Kristy Benack
kbwKristy Leigh Benack was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has been with Bombyx Collective since the beginning. Growing up, she attended Peggy Price Studio of Dance in Clairton, Pennsylvania. In 2004, she was accepted into Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a concentration in Jazz Dance. While at Point Park University, she studied under Douglas Bentz, Ronald Hutson, Jay Kirk, Judith Leifer-Bentz, Peter Merz and Ronald Tassone. She also teaches bootybarre by Tracey Mallet and aerial yoga at the Verve 360 in downtown Pittsburgh. While working hard, she continues to learn new tricks in the silks and really enjoys performing!
Kenneth Byrd

kbKenneth Byrd is a native of Buffalo NY and has over 21 years of gymnastics experience. He was the USAG Collegiate Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year in 2011 and has various other national titles and accomplishments under his belt. He was a duel interdisciplinary arts major for childhood development and theater major at The State University of NY College at Brockport, and also has a music minor. Performance credits include A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum under the direction of Broadway actress Susan Haefner, Boy Gets Girl at Rochester’s Geva Theatre, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Nutcracker with The Buffalo IC Ballet to name some favorites. He is very excited to be a part of bombyx collective and is looking forward to performing with the company!

O’Ryan McGowan-Arrowroot
O’Ryan is a circus performer, illustrator, dad, and all around nice guy. He left West Virginia at the age of 17 to travel for 8 years, visiting over 8 different countries and nearly every state in the US. In that time he learned many lessons and skills that are still with him today; everything from how to juggle fire to how to hop a freight train. These days O’Ryan spends his time performing circus shows in and around Pittsburgh, playing with his son, and making art. Though he juggles everyday, he is happy to hear the freight trains in the distance.