Laurel Feller, a cherished daughter of Omaha, Nebraska, and a radiant beacon in the city’s creative and healing communities, passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind a wide-reaching legacy defined by love, movement, connection, and an indomitable spirit. She was 36 years old. To those who knew her, Laurel was not just the vibrant founder and artistic director of Omaha Circus Arts—she was a guiding light, a compassionate soul who offered her heart fully and her time generously. Her passing has left a profound and indescribable ache in the hearts of her family, friends, students, and countless lives she touched in both small, quiet moments and larger-than-life performances.
Born and raised in Omaha, Laurel embodied the very essence of the Midwestern spirit—resilient, kind, creative, and warm. As a child, she was curious and joyful, always exploring the boundaries of movement, rhythm, and expression. Her early love for gymnastics and dance was apparent to those around her, but it wasn’t until she discovered the world of circus arts that she truly found her calling. Laurel’s parents encouraged her early passions, often marveling at her fearlessness and her natural ability to command a stage while simultaneously inviting others into her world. Her home was filled with laughter, movement, and the freedom to express—a legacy that she would carry into adulthood and eventually share with her own daughter.
Laurel’s journey to becoming one of Omaha’s most beloved artistic figures wasn’t about fame or accolades—it was about building a space that could serve as a sanctuary for the misfits, the dreamers, and anyone searching for confidence and connection in their bodies and minds. When she founded Omaha Circus Arts, it wasn’t just a school—it was a revolution cloaked in grace and glitter. Aerial silks, lyra hoops, juggling pins, and balance boards became instruments of transformation in Laurel’s skilled hands. But more than the tools, it was Laurel herself who made the space extraordinary. She greeted every student—child or adult, beginner or seasoned—with equal measures of enthusiasm, kindness, and faith in their potential.
Parents recall watching shy children blossom under her gentle guidance. Adults speak of how they found their confidence, strength, and joy in their own bodies again through her encouragement. The space Laurel built pulsed with life, not just from performance, but from purpose. What made Laurel extraordinary wasn’t just her skill in the air, but her profound emotional intelligence on the ground. She could sense when someone was struggling and would wordlessly move toward them with a presence so calming it felt like healing. Whether it was a hug, a thoughtful text, or a silent look of encouragement, Laurel had an uncanny way of making people feel truly seen.
Students remember her not just for teaching them how to invert or spin, but for the ways she taught them to trust themselves again. For many, she was the first person to reflect their strength back to them. Aerialist. Acrobat. Empath. Dreamer. Leader. Laurel wore many hats with humility and grace.
Of all her roles, Laurel’s favorite and most cherished was being a mother. Her daughter—only 18 months old—was the center of her universe. Friends describe the awe in Laurel’s voice whenever she spoke of her child, how her face would light up with unmatched joy as she recounted even the smallest milestones: first steps, first words, the wonder of discovering the world. She surrounded her daughter with music, color, laughter, and unconditional love. Though their time together was heartbreakingly brief, it was filled with moments of deep connection that left an indelible mark. Laurel’s spirit lives on in her daughter’s bright eyes and curious heart.
A GoFundMe has been set up by close friends and family to ensure that her daughter is provided for in the years to come. The campaign has already drawn support from around the country, a testament to the far-reaching impact of Laurel’s love.
Laurel’s family—her mother, her sister, and extended loved ones—are mourning a loss that words cannot contain. She was their light, their laughter, their anchor in times of storm. While she is now reunited in spirit with her father, brother, and grandmother, her physical absence leaves a void that will be felt every day. Her friends describe her as the kind of person who would drop everything to help someone in need. She remembered birthdays, she sent handwritten notes, she showed up at shows and rehearsals even when she wasn’t performing. Laurel made time for people in a way that made them feel like they mattered—because to her, they truly did.
Laurel’s influence on the Omaha arts community is immeasurable. Through Omaha Circus Arts, she redefined what it meant to perform. Her shows weren’t just technically dazzling—they told stories, touched hearts, and often left audiences in tears. Her work was a mix of daring and vulnerability, strength and softness. It was unmistakably hers. But even more enduring than her performances are the people she taught and inspired. Dozens of aerialists, circus artists, and performers cite Laurel as the person who introduced them to the world they now call home. She mentored, trained, encouraged, and celebrated every single person who walked through her studio’s doors.
Her signature routines—the twirls suspended in the air, the slow controlled drops, the moments of absolute stillness—will continue to be practiced and performed in her honor. Her students have vowed to carry forward her work and her spirit in everything they do.
Omaha has rallied in the wake of Laurel’s passing. Social media has become a digital memorial, with hundreds of posts sharing stories, pictures, and videos of Laurel in motion and in joy. Memorials of flowers, silks, candles, and chalk-drawn messages now line the entrance to Omaha Circus Arts. A public celebration of life will be held in the coming weeks—an event Laurel would’ve wanted to be full of music, movement, and shared memories. Details will be posted on Omaha Circus Arts’ website and social media pages. At the memorial, attendees are encouraged to wear bright colors, bring flow toys, or simply show up and hold space for a life that was magnificently lived. There will be an open mic for those who wish to speak, perform, or simply express how Laurel’s presence changed them.
Laurel Feller’s life was, in many ways, an embodiment of what circus teaches us: how to balance amidst chaos, how to fly despite fear, and how to support one another when gravity pulls us down. Though she is no longer physically present, Laurel’s legacy remains etched into the very fabric of the Omaha community. In every silken climb, every shared laugh, every act of courage inspired by her words—she lives on. Her daughter, her students, her friends, and all those who felt her love will continue to rise—just as Laurel helped so many rise before. And in the spaces between movement and stillness, grief and grace, we will remember Laurel not for the way she left, but for the countless ways she lifted us all.
