Rae Lawhorne (they/them) grew up in the mountains of Virginia, filling their time with as
many dance classes as they could. They graduated summa cum laude from Virginia
Commonwealth University (VCU) with a BFA in Dance & Choreography, where they focused
on modern and contemporary techniques. Throughout their time at VCU, Rae had the
privilege of performing in works by students, faculty, and globally renowned guest artists.
After college, Rae turned their focus towards the world of circus and decided to attend the
ProTrack program at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), where they
specialized in aerial hoop and Chinese pole. Since graduating, Rae has performed dance
and circus across the US in festivals, fundraisers, and ensemble shows. They have worked
with companies such as Wise Fool New Mexico, NECCA, Westchester Circus Arts, and
many other organizations. Rae has also taught dance and circus to students of all ages and
backgrounds and hopes to continue doing so for a long time to come.

Zoe (she/her) is a Charlotte native and began dancing at the age of 3.  She trained at the Charlotte Cirque and Dance Center from ages 7-18 and has performed in several Caroline Calouche & Co. productions including Clara’s Trip, Star Gazer, Crossroads, Nightingale and NextStep. 

​

Zoe just completed two years of full time training in the San Diego Circus Center’s Preparatory Program and 1 year at Ècole Nationale Du Cirque in Montreal, Canada. Her main discipline is dance trapeze but she has experience on several different aerial apparatuses like silks, lyra, hammock, etc.

Zoe has coached a variety of disciplines at both the San Diego Circus Center and Charlotte Cirque and Dance Center. She looks forward to continuing to work with new students throughout this year.

Carina Young (she/her) is a freelance international performing artist, choreographer, and creative director. She holds a BFA in Dance with a concentration in Choreography and Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her artistic practice spans Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, West African, and South African dance. Young has worked with choreographers including Rena Butler, Ronald K. Brown, Marielis Garcia, Janet Lily, Ashlee Dance, and Danielle Swatzie. Her artistic development has also been shaped by mentors including Clarice Young, Catherine Foster, and Robin Gee. Young has served as an intern with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and as a teaching artist with Ballethnic Dance Company. Through her work as a freelance artist and Founder and Creative Director of ExploreTheMove, Young continues to expand her practice across performance, choreography, teaching, film, and creative direction.

Maria Carvajal (she/her) is a Costa Rican-American circus artist and coach based in Chicago. She found circus while living in her home country Costa Rica in 2013. Ever since then, she has continued to develop her passion for performance. Maria is a recent graduate of Aloft's Circus Arts Professional Program. She has dedicated the last two years to study circus and is eager to continue sharing her love for storytelling with the world. Her biggest life goal is to collaborate with others in sharing stories on stage. She is beyond excited to be part of the cast for The Three Spirits this season." 

Lydia Pelfrey (she/her) is a versatile aerial performer and educator with professional experience in shows, festivals, and corporate events throughout the Carolinas. She trained at Kelly’s School of Dance and Aerial for six years and spent three performing and competing with KSDA’s student company.

In the summer of 2025, Lydia completed Caroline Calouche’s LaunchPad pre-professional training program and has since continued working with CC&Co. in productions of The Nightingale and Clara’s Trip.

Lydia is also a dedicated instructor at KSDA and currently co-leads the student company.

Dr. Andrew Zutell (he/him) is a professional educator, acrobat, and founder of Out on a Limb Circus Arts in Charleston, SC. With over 15 years of experience performing and teaching partner acrobatics across the U.S. and internationally, he has collaborated with organizations including ALO Yoga, Lululemon, and the International Aerial & Pole Federation.

Andrew designs and leads workshops — including All-Levels Acrobatics and From Practice to Performance — that blend athletic precision with performing arts creativity to develop strength, trust, and artistry in students of all levels.

​

Through Out on a Limb Circus Arts, Andrew and co-founder Dr. Lauren Hernandez-Rubio lead a diverse team of acrobats, aerialists, and specialty performers at high-profile events including the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, and more. Their studio in Charleston offers aerial and circus classes for all ages and levels.

Jason Dawkins (he/him) is a NC native and currently teaches weekly classes for adults & children of all levels at Caroline Calouche & Co and NC Dance District. He’s been professionally training since the age of 18 (Ailey II residency & Contra Tiempo summer intensive) and has been teaching in a studio since his sophomore year at Appalachian State University. He’s danced for artists like A$AP Rocky and tours with various bands and performance groups around the country. His vocabulary ranges from cheerleading, gymnastics, hip hop, ballet, jazz, African, Latin & ballroom dance, modern, & contemporary. 

Sarai Daniels began dancing at age three in Queens, New York, training in jazz, tap, hip-hop, and ballet before focusing on classical ballet at Charlotte Ballet Academy. She later earned a BFA in Dance and a minor in Web Development and Programming from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

As a freelance artist, Sarai has performed in multiple contemporary productions and collaborated with artists across disciplines. Her work has taken her from New York to international stages, including an invitation to perform her self-choreographed solo in Italy at the Agropoli Danza Festival with WADE. She has also been featured in Noir Fashion Week during New York Fashion Week.

Sarai is passionate about expanding her practice as an interdisciplinary artist and exploring the intersections of movement, technology, acting, and visual art. She is excited to continue growing her artistic practice and to collaborate with Caroline Calouche & Co.