Meet the Royals

Justin began performing with the famous Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus at 12 as a young acrobat.

As he grew, so did his talent and Justin mastered the most thrilling acts in the business- walking the Wheel of Death, racing motorcycles in the Globe, and launching himself as the Human Cannonball.

He has been soaring on the Flying Trapeze for over 20 years as both a flyer and a catcher. He has entertained audiences on some of the most prestigious stages: Germany, Monte Carlo, Japan, Mexico, and in nearly every state in the USA!

Justin is truly "the man who holds it all together" and is the Rock of the Royals.

April grew up a competitive gymnast and got her circus start at Florida State University in the Flying High Circus.

After graduating with her Bachelor’s of Science in Food Science and Nutrition, she joined the famous Flying Pages and has been performing professionally ever since.

One of the premier female trapeze artist flying today, April has been dazzling audiences with her aerial feats for nearly 15 years across America and the globe. She also presents a Cloudswing solo and is the Ringmistress of Royals' Spectacular .

Always ready with a joke, Paul Schimmel is one of the original Flying Royals. Born in Naarden, Holland, he came to the States to teach various circus arts at different summer camps.

The first time he felt the wind in his hair on the trapeze he never looked back and was a driving force behind the founding of Seattle's Emerald City Trapeze Arts and continues to help manage the Flying Program there. He performed as both flyer and catcher with several troupes before finding his home with the Royals.

Paul can often be found juggling in the back yard and perform a high fall in Spectacular from over 40' off the ground!

Seen here with Zoe, who often "is not bothering him', Matt and wife Andrea joined the troupe in 2023.

Matt was an active and disciplined child, becoming a champion in both Martial Arts and in Diving. Spending vacations at various Club Med resorts honed these skills into a love of flying trapeze and he began his career at Club Med in the Dominican Republic.

He relocated to Seattle to teach and perform at Emerald City Trapeze Academy before April and Justin offered him a place on the Royals' roster.

Matt is an exceptional teammate and also performs the Duo Straps number in Spectacular with Andrea.

All the way from Cali, Colombia, Andrea began learning acrobatics at a young age at Circo Por Todos. She dreamed of one day having her own gymnastics program and was working at Club Med Punta Cana as G.O. when she met Matt. Together they choreographed several numbers and Andrea discovered a passion for performing and curated a new dream.

She and Matt married in Seattle before joining the Flying Royals in 2023. Her growth as both a flyer and performer is a testament to her work ethic and determination in the Ring and behind the scenes. She is frequently helping April with kids and costumes- responsible for putting on nearly every rhinestone you see on the team's costumes.

The son of a Moroccan acrobat and Mongolian contortionist, Anwar grew up learning and performing in the Circus Juventus program in St. Paul, MN.

His first US performance tour was with the Royal Hanneford Circus and showcased Anwar's extensive skills on trampoline, trapeze, and hand balancing. He can still be seen upside down in Royals' Spectacular, both backstage and in Center Ring six chairs high!

The war in Ukraine brought Artem to Miami, FL where he was introduced to the staff at Miami Trapeze. The former Olympian was instantly good, to no one's surprise, and his coach there called Justin right away! A week later, Artem began the experience of a lifetime and continues to impress his teammates and audiences with his undeniable skill in the air and on the ground.

Try to get him to crack a smile when you see him hoop diving in Royals' Spectacular!