Upcoming Workshops & Retreats
October 8-9, 2023
Teaching the Straight-Arm Inversion
at the American Circus Educators EdCon2022, Austin, TX (and virtual)
This workshop is lecture based and available in the online-only ticket.
February 20-23, 2023
The Parish Meeting
at Aerial Arts Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii
May 5-12, 2023
Unhinged
Sweet Retreats, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
You learned the rules. The right way to mount the hoop. The wrong way to climb the fabric. The right way to engage your shoulders. The wrong way to lift the leg. Now, get ready to break them. What if you wrap over instead of under? Will you like it with an arch instead of a curl? What are your limits?
Are you ready to geek out about movement and find out what makes you different? Unhinged is a retreat for aerialists ready to reclaim their time and lean into their desires to throw a middle finger to being told what to do.
Through new skills, sequences, & creative techniques, you’ll fill your artistic cup & speed up that journey toward your personal goals. You’ll veer into uncharted territory, follow your curiosities, and share supportive space. This retreat is for aerialists who are ready to explore the power of being confidently, radically Unhinged. The purpose of this retreat is to explore the creative and technical possibilities of movement on aerial fabric and aerial hoop. It’s going to get weird and we can’t wait.
Past Workshops and Retreats
Jun 30 2021 | 4-5pm pdt
Dynamic Dance Trapeze
On Zoom
This workshop will explore the dynamic side of dance trapeze. We will look at beats in different planes and pathways, with sneaky releases and hand switches. Prerequisites: straddle inversion and one-arm hang.
Aug 8, 2021 | 3:45pm-5:15pm edt
Dance Trapeze: Handstand Handiwork
Carolina Circus Symposium, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center (and virtual)
This workshop will explore the trapeze ropes and bar as a base of support for handstands on the dance trapeze. One arms or two… tucks, splits, and straddles… lowers, lifts, and presses. Let’s get inverted. Prerequisites: straddle inversion in the ropes & 10-second handstand against a wall.
Aug 8, 2021 | 2pm-3:30pm edt
Holy Shoulders!
Carolina Circus Symposium, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center (and virtual)
This workshop explores shoulder mobility and stability for overhead movers like aerialists and handbalancers. Both instructive and experiential, students will come away with a better understanding of their individual shoulder, upper back, and neck limitations, as well as strategies to stay safe in their practices. Drawing from somatic, myofascial, corrective exercise, rehabilitative, strength training, and flexibility methods, this workshop pulls from the newest research to provide a blueprint for circus shoulders. There are no prerequisites for this workshop.
Aug 7, 2021 | 2pm-3:30pm edt
Middle Split Ministry
Carolina Circus Symposium, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center (and virtual)
This workshop sets its sights on the peach. We will focus on the preparation, strength, and mobility for splitting like a boss. Both instructive and experiential, students will come away with a better understanding of their individual hip limitations, as well as strategies to continue to progress at home in their pancakes & middle splits. This workshop pulls from the latest mobility research to provide a blueprint for a productive and safe active flexibility practice. Find depth that you have never experienced before in your middles. There are no prerequisites for this workshop.
Equipment: peanut, 2 yoga blocks, light resistance band or miniband, foam roller
Oct 10, 2020 | 1pm-2:15pm pdt
Online Pop Up: Int/Adv Aerial Silks & Rope Single Strand Dynamics
On Zoom
In this pop-up workshop, we’ll explore dynamic movement on silks or rope (pick your poison). Bring your rosin.
Sept 5, 2020 | 11am-12:15pm pdt
Online Pop Up: Int/Adv Aerial Silks & Rope Single Strand Choreography
On Zoom
In this online workshop, silks and rope come to detente. Choose your pleasure, because this workshop uses only one dangly thing. We’ll be working on a choreographic phrase and I promise to make it weird.
Sept 14, 2019 | 5pm-6:30pm
Butt Stuff: Active Flexibility
Versatile Arts, Seattle, WA
This workshop takes aim at the peach. We will focus on the strength, stability, and mobility for splits and back-bending like a boss. You will come away with a program that you can implement and continue to progress at home.
Sept 14, 2019 | 3:30pm-5pm
Handstand Handiwork: Dance Trapeze
Versatile Arts, Seattle, WA
In this workshop, we will explore our inner handbalancers by using the ropes as a steady, and not so steady, support system on the dance trapeze. Bring your chevs!
Sept 13, 2019 | 7pm-8:30pm
Knotty Problems & Ephemeral Loops
Versatile Arts, Seattle, WA
Get ready to throw a rope tantrum. In this workshop, we’ll be tossing and turning, and loops will disappear and re-emerge. Your audience will not know what hit them.
Sept 9, 2019 | 6pm-7:30pm
Handstand Handiwork: Dance Trapeze
Boulder Circus Center, Boulder, CO
In this workshop, we will explore our inner handbalancers by using the ropes as a steady, and not so steady, support system on the dance trapeze. Bring your chevs!
Sept 8, 2019 | 10am-11:30am
Double Entendres: A Play on Loops
MOTH Contemporary Circus Center, Denver, CO
This workshop geeks out on double loop theory, using sling, straps, and spansets as our tools. We will explore familiar pathways leading to new wraps and tackle layered drops that use the entire sling length.
Sept 8, 2019 | 11:30am-1pm
Helter Skelter: Loud & Dirty Inversions
MOTH Contemporary Circus Center, Denver, CO
This vertical apparatus workshop looks at the fluency that comes from changing the shape of our bodies or pathways of our limbs mid-inversion. We will explore loops with our legs, slack drags, direction shifts, frontal-plane initiation, and well-timed releases.
Sept 7, 2019 | 12:30-2pm
Helter Skelter: Loud & Dirty Inversions
Fort Collins Circus Center, Fort Collins, CO
This vertical apparatus workshop looks at the fluency that comes from changing the shape of our bodies or pathways of our limbs mid-inversion. We will explore loops with our legs, slack drags, direction shifts, frontal-plane initiation, and well-timed releases.
Sept 6, 2019 | 5:30pm-7pm
Aerial Hacks
Boulder Circus Center, Boulder, CO
This workshop offers tips and techniques for mastering the flashiest tricks. Planches, roll-ups, crocs, and more will be explored on a variety of apparatuses. Ground-based educatives and conditioning will lay the groundwork for your dream skills.
Sept 3, 2019 | 7pm-8:30pm
Double Entendres: A Play on Loops
Voler Aerial Academy, Kansas City, KS
This workshop geeks out on double loop theory, using sling, straps, and spansets as our tools. We will explore familiar pathways leading to new wraps and tackle layered drops that use the entire sling length.
Sept 4, 2019 | 5:30pm-7pm
Helter Skelter: Loud & Dirty Inversions
Voler Aerial Academy, Kansas City, KS
This vertical apparatus workshop looks at the fluency that comes from changing the shape of our bodies or pathways of our limbs mid-inversion. We will explore loops with our legs, slack drags, direction shifts, frontal-plane initiation, and well-timed releases.
Aug 31, 2019 | 11am-12:30pm
Aerial Hacks
Cycropia, Madison, WI
This workshop offers tips and techniques for mastering the flashiest tricks. Planches, roll-ups, crocs, and more will be explored on a variety of apparatuses. Ground-based educatives and conditioning will lay the groundwork for your dream skills.
This workshop takes aim at the peach. We will focus on the strength, stability, and mobility for splits and back-bending like a boss. You will come away with a program that you can implement and continue to progress at home.
In this workshop, we will explore our inner handbalancers by using the ropes as a steady, and not so steady, support system on the dance trapeze. Bring your chevs!
Aug 30, 2019 | 6:30pm-8pm
Knotty Problems & Ephemeral Loops
Cycropia, Madison, WI
Get ready to throw a rope tantrum. In this workshop, we’ll be tossing and turning, and loops will disappear and re-emerge. Your audience will not know what hit them.
Aug 27, 2019 | 6pm-7:30pm
Dance Trapeze: Twisted Transitions & Handstand Handiwork
Agora Arts, Ferndale, MI
In this workshop, we will wind and spiral between the ropes and then flip the script, taking our hands to the bar and feet to the ropes. Learn to balance upside down and a variety of twisty transitions!
Aug 27, 2019 | 7:45pm-9:15pm
Double Entendres: A Play on Loops
Agora Arts, Ferndale, MI
This workshop geeks out on double loop theory, using sling, straps, and spansets as our tools. We will explore familiar pathways leading to new wraps and tackle layered drops that use the entire sling length.
Aug 25, 2019 | 11am-1pm
Aerial Hacks
Bird’s Nest Circus Arts, Buffalo, NY
This workshop offers tips and techniques for mastering the flashiest tricks. Planches, roll-ups, crocs, and more will be explored on a variety of apparatuses. Ground-based educatives and conditioning will lay the groundwork for your dream skills.
Aug 25, 2019 | 1:15pm-3:15pm
Helter Skelter: Loud & Dirty Inversions
Bird’s Nest Circus Arts, Buffalo, NY
This vertical apparatus workshop looks at the fluency that comes from changing the shape of our bodies or pathways of our limbs mid-inversion. We will explore loops with our legs, slack drags, direction shifts, frontal-plane initiation, and well-timed releases.
Aug 25, 2019 | 4pm-6pm
Handstand Handiwork: Dance Trapeze
Bird’s Nest Circus Arts, Buffalo, NY
In this workshop, we will explore our inner handbalancers by using the ropes as a steady, and not so steady, support system on the dance trapeze. Bring your chevs!
Aug 24, 2019 | 3:30pm-5:30pm
Double Entendres: A Play on Loops
Bird’s Nest Circus Arts, Buffalo, NY
This workshop geeks out on double loop theory, using sling, straps, and spansets as our tools. We will explore familiar pathways leading to new wraps and tackle layered drops that use the entire sling length.
Aug 24, 2019 | 5:45pm-7:45pm
Butt Stuff: Active Flexibility
Bird’s Nest Circus Arts, Buffalo, NY
This workshop takes aim at the peach. We will focus on the strength, stability, and mobility for splits and back-bending like a boss. You will come away with a program that you can implement and continue to progress at home.
Jun 22, 2019 | 12pm
Handstand Handiwork: Dance Trapeze
The Flying Arts Collective, Toronto, Ontario
In this workshop, we will explore our inner handbalancers by using the ropes as a steady, and not so steady, support system on the dance trapeze. Bring your chevs!
Jun 1, 2019 | 11:30am
Introduction to Aerial Straps
DivaFit, Herndon, VA
Jan 2, 2019 | 5pm
Aerial Architecture
Majestic Theatre, Corvallis, OR
This aerial theory workshop on fabric explores the movements and shapes fundamental to moving on any aerial apparatus. Each element is broken down with conditioning, ground-based educative movements, and aerial progressions so that beginners can begin to build physical and mental preparation for more advanced skills and experienced aerialists can find greater strength to support expression in their movement. Minimum skill requirement: Ability to bent-arm invert on any aerial apparatus from the ground.
Jan 2, 2019 | 6:30pm
Unique Inversions: Twisting, Threading, and Looping Mid-Effort
Majestic Theatre, Corvallis, OR
This fabric workshop will look at the fluency that comes from changing the shape of our bodies or the pathway of our limbs in the middle of the inversion. We will explore loops with our legs, slack drags, direction shifts, lateral initiation, and well-timed releases. Although fabric is our medium, this workshop will give all aerialists new ways of thinking about moving on their given apparatus. Minimum skill requirement: Ability to bent-arm invert on any aerial apparatus from the ground.
Jan 2, 2019 | 8:00pm
Circus Mobility: An Active Flexibility Workshop for All Movers
Majestic Theatre, Corvallis, OR
Drawing from Jessica’s background in the GYROTONIC® method, the Functional Movement Screen, and strength and conditioning principles, this workshop will provide students with techniques to prepare their bodies for the demands of circus, dance, gymnastics, and sport training. We will investigate soft tissue preparation, nerve glides, and muscle activation, strengthening and end-range control, as well as breath regulation in deep stretch. Participants will leave with a toolkit to apply to their pre-activity warmup and longer stretching sessions. No minimum skill requirements.
Jun 24-30, 2018
Technical Tune-Up Intensive
AerialWorks, Castle Rock, CO
This weeklong intensive will focus on the biomechanics of and conditioning for foundational aerial movements. We will deconstruct and geek out on the “simple” . . . inversions, meathooks, flags, c-shapes, and more. Then we will subvert obvious pathways and add momentum to create new vocabulary on rope, fabric, sling, and dance trapeze. This workshop is intended for intermediate and advanced aerialists looking to push their technique and artistry to the next level, as well as aerial instructors wishing to deepen their understanding of foundational aerial movements. Participants must be curious about the human body, open to discussing their perceived limitations, and willing to safely challenge those boundaries. The week will include approximately 5 hours per day of instruction.
Jun 8, 2018 | 6:30pm
Active Flexibility
Elements Fitness and Wellness Center, Washington, DC
This workshop is designed for coaches, movement teachers, athletes, yogis, dancers, and aerialists looking either to safely increase their mobility or to control their flexibility and prevent overuse injuries. Participants will focus on increasing the extensibility and the neuromuscular efficiency of muscles, as well as the dynamic stability (strength and motor control) of joints, especially at the end ranges of motion. This workshop will include a dynamic warm-up sequence, soft tissue preparation (foam rolling and trigger point release), nerve glides, and muscle activation and strengthening, including positional isometrics.
Apr 29, 2018 | 3:30pm
String Theory: Double Loop
Monarca In Flight, Falls Church, VA
This workshop geeks out on double loop theory, using both sling and straps. We will explore familiar pathways that lead to new wraps and tackle layered drops that use the entire sling length. Minimum skill requirements: Ability to invert cleanly in the air.
Apr 29, 2018 | 1:30pm
Torque: A Spinning Workshop on Dance Trapeze
Monarca In Flight, Falls Church, VA
Single-point trapeze emphasizes connection with the ground, creating space for dance with the bar. In this workshop, students will examine a variety of spins that serve as launching pads for innovative sequencing in the air and statement choreographic moments. We will break down the mechanics and physics and discuss strategies to build spin-tolerance. BYO ginger chews.
Apr 28, 2018 | 2:30pm
Rope Inversions: Twisting, Threading & Looping
In The Dark Circus Arts, Baltimore, MD
This rope workshop will look at the fluency that comes from moving our bodies and limbs in the middle of the inversion. We will explore loops with our legs, slack drags, direction shifts, lateral initiation, and well-timed hand releases. Minimum skill requirements: Ability to bent-arm invert in the air.
Sept 20-24, 2017
Act Creation Retreat
The Marsh Studio, Darien, GA
Bring an idea or a completed act and the apparatus of your choice and allow yourself to become immersed in the research and creation process. This will not be your typical choreography retreat. There will be no noodle arms or moving to the sound of your soul. You will be given a choreographer’s roadmap, new tools in your creative arsenal, artistic direction, and critical feedback.
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