This season we are thrilled to announce that professional Aerial Silk artists, Marina Petrano is back with her aerial silks partner, Jennifer Schlitt from Cirqa Brava. These two will perform the beautiful sky high Arabian dance in this years production of The Classic Nutcracker. During the year, these two woman travel around the United States to renaissance festivals performing a comedic two woman aerial silks performance. We can not wait to have their talent on our stage this season.
Marina Petrano
Marina Petrano is a contortionist, actor, and aerialist. The actorbat began her journey to the stage when she joined a weapons performance ensemble at 13 years old. After graduating The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in 2010 she was introduced to circus by being cast in a production of Carnival. When the production ended Marina began studying at the New England Center For Circus Arts. She graduated NECCA in 2013 and since has performed for The Avenues Kuwait, M. Night Shyamalan Foundation, Victoria Buskerfest, Dundas Buskerfest, Greenies, Bush Gardens, Boston Circus Guild, Hendricks Gin, Cirque Du Soleil, Aerial Angels and many more.
Jennifer Schlitt
Jennifer is a classically trained moment professional, Aerialist, and Oriental dancer specializing in Cabaret, Egyptian Folkloric, Modern and her own brand of Fusion Bellydance. She has studied, performed, and taught throughout the United States and Canada as well as the Middle East, performing in numerous theatrical productions, commercials, circus’s, and countless variety shows.
Jennifer Schlitt attended The New School in Manhattan where she focused her studies on the psychology of movement while also working towards certification in Creative Arts Therapies and Performance Wellness. A graduate from the High School for performing and Visual Arts, Jennifer has founded two touring performance companies: Draiku, a cirque-style spectacle based on the beauty of movement and Cirqa Brava, a comedic interactive show featuring duo lyra, aerial silks, contortion, grand illusions, and comedy.
She has studied at the New York Trapeze Academy, NECCA, Bumbleshoot in St. Louis, IL, Sky Candy in Austin, TX, Aerial Arts of Rochester, as well as the award-winning Bayside Gymnastics Academy in St. Petersburg, FL. She has studied dance at the Austin Ballet, Mary Anthony Dance theater in New York, and with the famed Morocco in New York. Jennifer was a visiting performer to the Bing Bamboo Burlesque Room from 2006 to 2010 and is a former member of the Shriner Circus where she performed oriental dance and grand magical illusions with James Austin Banner. She is also a former featured performer with Cirque Italia, where her duo lyra act was a featured performance She also grew up performing puppet shows, clowning, and creating balloon art at children’s museums and private events with her amazing mother. For seven years, Jennifer was a featured dancer with the world fusion band Tartanic, performing under the name Sophia Balentine. Her movement is infused with a classical elegance and joy of movement.
