sound weavers
Who we are
Soundweaver is an innovative aerial circus theater collective based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Our artistic vision is deeply rooted in exploring the intricate balance between the natural world and urban living. Through our performances, we aim to weave a tapestry of sound and movement that highlights the complex and often contrasting relationship humans have with the earth, especially within the context of modern urban lifestyles.
Our work is motivated by the desire to reconnect audiences with the primal rhythms of nature, using the art of aerial performance to transcend the boundaries between terrestrial and ethereal realms. We draw inspiration from the ever-changing landscapes that surround us, transforming these elements into powerful narratives that resonate on a personal and communal level.
Conceptually, Soundweaver challenges the conventional interpretation of space and gravity, harmonizing these physical elements with innovative soundscapes. Our performances are not merely about visual spectacle but aim to evoke emotion and inspire reflection on our place within the natural world. Each act is meticulously crafted to explore themes such as sustainability, ecological interconnectedness, and the harmony that can be achieved between human creativity and the environment.
As artists, we value collaboration, adaptability, and the fusion of diverse artistic disciplines. Our collective is a tapestry of diverse talents, including aerialists, musicians, and visual artists, all collaborating to create immersive experiences that captivate and challenge our audiences. Ultimately, Soundweaver seeks to be a conduit through which audiences can both lose and find themselves in the hauntingly beautiful dynamics of sound and movement, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the silent conversations between our urban existence and the natural world that sustains us.
SpiraLynn (Christy Sanford) www.spiralynn.com
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SpiraLynn (also known as Christy Sanford) is an award-winning aerialist based in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has over a decade of aerial performance experience under
her sparkly belt. She specializes in aerial silks, aerial hoop, and ground based
character work.
Her performance career began in 1996 as DJ Kinder - Atlantic Canada’’s first female
DJ. Five years later she traded her headphones for sneakers as one of the first female
breakdancers on the East Coast of Canada. After 10 years she discovered her love of
aerial arts and studied with Marlo Fisken, Bendy Kate, and Born to Fly.
She has performed in Halifax at a variety of performing arts, corporate and charity
events including: Aerial Opera, Neptunes Scotia Bank Stage, Tall ships, Spinning with
the Stars and Live Art Dance. She has been featured in the Chronicle Herald, the
Coast, and CTV Atlantic.
Her lifelong passion for athletic and artistic expression shapes her work as an aerialist.
Her BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design gives her a foundational
knowledge of visual and performing arts. Her background in competitive breakdancing
and DJing informs her movement and musical choices. Her fitness certifications in
When she’s not contorting her body and pointing her toes high above an audience, she
can be found instructing certifications and classes at inesS® Circus, the studio she
owns and operates in downtown Halifax since 2005. She spends her off-hours at her
off grid cabin in the woods with her husband, daughter, and French bulldog named
Rocky.
Betty Leonardi
Betty’s pole and aerial journey began as a spicy side quest to support her musical theatre background, and quickly became her main passion. She has been teaching
since 2012 in studios across Canada. She currently works full time at inesS Circus in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Betty has been an active member of the competition scene for over a decade, as a competitor, coach, and judge. She loves performing, and has won several national
titles. She is best known for her dynamic skills and twisty transitions. Her training includes many disciplines such as aerial hoop, pole, aerial hammock, silks, dance trapeze, sway pole, fire dancing, and ballet. Betty believes in continuous education and exploration, and loves deep diving into the anatomical and technical aspects of pole and aerials. Her background in the physiotherapy industry as both a Clinic Manager and Stretch Therapist, as well as years working as a Personal Trainer, have shaped her approach to fitness, pole, and aerials. Outside of aerials, Betty is passionate about reading, coffee, and cats.
Kristin Langille
Kristin Langille is a circus performer and coach at inesS cIrcus studio. She has had a steady career for over 15 years performing for local circus companies as a collaborator as well as a creator on several award- winning full length contemporary circus shows (Up in the Air 2025- Fringe hit and Natutica- Movement Award). She has also worked nationally and internationally for festivals, competitions and shows with her aerial acts in silks and trapeze (IIFC Mumbai India and PPST Hong Kong). She regularly performs solo and duo acts in aerial silks, hoop, trapeze and is a regular fire dancer in Serpentine Studios shows including: LED dance and fire-breathing acts at the 2023 International Tattoo, Fire and Water Festival, and this summer performed her innovative act on fire-trapeze for the Millbrook Indigenous Games.
Alyaz Ugalde, https://www.alyazphotography.com/
I am from Mexico and I am a Mechanical Engineer, but I found my true passion in photography. It all started with the arrival of my dog Maya, I wanted to take beautiful pictures of her as I saw them on the internet, and it was then when I realized that just pressing the shutter was not enough.
I learned the principles of photography and techniques by myself with blogs, books and videos on the web , and later in 2018 I took the online course of Professional Photography at the New York Institute of Photography
I recently moved to Halifax Canada, and started
the Professional Photography Course at the Nova Scotia Community College.
I do different genres, from portraits to landscapes, wildlife and macro, and lately I started doing astrophotography, but my specialty is pet photography, especially dogs, where I seek to capture the unique beauty of each dog and the wonderful moments they share with us, looking at the same time to raise awareness that they are also part of our families and
deserve the best.
I take my photos with the purpose of giving the people a beautiful moment to treasure and also that for a brief moment in their daily lives they see the wonders that surround them and that they may have never seen or perceived.
