About Us
Hamilton Aerial Group provides visually stunning event entertainment in Hamilton Ontario. We specialize in aerial performance and stilt performance, and in producing high quality theatrical acts with extraordinary costumes.
We create educational, artistic and entertaining performances for festival entertainment, for corporate entertainment and for private event entertainment like weddings.
We produce our own cabarets (e.g. Equinox caberet) and theatrical shows (e.g. La Nuit du Vagabond, La Nuit du Frisson) and we are available to hire for events. (Photo below: La Nuit d’Hibernation, 2026. Photo credit: Don Gleeson).
Through our performances and our workshops we seek to create meaningful experiences to help people feel connected and inspired. We are committed to engaging audiences from all walks of life.
We are a federally and provincially incorporated non-profit. The group is made up of 13 core members who bring a diverse range of skills to our collective. We just love performing together.
History
HAG began as a grassroots troupe in 2010 spearheaded by Lori Le Mare. HAG began its operation out of the Jamesville Community Centre in Hamilton. After 4 years of operation, HAG’s membership and reputation grew, resulting in a move to a studio space at the Cotton Factory, located at 270 Sherman Avenue North. After many years operating as a collective group model, but under the leadership of Lori, HAG became a non profit organization in 2021 distributing its leadership amongst its members (listed below).
HAG has been a headlining act in Hamilton’s Winterfest annually since 2014 and we have been seen at the Ancaster Fair, Supercrawl, as well as the Hamilton Fringe Festival. We are constantly working on new material and thematic content for our shows, and in 2015 we brought in an outside artist to teach us stilt walking. Stilts are now a key part of what we offer.
The HAGs
Yes, we like to call ourselves HAGs. HAG is a family of people with all sorts of artistic backgrounds:
Lori Le Mare
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Aerial, Stilt Walking, Clown and Shadow Puppetry
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
Producing the following shows: The Paradise Project, This Is Here, La Nuit du Coeur/Feu/Frisson/Glace/Vagabond and d’Hibernation.
What do you love about circus?
Creativity and Community.
What are you currently exploring?
Combining circus with Shadow Puppetry.
Photo by Ramucy
Tammy Penny
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Silks
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
I love the process of creating a routine. It’s like a puzzle: the music, costumes, movement. They all have to fit. The last performance I did for equinox was especially fun for me because it was easy going there was a lot of room to explore self expression
What do you love about circus?
Exploring movement and learning what our body is capable of doing and sharing the experience with others. Circus is unique in that there is a blend of athleticism and creativity. It can be scaled to all abilities. It’s very human
What are you currently exploring?
Right now I am interested in refining all movements and tricks with intention. Exploring more ways to move creatively
Photo by Suzanne Steinkist
Tanis Sydney MacArthur
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Silks/ hammock/ stilts
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
Observer from This Is Here
What do you love about circus?
I appreciate it as an extension of my first love, dance
What are you currently exploring?
Continuing to merge interpretive dance and circus arts
Photo by Banko Creative Studios-Sandra Mulder
Maria
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Lyra and Lollipop Lyra are definitely my favourites.
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
Winterfest 2025 AI Show. I poured a lot of emotion into that piece and really wanted to move people with the performance.
What do you love about circus?
I love that circus lets me be creative while constantly challenging myself. There’s always something new to learn, and I love pushing myself outside my comfort zone and discovering what I’m capable of.
What are you currently exploring?
I’m currently exploring other apparatuses and also working on my flexibility.
Photo by Ramucy
Asia Laviolette
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Silks, trapeze, and lollipop lyra.
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
Last year, my passion project Equinox came to fruition. I produced and managed an intimate evening of curated performances of all kinds in a speakeasy style lounge with drinks, music, and of course, circus!
What do you love about circus?
I love the unique combination of physicality and artistry. Every single aspect of it excites me from the costumes to the music to the performance itself.
What are you currently exploring?
I’m currently exploring aerial straps which is a new apparatus to me.
Photo by Ramucy
Sarah P
Favourite apparatus or skill: Clowning and crowdwork and acrobatic stilting
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
This is Here feather monster, paper Cthulu mask, Volcano God, Dream Badger!
What do you love about circus?
Connecting to the audience and finding the play in the mundane.
What are you currently exploring?
Clown personae in development
Photo by Cyprian Estrada
Lisa Crapsi
Favourite apparatus or skill: Aerial, Stilt Walking, Group Acro
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume: I love creating characters around fun themes, choosing music with big crescendos, and building choreography with bold, dramatic movements and beautiful costumes that bring the whole character to life.
What do you love about circus? I love the fitness, energy, performance, and challenge of circus.
What are you currently exploring? Group Acro and aerial doubles
Photo by Erick Sta. Marie
Jennie
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Silks
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
I always look forward to the winter cabaret. I love the magic of performing in our own space.
What do you love about circus?
I’m drawn to the creative aspect of circus. It’s a chance to remember that life is way too short to take yourself too seriously, so might as well have fun with it.
What are you currently exploring?
I’m currently working on juggling and spinning poi.
Steph Davis
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Clowning, pole and stilts – ideally combined in various ways
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
I loved creating and performing a pole dance in which I was a lizard in a Mexican jungle.
What do you love about circus?
The physical learning and growing is so challenging and satisfying. The creative opportunities are endless and there is so much space for the imagination. It also connects me on the regular with some of the coolest people around. I love co-creating pieces with the collective. Oh and making costumes!
What are you currently exploring?
Acro-stilt skills – I’m working on my handstands so that I can do them on stilts!
Jessica
Photo by Kevin Simpson
Abby Goldstein
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Silks, hoop, and lolly are my usual loves, but I’m always excited to try something different, unexpected, or a little unconventional. If it challenges me physically and lets me get creative, I’m in!
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
I’m still waiting for my official HAG debut, so my favourite chapter is yet to be written! Looking forward to getting involved and seeing what we create together when the time comes.
What do you love about circus?
I love the combination of strength, flexibility, and dance. There’s something so satisfying about building the strength to do something challenging and then making it look effortless through movement and flow. I love that circus pushes me physically while still leaving so much room for creativity, musicality, and personal style.
What are you currently exploring?
I’m exploring how to blend strength-based skills with dance and fluid movement. I’m looking to find that balance between powerful tricks, clean lines, and transitions that feel natural. I’m always looking to build strength, refine technique, and find new ways to move on and around the apparatus
Sarah Hoops!
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Hula hoops
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
My quad skates and aerial Lyra hoop routine!
What do you love about circus?
I love that in circus you are forever improving and evolving!
What are you currently exploring?
Musical Theatre!
Photo by Ramucy
Tricia C
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Corde lisse, group acro pieces, and bringing characters to life through movement.
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
Each new show we bring new skills, collaborations, and knowledge from past shows. Every time it gets better, so I would have to say one of my favourites is our most recent one La Nuit d’Hibernation.
What do you love about circus?
How it pushes me to be creative, curious, and constantly learning. I especially enjoy discovering new skills and being creative alongside fellow performers.
What are you currently exploring?
Analog art and how to incorporate it into performance and puppetry. I am interested in playing with things like a school projector to tell a story or using recycled materials to create costumes, and seeing what kinds of characters and worlds can come from everyday materials.
Photo by Ramucy
Vanessa Gemme
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Clowning, Aerial Silks, Playground Swings, Shadow Puppetry
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
The multidisciplinary and collaborative creations are my absolute favourite, Winterfest “La Nuit d’Hibernation” and was very special. I also love character exploration and bringing them to life.
What do you love about circus?
Making the impossible achievable through practice, love and magic.
What are you currently exploring?
I am actively wanting to thin the veil between audience and performers. I want to make art that brings people together and offers freedom to play through structure. Art has to come from our human lived experiences and speak of the world that we live in.
Photo by Juanito Christopher Aguil
Brooklyn
Favourite apparatus or skill:
Silks and lollipop
Favourite HAG creation, character or costume:
Equinox was an absolutely incredible show that I loved being a part of because it gave me the opportunity to challenge myself creatively and physically. I spent so much time training, creating, and perfecting two performances one on aerial silks and the other on the lollipop. Seeing all of that hard work come together on stage was such a rewarding experience, and I loved being able to share something that I created and worked so hard for.
What do you love about circus?
What I love most about circus is the feeling of freedom it gives me. I love that it constantly challenges me to push myself outside of my comfort zone, both physically and mentally, while allowing me to be creative and express myself.
What are you currently exploring?
im currently exploring aerial straps and Lyra hoop
Photo by Ramucy