08/06/2026
AYCOfest 2026 Workshop Leader Spotlight: Clowning with Jackie Davis, Diane Wasnak, and Jessica Hentoff! 🎭
Send in the clowning leaders! We are kicking off our leader reveals with the brilliant teaching artists who will be running our clowning workshops this year.
Clowns are the magical medicine the world needs... they are the heart that holds the circus together, speaking the universal language of laughter through the ultimate accessible circus skill.
Swipe through to meet the leaders bringing these skills to AYCOfest 2026, and stay tuned as we reveal the rest of our workshop leaders! 👇✨
🤡Jackie Davis (Photos 1-2)
AYCO co-founder and youth circus educator with 30+ years of teaching passion! Jackie creates supportive, inclusive spaces for movers of all ages to play and grow.
Workshops:
- Intro to Mime: Explore spatial awareness and illusionary movement.
- Intro to Clowning: Master foundational comedy, rule of three, and saying YES!
- Sock Poi & Spinning: Craft your own poi while learning foundational planes and flow.
🤡 Diane Wasnak (Photos 3-5)
Physical comedienne and circus artist Diane Wasnak (“Pino”) brings four decades of stage, film, and ring experience to AYCOfest. A former star of the Pickle Family Circus and Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère, Diane made history in American circus as part of its first featured female clown duo, and has since performed on Broadway and beyond.
Workshops:
- Exploring Character and Motion Inside/Out (All Levels): A foundational movement and mime workshop using Tony Montanaro techniques to cultivate observation, physical expression, and character building across all circus disciplines.
🤡Jessica Hentoff (Photo 6)
Artistic/Executive Director of Circus Harmony and a leader in the global social circus movement. Jessica brings decades of experience using circus arts as a tool for social change, youth empowerment, and community building.
Workshops:
- Clown Makeup: This workshop will teach you how to do simple, fast, expressive clown make up to enhance your clown character!
- Social Circus Roundtable: An engaging discussion on how social circus impacts communities (teens & adults).