Juan Carlos Léon Benitez
Juan Carlos was born in Cuba and was a member of the National Gymnastics Team before going on to study at the National Circus School in Havana, specializing as an aerial and acrobatic catcher. He toured internationally with the Cuban State Circus before settling in the UK.
Jackie Léon Sysum
Jackie trained from an early age in gymnastics and dance. She was a professional dancer before discovering circus. She performed with leading British circus companies Ra Ra Zoo, Circus Senso, Scarabeus and No Fit State Before meeting Juan Carlos and forming Tuyo.
Jackie and Juan Carlos have been working together as Tuyo since 1995. Specializing in hand to hand acrobatics, adagio and aerial work they travelled all over the world as performers. They have recently retired their act to concentrate on their teaching work and are founder members of “Nott Circus” The first circus training space in the East Midlands. As teachers they trained the performers for the central show at the Millennium Dome and worked for several years teaching students on the degree course at the Circus Space. They have provided master classes for Circus centres around the UK and taught tumbling to the young stars of Billy Elliott. They were lead circus tutors on Sky TV show “Cirque de Celebrité and have worked with many performers and companies developing acrobatic and aerial work for performance.