THE ARTISTS

Breaking Circus Collective (BCC) is a collection of contemporary circus artists working out of Kjipuktuk (Halifax, NS). Breaking Circus sets and breaks their own rules in order to create, explore and engage with the full spectrum of our human experience. The company reaches into the unknown and finds new ways to weave stories through cross-discipline experiments and integration of technology.

The collective includes 3 core members plus a small roster of artists and new recruits/ interns. BCC is Black-led with at least half of its members being IBPOC-identified since its inception in 2016. The BCC is deeply committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility and was formed out of the desire to create a supportive ecosystem for IBPOC artists and artists from other underrepresented groups.

Dawn Shepherd

Co-Founder

Dawn Shepherd is a multi-disciplinary aerialist and former elite trainer at the École nationale du cirque de Montréal. She is also a dancer, rigger, producer, actor, director, and choreographer among other talents which are fully utilized at Breaking Circus. Dawn has also produced her own documentary, Artist in the Black, and recently danced in the upcoming streaming series, Washington Black.

Ryan Gray

Co-Founder

Ryan is an accomplished drummer, percussionist, composer, music director and contemporary circus artist.

Jayden Gigliotti

Artist

Jayden Gigliotti (he/him) is a contemporary circus artist with a speciality in ball juggling. Some of his solo work alongside Breaking Circus includes HACE (Kinetic Open Studio Series 2022), Coffee Project (Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal 2021), and Faux Pas / Coffee Project (Eastern Front Theatre Stages Festival 2021).