Alexandre Sacha Pavlata is a fifth-generation Czech circus artist, master aerialist and world-renown circus arts teacher.  He grew up with his traveling circus family in a wooden circus wagon which crisscrossed Europe and North Africa presenting their famous unicycle and trampoline act under big tops all over the globe. From horses to high wire and everything in between, Sacha has since performed nearly every kind of circus act you could imagine, including touring with the legendary Flying Wallendas as an integral part of their breath-taking seven-person pyramid on the high wire.

Sacha's circus heritage goes back 5 generations on both sides.  His mother, Hungarian-born Anna Dubsky, came from a long line of Risley Act performers (the acrobatic foot juggling of people), and his father, Czech-born Karl Pavlata, descended from a family of aerialists known for their great physical strength and versatility in the air. More on Sacha extraordinary life and legacy in the circus at www.cirquepassion.com.

Melinda "Melina" Pavlata, Ph.D. (AKA Melina of Daughters of Rhea) is a 2nd generation circus and belly dance artist. Her mother is belly dance pioneer Rhea of Greece, her father is folk musician singer/songwriter Phil Marsh, and her step-mother is Shakespearean actress/juggler/circus artist Cecil MacKinnon.  She grew up fully immersed in her parents' international performing lives, performing with them in the Pickle Family Circus and dancing with her mother and sister Piper (Belly Dancer of the Year 2000) on taverna stages in the ancient city of Athens, Greece.

As an adult Melinda 'Melina' has toured around the world as an aerialist, circus artist and belly dancer with Circus Flora, The Wallenda Family Circus, Cirque Rocks, Amazing Grace Circus and currently with her own circus Cirque Passion. 

Melina is currently on the faculty of Kripalu where she teaches an annual summertime retreat "Wild Hips, Gypsy Heart: Belly Dance as self-empowerment." 

STUDIO WEBSITE: www.moodystreetcircus.com