Kevin Maile O’Keefe, has traveled the world since 1985 to both teach and study yoga and circus. As the artistic director of Circus Minimus, he has directed residencies, performances and afterschool programs that have touched the lives of over 100,000 children and their families. His One-Man Circus in-a-Suitcase show has been performed around the globe 300 times over the past twenty years. Among his many collaborations are Circus Poeticus (with BJ Ward and 600 children), Circus Musicus (with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra), Circus Musicus (in English and Spanish with Douglas Day), Circus Soup (with Community Action Through the Arts and 75 adults and kids with disabilities), Circus Around the World, (in over 15 schools), Circus Articus (at the Volcano Charter School, HI), and CircusYoga for the Whole Family (with Erin Maile O’Keefe). Original-themed Circus Kids Create shows include The Emerald City Circus (based on the Wizard of Oz), CircusMania (with the Beatles), It’s All Greek to Me and The Odyssesy (based on Greek mythology), Harry Potter saves Circus Minimus, and The Five Elements Circus.
In 2001 the IJA awarded Kevin O’Keefe, for an Educational Excellence Award for his work with Circus Minimus and AYCO.
Before founding Circus Minimus, Mr. O’Keefe was a
director and instructor for the Big Apple Circus School in New York and
the director of the Orchard Street Puppet Circus in Newark, NJ.
He is the founder of the American Youth Circus Organization. AYCO is a non-profit organization that promotes the participation of youth in circus arts, and connects the community of circus educators. The AYCO Festivals 2001 & 2003 were the first
youth circus festivals ever held in the United States.
Formerly an actor in NYC Kevin appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions, films, and many national commercials.
He has taught at Sarah Lawrence College, NYU, Rutgers University, The Ensemble Studio Theater, and Kripalu Yoga Center.
Mr. O’Keefe is a graduate of Binghamton University. Additionally he is a certified advanced Hatha Yoga Instructor, Flying Partner Yoga Instructor, USGA Safety Certified Instructor, Red Cross Certified CPR and has received First Aid training.