Polina Volchek
Pink Puma
Pink Puma
CEO, Producer, Artist, Athlete
Polina Volchek, also known as Pink Puma, has inhabited the brutal environment of sport and show business industries for over 25 years. Her resume includes various sports, dance styles, performances, and even martial arts.
At the age of 17, this lady gained the title of “Master of Sports at the International Level”. Throughout her career, Polina became 3x Champion of Russia in Rhythmic Gymnastics, 4x World Pole Sport and Artistic Pole Champion for the Team USA, was a multiple winner of national and international competitions in Pole Sports, Dance, Art, and Fitness in USA, Russia, and all around the world. Polina is a former soloist in Cirque du Soleil, producer of the international performance project “Vertical.Show” and founder of the “American Pole League” and “Pole Sports Russia.” She is a holder of “Lifetime Achievement 2018” award by the International Pole Sports Federation and “Producer of Theatrical and Performance Arts” degree. Currently she is an in-demand online coach and world renowned expert in pole, aerial sports, and performance arts.
Polina's main goal is to promote pole and aerial sports as artistic, athletic, and family-friendly activity, and to achieve pole and aerial sports recognition on the national and Olympic levels. These support her broader goal to inspire more active lifestyles and a culture of physical fitness.
At the age of 17, this lady gained the title of “Master of Sports at the International Level”. Throughout her career, Polina became 3x Champion of Russia in Rhythmic Gymnastics, 4x World Pole Sport and Artistic Pole Champion for the Team USA, was a multiple winner of national and international competitions in Pole Sports, Dance, Art, and Fitness in USA, Russia, and all around the world. Polina is a former soloist in Cirque du Soleil, producer of the international performance project “Vertical.Show” and founder of the “American Pole League” and “Pole Sports Russia.” She is a holder of “Lifetime Achievement 2018” award by the International Pole Sports Federation and “Producer of Theatrical and Performance Arts” degree. Currently she is an in-demand online coach and world renowned expert in pole, aerial sports, and performance arts.
Polina's main goal is to promote pole and aerial sports as artistic, athletic, and family-friendly activity, and to achieve pole and aerial sports recognition on the national and Olympic levels. These support her broader goal to inspire more active lifestyles and a culture of physical fitness.
Maggie Powers
General Manager, Artist, Athlete, Dancer
Maggie Powers is a professional dancer and circus performer based in San Francisco. She began training in classical ballet at age 5, and hasn’t stopped dancing since. Her strong foundation has allowed her to make a seamless transition to the circus world, and she revels in a sophisticated balance between the two. Her movement quality, authenticity, and powerful frame have earned her icon status in the Bay Area performance scene.
Currently a 14 year company member and assistant choreographer of neo-circus Vau de Vire Society, she has performed all over the country, sharing her brand of expression and creativity. She has balanced swords, twirled ribbons, leapt through jump ropes on fire, roller-skated, and flown through the air with the greatest of ease - to name a few. Solos, group acts, and duets - there isn’t much this powerhouse hasn’t done.
Perhaps what she is known best for currently, is her creation of non-traditional apparatus. She conceptualized, designed, and had fabricated an original one-of-kind sculpture that she choreographed a mesmerizing piece on. As a non-traditional aerialist, she has found this as her niche and true love.
When she’s not performing, Maggie is a Personal Trainer. She has been certified since 2010 and truly enjoys helping people to feel strong and empowered in their own skin. Her empathetic but disciplined approach to training has kept her clients coming back; most have been with her for a decade or more, and she couldn’t be more grateful.
Currently a 14 year company member and assistant choreographer of neo-circus Vau de Vire Society, she has performed all over the country, sharing her brand of expression and creativity. She has balanced swords, twirled ribbons, leapt through jump ropes on fire, roller-skated, and flown through the air with the greatest of ease - to name a few. Solos, group acts, and duets - there isn’t much this powerhouse hasn’t done.
Perhaps what she is known best for currently, is her creation of non-traditional apparatus. She conceptualized, designed, and had fabricated an original one-of-kind sculpture that she choreographed a mesmerizing piece on. As a non-traditional aerialist, she has found this as her niche and true love.
When she’s not performing, Maggie is a Personal Trainer. She has been certified since 2010 and truly enjoys helping people to feel strong and empowered in their own skin. Her empathetic but disciplined approach to training has kept her clients coming back; most have been with her for a decade or more, and she couldn’t be more grateful.
The Beautiful Jewels
Jewels Good
Jewels Good
Stylistic Director, Artist
The Beautiful Jewels (aka Jewels Good) performs to critical acclaim throughout the world. Each of her performances is a lively mix of unusual stunts, comedy, magic, and a delightfully charismatic personality.
Born in St. Petersburg, raised in Stockholm and London, she made her mark living and working in Paris, Berlin for 20 years, and now San Francisco. She is fluent in four languages, but can perform her show in eight! Jewels is world renowned for her unique sense of style and superhuman performance artistry, and has toured 29 different countries over the last two decades. Being one of the last surviving female sword swallowers, she is always in demand, and holds several world and Guinness records.
Apart from swallowing swords, The Beautiful Jewels performs mind bending acts of magic. Jewels' acts delight audiences in TV shows, gala events, cabarets, varieté theaters, and festivals worldwide.
Jewels is also known for her custom designed nightclubs, shows, bars and event spaces from all across the world. She has personally worked with and been inspired by fashion icons such as Mugler, JP Gaultier, and Westwood. These days Jewels is the proud owner of fashion brand MikroBlack.
Born in St. Petersburg, raised in Stockholm and London, she made her mark living and working in Paris, Berlin for 20 years, and now San Francisco. She is fluent in four languages, but can perform her show in eight! Jewels is world renowned for her unique sense of style and superhuman performance artistry, and has toured 29 different countries over the last two decades. Being one of the last surviving female sword swallowers, she is always in demand, and holds several world and Guinness records.
Apart from swallowing swords, The Beautiful Jewels performs mind bending acts of magic. Jewels' acts delight audiences in TV shows, gala events, cabarets, varieté theaters, and festivals worldwide.
Jewels is also known for her custom designed nightclubs, shows, bars and event spaces from all across the world. She has personally worked with and been inspired by fashion icons such as Mugler, JP Gaultier, and Westwood. These days Jewels is the proud owner of fashion brand MikroBlack.
Nia Millani
Artist, Athlete
Nia Millan, originally from Costa Rica, is a professional Pole Artist and multidisciplinary circus performer. She is considered one of the top elite pole athletes in the USA, and holds over a decade experience competing, performing and teaching aerial arts.
With no prior background in dance or acrobatics, Nia discovered the pole and circus world in 2013 while living in England. She worked hard to develop her skills and in 2015 pole fitness became her full-time career, which has led her to hold several US National titles in Professional and Elite categories; as well as performing throughout the country in various circus productions. Aside from Pole, Nia also professionally performs Hair Suspension, Aerial Pole and Aerial Rope.
Nia has a unique style in execution with beautiful clean lines and graceful fluid movement; all mixed along with some extreme contorted elements. She loves training heavily through exploration and experimentation, which has facilitated the invention of unique tricks and transitions.
Nia is currently based in Las Vegas, NV, where she continues to grow her performing career. She loves coaching and teaching; being her goal as an instructor to help her students achieve their dream tricks and personal style. She believes you can achieve anything through persistence and discipline, and she hopes to inspire other emerging pole and circus artists in their road to success.
With no prior background in dance or acrobatics, Nia discovered the pole and circus world in 2013 while living in England. She worked hard to develop her skills and in 2015 pole fitness became her full-time career, which has led her to hold several US National titles in Professional and Elite categories; as well as performing throughout the country in various circus productions. Aside from Pole, Nia also professionally performs Hair Suspension, Aerial Pole and Aerial Rope.
Nia has a unique style in execution with beautiful clean lines and graceful fluid movement; all mixed along with some extreme contorted elements. She loves training heavily through exploration and experimentation, which has facilitated the invention of unique tricks and transitions.
Nia is currently based in Las Vegas, NV, where she continues to grow her performing career. She loves coaching and teaching; being her goal as an instructor to help her students achieve their dream tricks and personal style. She believes you can achieve anything through persistence and discipline, and she hopes to inspire other emerging pole and circus artists in their road to success.
Max van der Sterre
Artist, Dancer
Born in San Francisco, Max is a classically trained ballet dancer and performer. He has been a member of New York City Ballet, Alabama Ballet, and Smuin Contemporary Ballet. Performing nationally and abroad since 2005, he has danced the works of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Albert Evans, Agnes de Mille, Jiri Kylian, Twyla Tharp, Pontus Lidberg, Emery LeCrone, Amy Seiwert, Rex Wheeler, and Myles Thatcher. He was a dancer in the film Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Expanding his performance skillset, Max is now a member of the Vau de Vire Society. With great love for music and physical expression he is excited to be a part of the After Dark cast.
Roman Tomanov
Artist
Roman Tomanov, a second-generation circus artist, was born in Moscow, Russia, and began his training at the age of 5 under the guidance of his father, Valerie Tomanov. At a young age, earning him the prestigious Silver Clown Award at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival when he was just 7 years old.
Roman's journey has taken him around the globe, competing in renowned circus festivals such as the Wuhan Circus Festival, Circus Festival of Latina, Festival Mondial De Demain, and many more.
In addition to his festival accomplishments, Roman has performed on the stage of Cirque Du Soleil's "Solstrum Wind Of Courage" and took part as a guest artist in “One Night For One Drop" by Cirque Du Soleil at the O Theater in Las Vegas. He has also performed in traditional Circus like Circus Hanford Big Apple Circus, Circus Connell as well as in grand productions such as Absinthe by Spiegelworld, "Zaia" by Cirque Du Soleil in Macau and "KA" at MGM in Las Vegas, and toured with "Kurios" by Cirque Du Soleil.
Besides Circus art Roman has Studied Music Production at Recording Connections Studio Piccolos in Montreal Canada. Certified by Berklee Online in Music Foundations, Critical Listening, Advance Ear Training, and Live Sound Production.
Roman's journey has taken him around the globe, competing in renowned circus festivals such as the Wuhan Circus Festival, Circus Festival of Latina, Festival Mondial De Demain, and many more.
In addition to his festival accomplishments, Roman has performed on the stage of Cirque Du Soleil's "Solstrum Wind Of Courage" and took part as a guest artist in “One Night For One Drop" by Cirque Du Soleil at the O Theater in Las Vegas. He has also performed in traditional Circus like Circus Hanford Big Apple Circus, Circus Connell as well as in grand productions such as Absinthe by Spiegelworld, "Zaia" by Cirque Du Soleil in Macau and "KA" at MGM in Las Vegas, and toured with "Kurios" by Cirque Du Soleil.
Besides Circus art Roman has Studied Music Production at Recording Connections Studio Piccolos in Montreal Canada. Certified by Berklee Online in Music Foundations, Critical Listening, Advance Ear Training, and Live Sound Production.
Mark Growden
Multi-instrumentalist, singer
Multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer Mark Growden is an incredible talent that recently joined AfterDark show.
Being a record producer, conductor, and visual artist known for his soulful and poetic performances Mark has toured North America, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.
Throughout his career Mark created scores for numerous dance and theater companies. He is the composer of the music for a variety of films. He uses his art and platforms to speak out about social issues, mental health, and the creation of art, aiming to cultivate empathy and understanding through his work.
Mr. Growden is currently based in Portland, OR and is in high demand within local music life.
Being a record producer, conductor, and visual artist known for his soulful and poetic performances Mark has toured North America, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.
Throughout his career Mark created scores for numerous dance and theater companies. He is the composer of the music for a variety of films. He uses his art and platforms to speak out about social issues, mental health, and the creation of art, aiming to cultivate empathy and understanding through his work.
Mr. Growden is currently based in Portland, OR and is in high demand within local music life.