~ Circus Artist ~ Street Performer ~ Comedian ~Actor ~
~ Dancer ~ Choreographer ~ Director ~
~ Dancer ~ Choreographer ~ Director ~
photos / graphics by Eric James
A second-generation San Francisco circus artist, Aaron Jessup has toured throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Asia. His first stage time came with his father, Charles Levine, who performed in New York in the 1970s and was one of the early pioneers of the modern street performance revival. As a child, Jessup was often picked out of the audience as a "volunteer" who would go on to steal the show. At 16 years old, he began performing his own show at Fisherman’s Wharf, and has since has toured the world many times over, creating laughs and winning hearts (as well as awards) along the way.
After intensive early training in circus skills by his father, Jessup went on to study Chinese acrobatics with the world renown Master Lu Yi, and appeared as an acrobat and juggler with Pickle Family Circus and Make*A*Circus. Along the way, Jessup also studied Capoeira, modern dance and Contact Improvisation dance, and has appeared with Scott Wells & Dancers, an Isadora Duncan Award-winning dance company out of San Francisco.
Jessup is a two-time recipient of the coveted Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship, completed his MFA in Dramatic Arts at the University of California at Davis, and currently travels nationally and internationally with his three solo shows:
- Aaron Impossible, A hilarious festival / stage parody of Mission Impossible.
- Perilous Comedy, a sharp, professional circus-comedy street / stage act.
- Flying Dreams, a moving solo theater show on the triumphs / tragedies of gypsy life.
When not performing, Jessup teaches, directs and choreographs.
After intensive early training in circus skills by his father, Jessup went on to study Chinese acrobatics with the world renown Master Lu Yi, and appeared as an acrobat and juggler with Pickle Family Circus and Make*A*Circus. Along the way, Jessup also studied Capoeira, modern dance and Contact Improvisation dance, and has appeared with Scott Wells & Dancers, an Isadora Duncan Award-winning dance company out of San Francisco.
Jessup is a two-time recipient of the coveted Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship, completed his MFA in Dramatic Arts at the University of California at Davis, and currently travels nationally and internationally with his three solo shows:
- Aaron Impossible, A hilarious festival / stage parody of Mission Impossible.
- Perilous Comedy, a sharp, professional circus-comedy street / stage act.
- Flying Dreams, a moving solo theater show on the triumphs / tragedies of gypsy life.
When not performing, Jessup teaches, directs and choreographs.
