Meet our team

Donald Lehn (New York, USA, July 28, 1952) State University of NY at Buffalo, BA- English and French Languages, Magna Cum Laude) Donald Lehn has lived in the Spain region since 1981. He founded and from 1994 to 2021 was director of the Carampa Circus School in Madrid (Premio Nacional de Circo 2011), was a member of the board of directors and President of the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools (www.FEDEC .eu) and is a founding partner of: The IberAmerican Circus Federation (FIC). He was the promoter of the Circus Specialty in the Dance and Visual Arts degree at the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid. This year, he has participated in the development of circus training projects in France (Institut National de Music Hall- Artistic Committee, Esactó Lido- Jury 1st graduating class of their Diploma National Superior, Mighty Jambo Circus Academy- consultant, He joined the Board of Directors of the international the artistic collaboration project Clowns Without Borders, and participated as a performer in 2022 in missions to Zimbabwe and Ecuador, in collaboration with UNHCR. He is the author of the first book on the art of juggling in the Spanish language, Agáchate y Vuélvete a Agachar (Editorial Frakson), among many other publications, translations and conferences presented all over the world. Finally, he has been a performer- comic juggler and magician- for over 45 years and as such has taken his one man show to North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia! You can find an in depth interview for the Theater Archives of the Spanish Ministry of Culture (in Spanish), here: CDAEM- Instituto Nacional de las Artes Escénicas de España: https://www.teatro.es/contenidos/figuras/donald-b-lehn

John was born in 1979 in Kenya. He has got vast experience in the acrobatics field. His journey started in 1997 as trainer and advisor for acrobatic groups in Eastlands, which counted with his services up to 2009. He participated in different themed events for 2 years in Kenya and worked with the Ministry of Culture as a performer for more than 7 years. From 2000 to 2007 he worked as performer for Mighty Jambo and Out of Africa acrobatic group in the UK. During this period he developed his leadership skills working as group leader and manager, which was complemented with a 2-year education on Business Administration. He also has a certificate in Business English from EBC International TELF Certificate Madrid. After his arrival to Spain he set up his own English Academy (www.myschoolmadrid.com). He has been working as business English teacher in reputable organizations giving classes to executives like in Bank of Spain, Cintra, Thyssen Museum to name but a few. Here he continuously developed his communication and human relations skills. He always tries to teach his students the importance of intercultural awareness and sharing of different ideas.He was invited to the FEDEC Internal Conference in Madrid that was held on 19th-22nd April 2017.He also attended the 39th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain on 31st January to 4th February 2018 in Paris,France. Along his career he has demonstrated a great capacity to motivate others and get the best out of people by transmitting his enthusiasm and passion of acrobatics (he has a slogan that says: Acrobatics is my life and My life is acrobatics). The passion about acrobatics and the willing to change reality for youth in his country has led him to organize and put much efforts into this project. He is really excited about the opportunity to bring together the worlds of circus art and the social sector. The two have so much to learn from each other and by bringing the tools of circus art and culture thinking to poverty-related challenges, he believes they can have real impact on communities around Kenya.

Velma Kavaka is the Director/Project Manager of Mighty Jambo Circus Academy. She has a Degree in journalism from Mount Kenya University- Nairobi, Diploma in journalism from NAIROBI INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS STUDIES, Diploma in Public Relations, Advertising and Journalism and media studies from INSTITUTE OF COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT- Bournemouth,England, Certificate in Information Technology (IT) JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE & amp;TECHNOLOGY KAREN CAMPUS. Velma is hardworking and passionate about performing arts.This lead her involment to the Mighty Jambo Circus Academy project.We really appreciate Velma´s involvement to our project.

Kahindi Baya Thoya was born in 09 June 1991 in Malindi kenya.He trained teeterboard in Russia for 1year 2 months. He has performed Internationally 1 year in Turkey,9 months in Taiwan,1 month in Bahrain, 1 year in Iran and 3 months in Spain.He has done numerous teaching courses and workshops in Mighty Jambo Circus Academy. Kahindi teaches floor acrobatics,pyramids,rope skipping,Teetterboard,icarrian game,rola bola,ladder balancing,Hand to hand balancing and hoops.

Etha Struick has been a professional circus performer & New Circus choreographer since 1981, having worked with pioneering circus and theatre groups and festivals in 12 countries.Searching passionately for new forms, Etha was fortunate to be trained by the venerable Osmanisisters.They taught her their finest main á main acrobatics and all that belongs to the work in the circus. Etha makes contemporary circus acts fused with urban dance , Commedia and innovative use of staging, creating spectacular and poetic New Circus work. In addition she was house circus choreographer for De Acrobaat and Circus Ramblas and worked also as a circus and mime choreographer for Sahayogtheatre and Theatre 020, creating spectacular acts. After Etha’s circus career as a performer came to an end, she was house choreographer in different circus and theatre groups. Etha started her own circus school De Acrobaat with a high level of circus technique and creativity with one wish : to help more than 200 youngsters (6-20 years) to achieve their circus dreams. Etha now acts as the Circus Advisor and Choreographer to Mighty Jambo Circus Academy.

He was born in July, 1973, in Kenya. Fluent English and Kiswahili. In 1991, when he was 18 years old, he started his professional career as a dancer. He has performed nationally and internationally (in South Korea and India). With time he has gained a solid experience in his job as a choreographer in different events such as the BBC Awards, the CNN Awards, Kenya Airways Product Launches, Sean Paul Performance, Miss India Kenya , Seoul South Korea, East Meets West Performance – India /Kenya , Pusang South Korea , Zee Cine Awards Mauritious , Dogo South Koera , NYTA - National Youth Talent Academy ,Dalmin Dancers, German – Sturtgent, Berlin performance, Safaricom Rugby Sevens , Kenya Airways Launch, in 2000 -2006 Artistic Director (Kuruka Maisha street children project) and Microsoft Launch and Currently he is the Artistic Director in Safari park Hotel Nairobi Kenya(famously known of their Safari cats show) . He has also choreographed shows in India and Kenya. He is the Artistic Director Dance department at ‘Mighty Jambo Circus Academy’ and forms part of the Training Committee. Joseph is a dynamic and innovative person who offers the youth of the academy a quality artistic training.