Biography

Fusing elements of cirque acrobatics, classical dance, and contemporary theater, Troupe Vertigo brings audiences on a spellbinding journey through the world of artistic movement. Consisting of world-class aerial artists, contortionists, and ballet dancers, the Los Angeles–based company was founded in 2009 by Artistic Director Aloysia Gavre, formerly of Cirque du Soleil, and Technical Director Rex Camphuis, whose background is with the fabled Pickle Family Circus.

Troupe Vertigo has performed with major orchestras across North America. Recent appearances include the Baltimore Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Oregon Symphony, and Seattle Symphony. The company is known for their collaborative programs including Cirque Goes
to Broadway, Cirque Goes to Hollywood, Cirque Dances featuring The Firebird, and complete cirque-ballet presentations of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Cinderella. The ensemble premiered its first offering, Big Top for a New Generation, in 2010 at the Ford Amphitheater and has gone on to present Nighthawks: A Film Noir Circus, inspired by American jazz, Edward Hopper paintings, and crime novels. In 2016, they brought Tableaux, featuring five women grappling with the constrictions of society, to life at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles. They make their San Francisco Symphony debut with these performances.

Rex Camphuis and Aloysia Gavre, a husband-and-wife team, frequently bring their gifts and knowledge to the film and television industry, most notably with Rebel Wilson’s aerial performance in Pitch Perfect 2 and with Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz in the film Water for Elephants. Their unique perspective on the circus arts have led to a variety of speaking engagements including with Center Theater Group, Directors Lab West, TEDx Talk, and the Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival. They have also been featured in a cover story for Dance Teacher Magazine and in the book Ordinary Acrobat