About Us
Mark and Yvette Branner work with a variety of artists, educators, government representatives and partner individuals to operate CiRCO Redempto.
Mark Branner and Yvette Sullivan initially met and fell in love while on a boat trip down the Yangtze River in early 1995. Both were teaching English at universities in China. Near the end of that academic year, a college student invited Mark to "come meet my people." This student was an ethnic minority – a Nosu Yi.
Since that time the idea for CiRCO Redempto has been slowing emerging in the imagination of the Branner family. After a successful "exploratory" trip in 2004, CiRCO Redempto's first summer training program commenced in the city of Xichang, China in July, 2005.
Mark's bio:
Mark is the director of Theatre Arts at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, CA. Mark received a B.A. degree from UCLA and an M.F.A. from the University of Hawaii. He has toured around the country with various groups, including Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Diavolo Dance Theatre and Monkey and the Waterfall Dance Theatre. He has also performed extensively in Asia, most notably throughout central China in the regional form of Chinese theater known as Sichuan Opera.
Yvette's bio:
Yvette is a practicing Marriage and Family Therapist Intern. Yvette received a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Santa Clara University and her M.A. in Marriage Family Therapy from Western Seminary. Her clinical practice includes work with bipolar and borderline disorder, domestic violence, those living with HIV and AIDS, and issues of trauma and abuse.