Dan Martin
Filmmaker and Photographer
“Upswing has supported & allowed my creativity to flourish with their team. To explore, try original ideas & collaborate effectively, so that everyone within the project can do their absolute best. As freelancers, we work on lots of different projects, but when I am with Upswing it reminds me just how important & impactful true collaboration can be.”
Dan Martin is a filmmaker and photographer specialising in performing arts and capturing movement. His work with Upswing includes the award-winning Circus Flavours On Screen, which won at the 2022 Circus International Film Festival and Common Ground, which won the ‘Comedy Short’ category at the 2023 European Short Film Festival and the Founders Award for the 2023 Circus International Film Festival.
Eric Mitchell
Circus Performer
“Working with upswing, has always been a delight. They give you freedom as a performer to bring what you’ve got to the table; your skills and unique experience. They trust their performers to do what they do best, not everyone does that”.
Ericson (Eric) is a circus artist with over 10 years of international experience. He specialises in ground-based acrobatics, Chinese pole, and hand to hand. With a degree in Acting and Stage Combat from East15, he blends circus skills with parkour, tricking, and stunt work, performing in Netflix series’ and red carpet events.
Joana Dias
Circus Performer
“One of the brilliant aspects about Upswing is their mission of welcoming audiences and artists from all ethnic backgrounds in their process. This has been empowering my practice and life in the UK. Having the honour to have Vicki Dela as my mentor/director and Camille as collaborator impacted hugely in my growth as a Black female artist and creator. They are family to me.”
Joana is a Portuguese aerial hoop artist and acrobatic flyer based in the UK, trained at Chapitô and the National Centre for Circus Arts. Her diverse background includes Portuguese TV, ballroom dancing, and performances with major companies like Upswing, Mimbre, and Cirkus Cirkör. She is currently developing her first solo show ’89’ with Upswing.
Zaki Musa
Circus Performer
“Working with Upswing has been an amazing and fulfilling experience. I feel extremely supported in the opportunities to creatively collaborate and develop work with the team. Care for both the artists and community is at the forefront of Upswing’s ethos, and I feel recognised and seen, not only as an artist, but a human being.”
Zaki is a multi-disciplinary aerialist and creative practitioner. He combines his background in movement and design to explore identity, technology, and storytelling. Since 2019, he has performed with Upswing’s Circus Flavours touring team while teaching youth community classes, helping make circus more accessible and showcasing performers from the global majority.