Aimee German, GYMSTARS Director, has taught gymnastics, drama and circus skills to children all over the world for over 12 years. She performs regularly as a comedienne and clown at numerous New York City venues. She studied dance and movement at the American Academy of Dance & Stanley Holden's in Los Angeles, then moved to London to complete her graduate degree in classical theatre. She performed the Bouffon version of Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie" at the Brick Theater in August and November 2006 and March 2007.
Brenda German-King, Musical Specialist and Camp Director - Aimee's mother, comes all the way from Jacksonville, Florida just for summer camp! Mrs. King plays many instruments but is most often seen accompanying the Corn Cob Clan; a group of women over 50 who sing and dance musical comedy numbers at parties and functions all over the Southeast!
Gautham Prasad was born in India and raised in America. His interest in mime began at an early age, watching cartoons such as The Pink Panther and Tom & Jerry, which soon led to an interest in silent comedians like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. While attending Northwestern University to study acting he discovered the Northwestern University Mime Company. Working with Bud Beyer, a former student of Etienne Decroux’s, for almost two years, he had the chance to work with Marcel Marceau and Maximilien Decroux. His interests turned to clowning and he spent the previous 2 years with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Gautham is also a certified Ashtanga yoga instructor and currently teaches at several studios in New York City.
Vanessa Usai, After studying dance and step drill at competition levels, Vanessa Usai worked as an assistant teacher at the Beth Elohim After-school Gymnastics Program and lead the kindergarten group. She has worked with preschool aged children for 6 years and has a beautiful daughter Aliciya, who is 2 years old. She is currently enrolled at Hunter College.
Myriah Pahl trained as a gymnast in her early years. She fell in love with trampoline at The Trampoline Place in Connecticut where she trained for a five years. Upon moving to New York, she transferred her love of flying from the trampoline to trapeze and tumbling. She currently trains at Trapeze School New York, Espana-Streb Trapeze Academy, and Streb Lab for Action Mechanics (SLAM).
Kimberly Lewis, Dance Specialist, began her formal dance training in New Hampshire and later joined Boston Youth Moves, a pre-professional dance program for teens under the direction of Jeannette Neill and Jim Veira. Besides dancing, she has always had a passion for art and is currently enrolled at Pratt Institute studying industrial design. She has taught at at various camps for the past two summers teaching dance, art, theater and cheerleading.
Jennifer Sargent is the co-artistic director of Théâtre Déséquilibrium, an international ensemble creating original, physical theater that has, to date, toured Switzerland, France, Italy, Canada, and the United States, performing in four different languages. Based in New York City, she is currently a full-time Early Childhood Instructor at the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment in Prospect Park, activating environmental science and social studies programs through creativity, movement, and play. She also teaches theater and circus after-school classes in public and private schools around New York City through Circus Minimus After-School Programs and as a freelancer. She completed the two-year training program at l’École Internationale du Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris as well as the Lecoq School’s scenography program (L.E.M.). She holds a BA in English from Oberlin College where she also studied visual arts and theater and was a member of Twelv Performance Company, a student ensemble created to explore site-specific performance installation. Jenny’s goal in theater and education is to deepen compassion for the human world around us and to cultivate a unique, personal folly in her students and fellow artists.