciplines: Hand to hand, Chinese pole, group juggling, fly mat

• Danica Gagnon-Plamondon

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  At the age of seven Danica began training in artistic gymnastics through which she developed acrobatic agility and a great deal of determination. She then vaulted into the world of the circus by enrolling in the National Circus School in Montreal. There she not only acquired performing experience but forged an artistic persona. Even though versatility is second nature to her, the desire for a specialty number led her to focus on the swinging trapeze. This artist maintains a comprehensive tool kit that includes the arts of juggling, dance and acting.

  Main role: Lily the Agoraphobic
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian, Maman, several park passers-by, girl in bar, drunk girl, prostitute, psy
  Disciplines: Swinging trapeze, group juggling

• Catherine Girard

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  After several years of gymnastics and an initial degree in dance, Catherine completed her training at the National Circus School of Montreal in 2001. Throughout her career, she’s collaborated with companies such as Circus Starlight (Switzerland), Tout Fou to Fly (France), Cirque Eloize (Canada), Cirque du Soleil, and various cabarets in Germany, before winding up today with the 7 Fingers. Her curiosity and love for the circus arts have led her to develop and perfect many disciplines over the years: aerial cradle, hand to hand, aerial hoop, contortion, trapeze duo, and recently the Chinese pole. An artist with many facets, Catherine also has a strong interest in theater and music.

  Main role: Claire the Insomniac
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian/love interest, little girl, several park passers-by, girl in bar, drunk girl, psy
  Disciplines: Hand to hand, Chinese pole.

• Gisle henriet

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  At the age of 15 Gisle left behind his family, martial arts school and childhood friends to enter the Cirkus Cirkor school in Stockholm. The next three years would see him trying his hand at almost everything: tightrope, aerials, juggling, trampoline, hand-to-hand, theatre and dance. He then made another big move, this time crossing the ocean to attend the National Circus School in Montreal where he majored in teeterboard. Gisle has performed with several circus companies, from street performances to major stage appearances, most notably the closing ceremonies at the Turin Olympics and Quebec City’s 400th anniversary celebrations.

  Main role: Dexter, with Multiple Personality Disorder
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian, little boy, several park passers-by, guy in bar
  Disciplines: Teeterboard, hand-balancing, group juggling

• Nael Jammal

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  From a very young age, Naël transformed his garden in the south of France into a circus ring and his parent’s bed into a trampoline. At the École Nationale de Cirque de Châtellerault, he worked on hand-to-hand, banquine, Russian bar and juggling before specializing in balancing on canes. He then enrolled in the National Circus School in Montreal and was involved in a variety of projects, exchanges and shows. The circus for him is a sort of nexus, a place to mingle and share. With a skill set acquired through practicing parkour, classical dance, hip-hop, capoeira and clowning, Naël has forged a special style which continues to evolve. Before embarking on the adventure of PSY, Naël appeared in several performances of TRACES.

  Main role: Jacques the Hypochondriac
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian, baby, several park passers-by, drag queen, psy
  Disciplines: Principle hand-balancer, group juggling

• Olga kosova

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  Originally from Kiev, Olga immigrated at the age of six to the United States. After a promising debut in competitive rhythmic gymnastics, she also was a dancer. She trained on the aerial rope and in Chinese acrobatics with Master Lu Yi at the Circus Center in San Francisco, at the same time performing with Trapeze World, Vau de Vire and New Pickle Circus. Olga then went on to the National Circus School in Montreal. While training there she developed theatricality, dance, music and clowning skills, and perfected a new apparatus, the aerial net.
  Main role: Suzi, with Intermittent Explosive Disorder
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian, little girl, several park passers-by, girl in bar, psy, prostitute
  Disciplines: Knife manipulation, rope

• Florent lestage

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  Florent is an artist who uses juggling and other circus techniques to create a timeless universe of heightened senses. In this weight-defying atmosphere, objects take on new life, encouraging the juggler to help them take flight. Florent finds inspiration in silent films, dance, music, visual arts, travel, personal interactions, cultural exchanges, and in his dreams, just as in his disappointments. He began training in circus at the age of 12 at l’Ecole de cirque de Cuers, in his native France. Deciding to dedicate his life to circus, he pursued professional training programs at l’Ecole de Cirque de Lomme and at l’École Balthazar, and then in Canada at the National Circus School in Montreal.

  Main role: John? Joe? Jim? the Amnesiac
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian, guy in bar, psy
  Disciplines: Juggling, solo and group

• Tom Proneur-Orsini

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  Passionate about dance from a very young age, Tom expanded his repertoire at Cirque de Nexon in France where he practiced juggling, trampoline and acrobatics. There he studied towards a degree with a “dance option” in association with the Conservatoire de Danse Contemporaine. At the same time, he pursued regular circus training and coached French trampoline champions before entering the École Nationale des Arts du Cirque de Rosny-sous-Bois. He went on to major in hand-to-hand at the Centre National des Arts du Cirque in Châlons-en-Champagne where he trained for two years. In parallel to his academic career and to help underwrite his studies, Tom was also a dramatic artist with the Entrac’t circus company.

  Main role: Smith/ Mr. OCD
  Secondary roles: Little boy, several park passers-by, guy in bar, psy
  Disciplines: Hand to hand, hand-balancing, group juggling

• Julien Silliau

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  Julien spent much of his childhood at his mother’s circus school before entering the École de cirque Balthazar in Montpellier then the École Nationale des Arts du Cirque de Rosny-sous-Bois, both in France. During this training he acquired great versatility as both juggler and acrobat, and performed in several events in association with the Acrobacirque circus school, École Nationale de Cirque de France, Festival du Cirque de Demain in Paris. He has also performed in Tunisia and Argentina and was part of a circus company of street performers. Upon enrolling in the National Circus School in Montreal he majored in the German wheel, not only making the discipline his own but bringing a new dynamic to it.

  Main role: Johnny the Addict
  Secondary roles: Pedestrian, older brother, dog, several park passers-by, guy in bar, psy
  Disciplines: German wheel, hand-balancing, group juggling