Allison Turner
Head Instructor/Owner/Founder

Allison has practiced, performed, and taught circus arts with Cheryl Taylor since 2006.  Starting as a student, Allison later become Assistant Director of Cirque San Jose. Allison founded Taylor and Turner Circus in 2016, paying tribute to her longtime coach, mentor, and friend in the name. ​

​As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with her BS in Therapeutic Recreation from San Jose State University and as a long-time circus instructor, Allison is passionate about challenging students where they are when they come in that day. Allison strives to create a positive, supportive, and safe environment where students feel free to make mistakes and try again. 

Cheryl Taylor
​Founder of Cirque San Jose

Cheryl has taught circus arts, dance, horse vaulting, and sport acrobatics for over 50 years. Teaching everyone from preschoolers to world class athletes at competition level, Cheryl has a broad range of experience in the field. 

Amanda Craine
Silks Instructor

Noa Sasson
​Instructor

​​I’ve been participating in circus at Cirque San Jose with Cheryl for almost 10 years now (ever since I was going into 3rd grade). I started out as a shy little camper in the summer camp after having decided to try circus out because it looked fun and awesome, then joined as a student in the year-round circus classes, improving upon my skills. I continued to participate in camp and classes and began to perform in some professional shows with Cirque San Jose such as Cirque du Magique. In middle school, I became an assistant circus teacher, beginning to learn how to teach the skills that I’d been taught while continuing to learn new tricks. I then became an official teacher in the summer of 2015. My favorite circus skills are floor gymnastics, silks, and Spanish web, but I also love to spin poi, walk on circus balls, and juggle. I also have a background in music and dance, having played the piano since I was 7 and having taken dance classes and performed in my school dance show. I fell in love with circus ever since I started, as not only did I get to learn many cool tricks that I can show off to my friends, but I also built up my sportsmanship and self-confidence. I love that circus highlights each individual’s strengths and avoids competition, fostering friendships and a sense of teamwork. Also, in addition to having improved my flexibility and strength, circus has definitely helped me to break out of my shell and discover my potential, and I’m hoping to pass these aspects on to my students through the art of circus. I love teaching circus, and I especially love to see the excited look in the students’ eyes when they learn a new trick and their overall growth.

Shawn Pinkham
​Instructor

Shawn has participated in circus camps and classes with Cheryl since she was 11. This is her first year teaching and she can't wait to meet everyone! She is a junior at Los Gatos High School and has a passion for musical theatre. Her main goal for the classes is to have each child realize his or her potential, not only in circus, but in all other activities, and to create an environment that allows kids to work hard while playing hard!

Steven Turner
Website Designer

Married to the owner of TNT Circus.  He helps with the finances and keeping the website running.  When Steven isn't helping the circus, he is a high school mathematics and computer science teacher.