Fall 2022 Symposium
Schedule
SEPTEMBER 26, 2022
Emera Innovation Exchange - Signal Hill Road
10:00 - 11:00am
“Future Shock: How to see the opportunities beside the dangers”
Keynote with Nikola Danaylov
11:00am - 12:00pm
“Learning to Ride the Wave of Change”
Moderator: Nikola Danaylov (aka “Socrates”)
Panelists: Julie Danaylov, Elisa Kovacic, Samantha McDonald
12:00 - 1:00pm
LUNCH
1:00 - 1:30pm
Yoga with Guin
1:30 - 3:30pm
Filmmaking And How It Applies To Your Circus Career
with Francisco Cruz
3:45 - 4:45pm
Social Circus Round Table
Hosted by: Mike Hirschbach from Halifax Circus
10:00 - 11:00am
“Future Shock: How to see the opportunities beside the dangers”
Keynote with Nikola Danaylov
This keynote will address the current state of “Future Shock” that we are all experiencing at one level or another: be it individually – as citizens and professionals, or collectively – as organizations, corporations, nations and even as a civilization. It will lay out the full horizon of future possibilities while highlighting both the unique opportunities and the grave dangers we are facing. It will break down exponential technologies such as AI, genetics, robotics, nanotech, synthetic biology, the blockchain, etc. and how those test the very meaning of being human. It will challenge, scare, and inspire you to start your own “Conversation with the Future” and hopefully give birth to your own ideas. It will finish by sharing ancient and modern strategies for building resilience, embracing change and enhancing adaptation in every facet of your life so that you can ride the tsunami of change coming our way, rather than get drowned in it.
11:00am - 12:00pm
“Learning to Ride the Wave of Change”
Moderator: Nikola Danaylov (aka “Socrates”)
Panelists: Julie Danaylov, Elisa Kovacic, Samantha McDonald
Following the keynote presentation, the expert panel will focus on helping the attendees learn how to ride the wave of change rather than be drowned by it. Specifically, our panelists will share their professional experience and provide practical tips on how they have adapted to on-going change in the circus industry by, for example, creating hybrid and digital performances, expanding the spectrum of entertainment services, identifying new business development opportunities and so on. The aim of this panel is to supplement the big picture of on-going global change, as presented during Nikola Danaylov’s keynote, with palatable take-aways and actionable tips that anyone present can adopt and implement to the benefit of their own careers and businesses.
1:30 - 3:30pm
Filmmaking And How It Applies To Your Circus Career
with Francisco Cruz
This course is designed for circus artists to help develop your voice, creativity, intention, and a new understanding of filmmaking and how it applies to your circus career. Participants will be introduced to specific film insights that Francisco has utilized from his 30 years of experience on stage as a circus performer to transitioning behind the lens and what it means to capture an artist on film. Currently an Associate Artistic Director and resident filmmaker at The 7 Fingers, he was also Head of Casting for over 10 years. Francisco will dissect various aspects of these roles and how filmmaking today has a direct impact on the casting process of today’s market. He will also walk you through both his filming techniques and editing process and the one reason he picked up a camera in the first place and continues to do so daily!
3:45 - 4:45pm
Social Circus Round Table
Hosted by Mike Hirschbach (Halifax Circus)
Participants take part in a roundtable discussion about what social circus work they are doing right now, and how (or if) digital tools are helping to facilitate that.
Bios
Francisco Cruz
Francisco Cruz began circus at the age of 7 in San Francisco, CA. Touring internationally since he was 12 years old with companies such as The New Pickle Circus and Cirque du Soleil, in 2005, Francisco joined Les 7 Doigts as an original cast member of the critically acclaimed show Traces. Francisco is now an Associate Artistic Director at Les 7 Doigts, as well as their resident filmmaker. Francisco’s films and photography work has been featured in the festival Montreal Complètement Cirque, published in YANA magazine, and recognized on numerous international media platforms, including films.dance. Outside of circus, Francisco has a BA degree in Early Childhood Elementary Education from Concordia University. Francisco currently resides in Montreal with his wife and two daughters.
Julie Danaylov
Julie Danaylov, CSEP, RVP is an award-winning Certified Special Events Professional who specializes in the business of show business, production best practises, creative marketing and direct sales. Thirteen years ago, Julie helped Co-Found A2D2 ~Aerial Dance Cirque Co (recently rebranded as Cirque Revolution); Cirque-tacular A2D2 Productions; & in 2018 Perform & Prosper with her two best friends & sisters Elisa & Samantha. Over the course of her career, Julie has volunteered to serve the events industry in multiple roles and capacities including the ILEA (International Live Events Association) Toronto Chapter President; the MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Toronto Chapter Professional Development Chair; and the MPI Toronto Diversity Equity & Inclusion Taskforce Volunteer, to name a few. In addition, Julie is the Lead Event Coordinator for Singularity Media Inc where she helps her partner Nikola “future-prime” their clients with pro-active solutions for expanded results for businesses, associations & organizations around the globe.
Nikola Danaylov
Nikola Danaylov is an Author, Futurist and Speaker. His book Conversations with the Future is an International Bestseller and his popular Singularity.FM podcast is the reason why Danaylov has been called the “Larry King of the Singularity.”
Mike Hirschbach
Mike Hirschbach has been a circus artist for 35 years. He performed from 2001-2003 with the Cirque du Soleil’s touring show “Dralion.” From 2003 – 2005 he was a Master Trainer with the Cirque’s social outreach program, Cirque du Monde. As such, he trained the trainers in the existing Cirque du Monde programs, upgrading their circus, social and teaching skills in Orlando, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, South Africa and Burkina Faso. Since 2005 his full time work has been directing the Halifax Circus school and the outreach programs of Circus Circle, working with youth in difficulty; incarcerated youth, youth with addictions, with mobility or mental health issues, and those from a background of abuse.
Before performing with the Cirque du Soleil, he toured his solo theatrical-circus shows for many years. These performances were seen across Canada, the continental U.S., Europe, Asia, India, the Yukon and Alaska in venues such as the Calgary Olympic Games, the Canada Summer Games, the International Mime Festival in Montreal, the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, the Singapore River Festival and the International Clown Festival in Mumbai and Goa, India.
Elisa Kovacic
Elisa Kovacic started her career with a passion for the circus & dance arts which has blossomed into creating maximum opportunities for the next generation of artists to thrive. As a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur, Elisa is the proud Co-Founder of A2D2 ~Aerial Dance Cirque Co (recently rebranded as Cirque Revolution); Cirque-tacular A2D2 Productions; A2D2 Cirque Centre; & Perform & Prosper.
With a lifetime of working within the events industry, first as an independent artist and then as a producer/business owner, Elisa is skilled in performance career coaching, circus, dance, film, dinner theater, and designing shows with multi-disciplinary components.
Elisa was trained at the world renowned, L'ecole Nationale de Cirque with a specialization in aerial hoop; and was a competitive dancer growing up studying ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre & acrobatics. Among Elisa’s favourite roles is being mom to Hugo, Aria and Ella Rose. Elisa loves empowering other working moms that you can have a career (or multiple careers!) and a family too!
Samantha McDonald, VEI
A brilliant strategist with a mind for organizational fiscal sustainability, Samantha McDonald is the very embodiment of the modern creative businesswoman.
As a proud multipreneur, Samantha is the Co-Founder of A2D2 ~Aerial Dance Cirque Co (recently rebranded as Cirque Revolution); Cirque-tacular A2D2 Productions; A2D2 Cirque Centre; & Perform & Prosper. Samantha is Virtual Events Institute (VEI) Certified with a specialization in hybrid production activations. Throughout the course of the last two years, she has helped expand her company offerings from live events only to fully accessible entertainment in the virtual & hybrid performances space as well, innovating with an ever-evolving digital catalog.
Samantha balances a full roster of coaching clients, student onboarding & client care, show / studio operations alongside a robust personal fitness journey. Samantha is a naturals competitor who continues to compete regionally & internationally with a focus on health & wellness rooted in a strong circus & dance background. Meet Samantha once and you will see that she is passionate about pushing herself (and others) outside the coveted comfort zone continually in pursuit of personal & professional mastery.