New NECCA Director Hails From Texas - CircusTalk

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New NECCA Director Hails From Texas

After a nationwide search that included reviewing dozens of applications, New England Center for Circus Arts has hired its next executive director.

Jennifer “Jenna” Struble, a Texas native, is expected to be in Brattleboro in February. She will be working remotely in January.

Struble said she is looking forward to moving to Vermont, a place she has not been to yet.

“Visiting New England has been on my bucket list,” she said. “It will be an adventure.”

But Struble has known Serenity Smith Forchion and her ex-husband, William Forchion, since their days together on Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco in Japan. At the time, Serenity and her twin sister, Elsie Smith, were performing an act together. This was before the sisters went on to found Nimble Arts and NECCA.

“Serenity and Bill were my first friends in Japan,” she said. “They were very sweet to me, taking me out and making me feel welcome.”

“We did very much enjoy working with Jenna and we’re quite excited to have her at NECCA,” said Smith Forchion, who noted Struble has other connections at NECCA.

“Sandra Feusi, a NECCA coach, and her husband, Sam Payne, who moved to Vermont a few years ago were also on tour with us with Cirque du Soleil and also know Jenna from Japan,” she said. “And Elena Day, who is our ProTrack program manager knows Jenna from her time with a different Cirque du Soleil show.”

While working in the nonprofit world, Struble watched from a distance, staying in touch as the sisters left Cirque du Soleil and launched their independent careers…

Read the Full Article at Brattleboro Reformer

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