RUSS STARK​
Acrobatics Coach

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Russ is an accomplished aerial acrobat, television and film performer, gymnast, acrobatic instructor, and aerial apparatus rigger who received his training from Bitterroot Gymnastics Center, the University of Montana, and Cirque du Soleil. Mr. Stark's live performances and industrials have included Cirque du Soleil (Quidam and Dralion), the Grammy Awards, the American Music Awards (with Enrique Iglesias), with Lady Gaga, Cirque Berserk, Ledzaerial, Cirque Mechanics Target, Wal-Mart, Fiat International, Tour of Gymnastic Champions and many more. His TV and film performances have included Water for Elephants, Chronicles of Riddick, and Walt Disney’s Zack and Cody. Russ is trained in teaching artistic gymnastics, acrobatics, acrobatics for dancers, acrobatic partnering, Aerial Harness, Corde Lisse (Aerial Rope), German Wheel, gymnastics, Silks, Spanish Web, and Trampoline Wall. He has traveled nationally conducting workshops, intensives, and master classes. His most recent teaching credits include Tour of Gymnastic Champions, The Circus Project, Pacific Fire Gathering, and BodyVox.As a complement to his professional endeavors, Mr. Stark has traveled throughout South America working on community outreach and development and is also Co-Director of ARC In Movement LLC.

ABBY FRANK 
Rhythmic Coach

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Abby began gymnastics when she was four years old in the recreational program at Oregon Gymnastics Academy. She transitioned to the rhythmic program after a year and joined the competitive team at age six. She has been a member of the Rose City Rhythmic family ever since. Her accomplishments include qualifying to National Championships nine years in a row and competing throughout the US and Canada. She competed at the National Qualification event at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York. She also trained at the Tokyo Women’s College of Physical Education with Japanese National Team coaches. In September of 2018, Abby retired from competitive rhythmic gymnastics due to a back injury. Since then, she has moved on to coaching and is a certified Junior Professional Coach through USA Gymnastics. She has coached athletes at Junior Olympic National Championships. 
 

LIFE OUTSIDE OF GYMNASTICS

Abby is part of the class of 2021 at Southridge High School, and enjoys riding her horse, baking, and reading. She lives in Portland with her sister, parents, and cat.

HYERI 
Rhythmic Coach

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Hyeri started recreational rhythmic gymnastics in 2009 at age 6. She then joined the competitive team at age 7 at Emerald City Rhythmic, California, where she competed through levels 4-7. In 2014, she competed in the Junior Olympics Championships, Florida, and won a bronze for her hoop event and placed 4th all-around. Later in July of that year, she trained with the Apricot Gymnastics team, Japan. After her training, she competed in the 2014 Smile Cup, Japan, and won bronze for her hoop event. After she moved to Portland in 2015, she continued to compete for another 3 years with the Rose City team. In 2016 she qualified as a Junior Olympic team member as a level 8, and competed in the Junior Olympics Championships, Rhode Island, of that year. In 2017 she, again, qualified as a Junior Olympics team member as a level 9. During that same year, she competed in the 2017 Chicago Cup, and won a bronze for her hoop event. In March of 2018, after her 9th year of being in this sport, she retired as a level 9. She is now currently a junior coach at Rose City. 
 

LIFE OUTSIDE OF GYMNASTICS
Hyeri lives with her sisters, her parents, and two dogs, and is part of the class of 2021 at Sunset High School. She enjoys playing the piano, and is an intern at Hoffman Academy, where she helps teach piano. She loves kids and enjoys spending time with her family and taking walks around her neighborhood. 

PAULINA 
Choreography and Recreational Gymnastics Coach

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Paulina was a competitive karate athlete and studied martial arts as a child. She later discovered her passion for dance and has performed and competed in dance for many years. Paulina discovered aerial in 2006 and has mastered multiple apparatuses (including some unique and invented ones) and has a strong sense for combining intentional movement and dance with high level technical skills. For over 10 years, she has worked as a professional aerialist performing internationally and has been featured on numerous music videos and tv shows including the CW network television show The Big Stage. 

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Scramble James

Apparatus Handling Technique Coach

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Scramble James started juggling in 2010 while attending Humboldt State University and has been performing ever since. In 2018 he won both Fire Entertainer of the Year, and the International Jugglers Association Teams Competition. Currently, Scramble James regularly performs as a solo artist, and as a collaborating artist in ensemble productions. You can find him performing with Circus Luminescence, MarchFourth, Rose City Circus, Flamebouyant Productions, Arc In Movement, and at events such as Portland Winter Lights, White Album XMAS, Moisture Festival, the Oregon Country Fair, and Rose Festival. Scramble specializes in spin control, throwing mechanics, ball rolling technique, and creative development for club combinations. 

For more information please visit, www.scramblejames.com.

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Anastasiia Balandina

Rhythmic Coach

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Achievements: Master of Sports of Russia in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Member of the Russian National Team of the Sverdlovsk region in the individual and group classification.

Champion of the Sverdlovsk region.

Champion of the Ural Federal District.

Winner of many national and international competitions.

I started my coaching career officially in 2014, Until that time, I was an active gymnast and often helped my trainer train other gymnasts and created a program with apparatus for other gymnasts.

Now I train professional gymnasts and amateurs.

In 2018, I opened my own studio of rhythmic gymnastics and stretching.

I have a pedagogical and economic education.

Daphne Wu

Rhythmic Coach

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Daphne began gymnastics in the recreational program at Oregon Gymnastics Academy when she was four years old. A year later, she joined the rhythmic program, and then the competitive team at five years old. At age seven, she moved to the Westside’s rhythmic program, training and competing at the state, regional, and national level. Her accomplishments include qualifying for and competing at the National Championships five years in a row in Orlando, Florida. There she won two bronze medals for the overall, floor, and hoop event; gold for the hoop and ball event; and silver for ribbon. In her 7th year, Daphne retired from competitive rhythmic gymnastics and has since then been training in ballet at the Oregon International Ballet Academy. In 2017 she competed at Youth America Grand Prix in Las Vegas, Nevada for contemporary and classical ballet. She is currently a recreational and Xcel coach at Rose City.

 

Daphne lives in Portland with her sister and parents and is a part of the class of 2021 at Sunset High School. She enjoys doing graphic design, going to the studio to do ballet, and heading out to the tennis courts with her friends. She loves teaching and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Ansa Capizzi

Ballet Coach

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Ansa Capizzi is from Nagoya, Japan. She began training at age five, initially with Chika Goto Step Works Ballet, followed by San Francisco Ballet School. She joined OBT as an apprentice (2003), and was promoted to soloist (2007) and principal (2018). Among her favorite performances are: William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, George Balanchine’s Tarantella, Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty, James Canfield’s Romeo & Juliet, Nacho Duato’s Por Vos Muero, Michel Fokine’s The Dying Swan, Nicolo Fonte’s Presto, and Jirí Kylián’s Falling Angels.