Who is Tanja Wirbelwind? 1977 the lively green-eyed artist Tanja Felten was born in Frankfurt a.M., Germany and grew up with four brothers and sisters in the Wetterau in Hessen . After nearly 16 years she left the parental care and completed a voluntary social year in ambulatory house nursing and a school for mentally handicapped children. This work encouraged her in her decision to want to become a nurse. But close to the end of the education it became more than obviously: The patients had (in contrast to the school-sister!) so much more joy and enthusiasm for Tanja's juggling with apples, oranges or freshly cleaned bedpans than for taking temperature or refreshing bandages that she shortly decided, to end nursing immediately and - without further "respectable" detours - to become a juggler. A lucky chance allowed Tanja to take private education with an experienced juggler and artist, and to acquire his extensive knowledge, mediated - among other schools - at the "Etage Berlin". 1996 the figure Tanja Wirbelwind was "born", and fast as the wind she learned to stilt and to hold three clubs in the air. Immediately her own linen-costume had to be sewn, since she already shone with her first entries on medieval events. During the winter months Tanja went to her "training camp" in beautiful Portugal where she - between various performances - perfected her talents in juggling, acrobatics, walking on stilts and many more. During the summer months she made herself a name in Germany with presentations on the Medieval markets, company celebrations, city presentations, child birthdays and many other festivals and events. 1999 Tanja completely returned back to Germany with innumerable innovative ideas in her luggage. Several evenings were spent with sewing new costumes and with elaborating program add-ons. Two turbulent and busy years with many commit-ments followed. Instead of the attendance of a circus school (planned for 2002) however a summer break became necessary - crowned at the end of Sept. 2002 by the birth of her gorgeous little daughter. And already in December 2002 new performances with her solo-program followed, while additionally in 2003 Tanja cooperated in the conception of two team-projects, DoubleX and Variedy. 2004 is waiting with new challenges: In March Tanja's training as a theatre & circus educator will start in the renowned Zentrum für Artistik und Theater JoJo.