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.

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

Open Gym – 8 visit punch cards, Now Available

Open Gym Punch Pass

‘OPEN GYM’ – 8 visit punch cards, valid 2 months from the time of purchase.   Purchase online or at the studio.

For current students only.  Students must be currently enrolled in a session-length class or taking a minimum of one private lesson per month.

Open Gym is for current stu­dents who want extra prac­tice time. Open Gym does NOT include instruc­tion only super­vision by an instruc­tor. Students should practice only skills learned in current or prior AAofU aerial classes. Stu­dents age 7 –11 must have parental super­vi­sion and spot­ting.

Full and Half-full Private Lessons

Private Lessons AAoU
Private Lesson (1 student)

Full Private Lessons (1 Student)
65.00

1 student for 1 hour.

Private class for one hour (one student). Students must schedule private and semi private lessons in advance with Aerial Arts of Utah. For information and to schedule a class: contact@aerialartsofutah.com  or 801-577-0346 Annie.

Makes a great gift too! Online Purchase

 

Semi-private lessons at AAoU
Semi-private lessons (2 students)

Semi-Private Lessons (2 Students)
80.00

2 students for 1 hour

Payment for semi-private class, 2 students for 1 hour. Students must email contact@aerialartsofutah.com or call Annie @ 801-577-0346 to schedule a semi-private class.

Makes a great gift too! Online Purchase

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.

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.

Tona Foster Interview, AAU Community Member

Tona Foster on trapeze
Tona Foster on trapeze hanging around the Great Salt Lake

What is your favorite apparatus(es)?
Trapeze is my favorite apparatus. Trapeze is great. It helps me face my fears and put trust in the apparatus and my instructors.

How did you get interested in aerial arts?
I like to exercise but I hate going to the gym to do your typical exercises. Running, swimming, and weight training never held my interest and never kept me motivated. I started out with doing pole fitness. Pole fitness quickly turned into fabrics. My dear friend Lindsay Neff introduced me to Aerial Arts of Utah. She trained there and highly encouraged me to check them out. We took classes together and had a wonderful experience with the instructors and the amount of time we got on the apparatuses. We eventually took Trapeze and I immediately fell in love with it. What a great way to get a workout and have fun all at the same time.

What do you love about aerial arts?
I love the instructors at Aerial Arts of Utah. My instructor makes a huge difference in my training. I have a bit of a quirky personality that doesn’t always sit well with some people. I have built a trusting relationship with my instructors that I am forever grateful for. I appreciate their passion and love to teach others. They are great role models and they really inspire me.

What are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on Lyra. My instructor is so graceful, strong, and motivates me daily to become better at Lyra.