About us
Sara Phoenix Howell
Founder, Owner, and Creative Director
Sara Phoenix is celebrated and well known for her high-art imagination, professionalism, and warmth. She leads a dynamic team of staff and cirque, movement, and visual performing artists. At the heart of Cirque de Vol is a dedication to creative collaboration and passion for interweaving unique art forms.
From the graceful and classic to the stunning and bizarre, Sara delights in producing and directing shows and events that captivate and inspire. She has over a dozen years of experience in the events, entertainment, and performing arts industries and has organized hundreds of corporate, civic, and private events.
Her resume includes an eclectic array of productions, including international performing arts collaborations, cirque nouveau fashion Shows, black tie galas, theatre productions, and city festivals, among others.
Houston Odum
Event Booking and Talent Director
Houston joined Cirque de Vol in April of 2024 as the Event Booking Manager. Houston’s Circus career began at age 9 as a juggler. He went on to win awards nationally for his act at the Juniors World Championships of Juggling and the Atlanta Juggling Festival. He holds a Bachelors in Fine Arts from UNC School of the Arts for Design & Production and founded his own circus company Circus EVO amidst the Pandemic in 2020. He has an immense passion for the world of circus and working alongside the artists that make up the awesome community!
Joel Malkoff
Event Booking and Talent Manager
Joel is a lifelong acrobat, circus artist, and booking agent at Cirque De Vol. His diverse movement background began in central Indiana, where he grew up homeschooled and explored various modalities, including skateboarding, gymnastics, partner dance, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
His journey eventually led him to the circus, and he went on to graduate from the National Circus School of Montreal in 2020 with a major in tight-wire. Since then, Joel has traveled the world performing, refining his skills as an artist, and developing original shows alongside his colleagues.
In his role at Cirque De Vol, Joel is passionate about connecting artists with premier work opportunities and expanding the reach of circus arts across the United States. He takes pride in understanding the unique details of every client's event, ensuring they are paired with the ideal resources and performers to bring their vision to life.
Hannah Grove
Event Booking and Talent Manager
Hannah Grove is a circus artist from the United States currently residing in Montreal, Quebec. She discovered circus through Circus Smirkus, where she toured for 4 years. She graduated from the National Circus School in Montreal, QC, with a major in Tight Wire, Hula Hoop and general Acrobatics. She expresses great interest in breaking down the traditional view of a circus artist to help redefine and create a new contemporary and hopes her work can aid in this process.
Kevin Nesnow
Rigger
Kevin has been a professional rigger, rope access and work at height safety trainer and evaluator, high angle technician, arborist, and fall protection safety equipment retailer for over fifteen years.
While receiving his MBA at the University of Hawaii, Kevin partnered with climbing outfitter Climb Aloha, providing professional fall protection equipment for all work at height industries. The company serves and accredits work at height professionals. During this time he began rigging for the performing arts, including aerial dance.
As an aerial rigger, Kevin has rigged professionally for aerial and performing arts productions, studio & commercial installations, large venue, concert, and theater productions, commercial TV and film productions, tower communications, cliffside rockfall mitigation, and remote power transmission line access.
