Author: Rebecca Higgins

When Rebecca Higgins was introduced to aerial arts at Sugar Space in 2009 it was love at first grip. The mixture of strength, beauty, creativity, connection and artistic expression found in aerial arts was like nothing else. Since that first class she has been committed to learning the static trapeze while also dabbling in lyra and AcroYoga. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She works full-time as a Product Manager in educational technology while teaching trapeze on the side.
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Taylor Hoyt Interview, AAU Community Member

Taylor Hoyt, AAoU
Taylor Hoyt on trapeze at Aerial Arts of Utah

What is your favorite apparatus(es)?
I really love trapeze. I started out thinking I was only interested in fabrics, but for whatever reason, the trapeze is where my heart lies currently.

How did you get interested in aerial arts?
In 2014, I went to a local studio’s showcase with a friend and was instantly fascinated. I grew up dancing and was always participating in some sort of physical activity and aerial arts seemed to meld the physical and artistic together so beautifully. At that same time (it was fate) Morgan encouraged me to take an intro class. I loved it but couldn’t commit quite yet. About a year later I started up again and have been taking classes ever since.

What do you love about aerial arts?
I love that aerial arts helps me realize my strengths and abilities while simultaneously helping me to grow and push myself. Through aerial arts, I have learned self-love, commitment, body positivity, patience, and perseverance.

What are you currently working on?
I am constantly working on getting stronger and braver; getting over my mental road blocks. We just finished steel repertory, so now I’ll begin performance lab and start working on another solo trapeze piece.

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Diana Madrian Interview, AAU Community Member

Diana Madrian
Diana Madrian on lyra Flight of Fancy

What is your favorite apparatus(es)?
Trapeze, both static and dance, followed by lyra.

How did you get interested in aerial arts?
I was always entranced by circus performers growing up. When I was in college, I was doing some research online for a story I was writing and came across a website for a circus school. I didn’t know that was a thing and was instantly hooked on the idea. Soon after, I had a conversation with a friend who was saying she would like to do something fun after college before jumping into her career, and I threw out that it would be fun to go to circus school. She texted me later the same day with an article she had found about Aerial Arts of Utah. I started taking classes the very next session and haven’t stopped since.

What do you love about aerial arts?
I love the blend of artistry and athleticism. I’ve always been very physical and creative, and aerial arts is the perfect blend of both. I love how in tune I’ve become with my body over the years of working with aerial. Before I started, I used to watch aerial videos on Youtube and was so envious of how much precision they had. I also love how strong aerial has made me, even though finding shirts with sleeves that fit is an ever present challenge. It’s very empowering to feel strong.

What are you currently working on?
I am always working on flexibility and conditioning.

https://vimeo.com/195223861

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Rosie Moncrief Interview, AAU Community Member

Rosie Moncreif on lyra
Rosie Moncrief on lyra at AAoU

What is your favorite apparatus(es)?
I love the Lyra! You wouldn’t think that a steel hoop could be so fun but it is!! It’s my FAVORITE!!! And it’s the only apparatus I do. However, it can be helpful to cross train on other apparatuses…..

How did you get interested in aerial arts?
I randomly saw someone performing on a lyra and I thought, “I’d be super good at that!”. My friend told me to take it at Aerial Arts of Utah. So, I did and loved it!

What do you love about aerial arts?
That it’s so magical to watch!

What are you currently working on?
I am working on perfecting my technique for back elbow circles.

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McKell Anderson Interview, AAU Community Member

McKell Anderson
McKell Anderson under the ribbon of heaven

What is your favorite apparatus(es)?
silks

How did you get interested in aerial arts?
Originally I went to a bachelorette party back in 2010 for pole dancing and started taking classes. The studio also had aerial classes and after a couple months decided to take silks. I loved it and it made much more sense to my body than pole, so I kept with it and love it still to this day.

What do you love about aerial arts?
One of the things I appreciate most about Aerial is how it combines skills to make me well rounded in life. I need to be strong and flexible. I need to be brave and vulnerable. I need to learn to climb and fall. I need to train basics and innovate new things. Aerial is an activity that has taught me more about balance than anything else in life!

What are you currently working on?
I feel like I’m always working on everything. The more I learn, the more I realize I must improve. There is always room to grow.

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Morgan Sjoblom Interview, AAU Community Member

Aerial Arts of Utah
Flight of Fancy, Illusions 2017 “The Contraption” Photo Credit: Rick Whitson — with Morgan Sjoblom and Tricia Stauffer at Rose Wagner Center.

What is your favorite apparatus(es)?
I really love silks, lyra, and trapeze. I know that includes a lot but I really find each one fascinating in their own way, to me each apparatus has it’s own special personality.

What do you love about aerial arts?
I started aerials at a time in my life when I wanted and needed change. What I love most about aerial arts is my relationship with the creative expression and the ability to change it depending on what is happening in my life. I find it very appealing that aerial arts can coexist and relate with everything else that I do day to day. The first photo in this post is from my first aerial performance. This performance really emulated my life and helped me to harness and conquer positives and negatives I was facing. Compare that to the second photo taken last month. I can literally feel the emotions coming through in each photo and feel what I felt at those exact moments. To me aerials is so potent and truthful, it has become a part of who I am and I can’t imagine not having it in my life.

What are you currently working on?
I’m about to start working on specialized strength training to improve aerial performance. I feel I’m at a point where I want to really clean up my movements and go through the air as if gravity didn’t exist. A girl can dream and I’m ready to work for those dreams!