Bella - Teacher Tips and Bio July 2024

Meet Bella, a long-time student turned dedicated teacher at Aerial Fun and Fitness. Bella started her aerial journey with us when she was just 9 years old. Over the years, she has grown into a skilled and passionate teacher.

Hello, my name is Bella, and I’ve been teaching hammock for a year now! I’ve taught at a children’s summer camp and I teach Monday night Level 1-2 Flexibility & Flow. I will be heading off to college this August, but I plan to bring my hammock with me to school and hopefully find a way to continue aerial!

During my classes, I really enjoy seeing my lesson plans come to life and testing out new skills and flows with my students. When teaching new skills, I get to see what my students enjoy the most and what they need more help with, which helps me gauge which skills are appropriate for future classes. It’s also nice that I get to basically take the class along with my students since I demonstrate in the hammock for them, haha.

Some advice for students coming into my class is to be vocal about your needs. If a certain body part is hurting on a class day, let me know so that I can help you work around it. If you feel particularly uncomfortable in a pose, I can help you adjust until you feel it working the right muscles without pain.

I hope to see you all in some of my last Monday night classes before I leave for school!

Gwen - Teacher Bio - June 2024

Our NEW Teacher Spotlight  BIO
Gwen is one of our newest teachers and is one of our higher level lyra, hammock and sling students.

Hi, my name is Gwen Snavely, and I'm excited to start teaching! I've been a performer since I was 3, with a long history of performing arts from classical dance (ballet, tap, jazz), to color guard, to musical theater, to pole dancing, and now aerials. I've coached/choreographed for color guard at the collegiate level and competed at world championships at the "A" level for 5 years. I have a strong understanding of movement foundations and a passion for movement and dance as a form of self expression and creativity. Come hang out!

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Alicia Rivera - August/September 2022

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Alicia Rivera

August/September 2022

Growing up Alicia was not much for organized fitness.  She did not participate in any organized sports as a youth, and it wasn’t until reaching her 30’s that she saw the importance of exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  One year she received a gift certificate for Christmas to attend an aerial yoga class.  It took one class for her to realize that this needed to be a part of her fitness routine.  While she enjoys a variety of different types of fitness, Aerial remains the constant. She has been practicing as a student at Aerial Fun and Fitness for the last 4 years and her growing interest has led her to get certified as an Aerial Technique TM aerial fitness instructor so she can teach and share her passion.

By trade Alicia is a Physical Therapist Assistant in which she has served the local community for the last 12 years.  In her career Alicia has found passion in encouraging and challenging people of all ages to achieve activities they never imagined, and she now brings that drive to the Aerial Fitness world. Her knowledge of the human anatomy helps keep her students safe and challenges them to achieve their aerial fitness goals. Flips and tricks are Alicia’s go-to aerial moves to practice but no worries she can cater to all levels so that everyone can enjoy the fun!

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Amanda Anderson - Oct / Nov 2022

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Amanda Anderson

 Oct / Nov 2022

Amanda is an Intro/Level 1 teacher here at Aerial Fun and Fitness.

The reason she made the decision to become an instructor is because she wants to share the joy she feels while she is at the studio with others. She is a big proponent of "fitness is for everyone" and would like to share that sentiment with the students she has the privilege to teach! 

She has been practicing aerial fitness for the better part of three years! She began her aerial fitness journey after moving to the Wilmington, DE area in 2020. She was looking for something to do in her free time that was active and fun. After she took her first class, she was hooked! The instructor was positive and encouraging, and the environment was uplifting and non-judgmental. After about 2 years, Amanda decided to take the plunge and get certified to teach!

Outside of teaching aerial, Amanda is a 4th grade teacher at a local charter school. She enjoys reading, going to concerts, and cooking! Amanda wants everyone to know that this is an accessible fitness activity for pretty much everyone and would love you to come fly with her sometime!

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Sarah Willsey

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Sarah Willsey

June / July 2022

FROM A TEACHER PERSPECTIVE

When did you start at the studio?:
I started at the studio back in 2018

Why did you start?:
I started because my gymnastics team took a class at Zina’s studio and I fell in love with aerial.

What made you come back and stick with it?:
I came back because I wanted to start teaching at Zina’s studio. 

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness?:
I would tell them to just relax and allow to have themselves to have a wonderful time! I would let them know that no one is there to judge you, so have loads of fun!  Also, I would tell them to not be afraid to ask for help or to ask the instructor to re-explain a question they do not know. Lastly, I would tell them that as an Instructor that I am there to make this experience amazing for them!

What have been some of your challenges?:
One of my challenges was slowing down to learn the intro/level one tricks I have trained on single silks, hammock, Lyra, sling, and bungee I can’t pick a favorite I love them all! Fun!  

What apparatuses do you train on in the studio?
I have trained on single silks, hammock, Lyra, sling, and bungee.

Your favorite pose(s) and why do you like it?:
I can’t pick a favorite I love them all! 

One word that defines you?:
Fun

What path would you like aerial to take for you?:
I want to keep teaching and help people find something that works for them that they love doing and can be proud of!

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Janice Giannini

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Janice Giannini

March/April 2022

Getting Started and Determination  -  From CEO to Aerial Aficionado

I am not what you would  expect as an aerial fitness instructor.  I’m not a gymnast, triathlon person  or lifelong athlete. I’m not 20 something with the flexibility of someone whom you would think has no bones and joints in their body. I have spent 30 years in Corporate America mostly with Fortune 50 companies. There was no mountain too high and steep that didn’t capture my attention, excitement  and perseverance. During those years I have run companies, product development, manufacturing and technology. As a leader my values always drove me to do what is in the best interest of the company and the people; treat everyone with  fairness and respect, and value everyone’s contribution.

A few years back I left when my husbands’ health started to decline.  I “bumped into” aerial fitness   at my ballroom dancing studio. I was instantly captivated. I was not a natural when I started , but in a few short years you wouldn’t have predicted how far I’ve come.  

You be the judge !

My dream is to reach out to all of those folks who for whatever reason may not have been as active as they would want or need to be. I offer a supportive attitude, patience and fun in order to get started again.

As little as 2 hours a week of some physical activity, does wonders for peoples’ physical, mental, emotional  and psychological health. I would treasure the opportunity to  meet and help each and every one of you .

No matter what you current fitness level is or is not  or how old you are; if I can do it anybody can do.  I hope you will come  meet us and join me for a class; to see just how much fun it is.  Though I cover and fill in for classes, my specialty is Aerial Thai and Low Hammock.  

Have a wonderful day, Janice

Teacher Tidbits Corner - JoAnne Stout

Teacher Tidbits Corner - JoAnne Stout

Feb 2022
Consistency

I’m sure everyone has heard one or more instructor say that the “pinchiness” will get less uncomfortable over time, or that your hands won’t be as sore over time, or that you will be able to remember the names of the poses over time.  We say this, not only because we want to see your smiling faces each week, but also because it is true.  Consistently coming to class will help minimize these concerns.  Below I offer a few examples of how consistency will help you progress through your aerial journey.

Grip Strength

When you first start training on an apparatus, you may find that your hands and forearms become sore very quickly.  This may be due to a lack of grip strength.  The muscles of the hand, wrist, and forearm are small and somewhat delicate and are often overlooked during strength and mobility training.  As grip strength is very important with all aerial activities, it’s important to strengthen these smaller muscles that tire quickly.  Developing your grip strength will also help us to avoid injuries, and from a safety aspect, allows us to have the strength necessary to hold and exit poses safely.  Grip strength will help you to actively hold your weight, invert, and be confident with your hands while moving through poses.  When your main focus is not wondering if you can hold on to the bar or fabric, you can focus on proper form and mechanics.  Grip strength develops over time with experience and practice, so consistency is key!

Muscle Memory

Anytime I’m driving down the highway towards Newark, I find I turn into the studio shopping center, even when that’s not where I’m intending to go.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to turn around and hope to get my step-son to the bus stop in time.  I’ve driven to the studio so often that it’s like I’m on auto-pilot.  I’m sure most people are familiar with the phrase, “It’s just like riding a bike”, meaning once you’ve learned it, you’ll always remember how to do it.  These are both loose examples of muscle memory.  A more formal definition is that when a motion is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed with little to no conscious effort.  Repetition can be achieved by consistently coming to class!

Memorizing Pose Names

What I hear the most from students is that they find it challenging to remember all the names of the poses.  We end up playing numerous games of charades trying to figure out what pose they are referring to at that time.  You have probably also noticed that many of our pose names are unique to our studio.  One of my funniest stories involves our “Cat Stuck in the Tree” pose.  That pose is one of our student’s superpowers.  So much so, that in one of my classes, we have changed the pose name to “Pat Stuck in the Tree”.  A newer student came back to class, and said she tried to google “Pat Stuck in the Tree”, so she could practice it at home, and she said she didn’t have any success finding that pose.  We all continue to laugh at that!  I use numerous fun ways to try and help.  The one I use most frequently is flash cards.  Once every couple of months, each student randomly selects flash cards that have a name and level of a pose.  We then take turns turning over the cards and all doing the pose.  Another method I have used is having a “warm up” flow that we do at the start of each class for a month or so.  I’ve seen other instructors dedicate a class to poses that are similar, such as “bats and butterflies”.   While all these methods should help you memorize the pose names, the best method is to consistently come to class!

To stay consistent with the theme of my article, SEE YOU IN CLASS soon!

Engage your core?

Teacher Tidbits Corner - January 2021

Technique Tips from Kelsey

“What does it mean when your teacher tells you to “engage your core?!” Your core is your foundation for all other movements. When you are able to consistently engage your core muscles, all of your upper and lower body movements will be more controlled.

Here are different tips to engage your core:
• Bring your bellybutton to your spine
• Tuck your tailbone slightly
• Brace as though someone is about to punch you in the stomach
• Keep your ribcage closed
• Don’t hold your breath

What tip makes the most sense to you and your body?

Technique Tips - Toes

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Feb 2021

Technique Tips from Kelsey

Pointing Your Toes:
What exactly does it mean to "point your toes"? Pointing your toes continues the line of your leg and allows shapes to appear more graceful and aesthetically pleasing.

Here are different tips to point your toes:

• Think about lengthening over the top of your foot.

• Don't crunch your toes under your foot.

• Keep your toes in line with your ankles.

• Practice pointing your toes for a short amount of time, and then work towards increasing the length of time to avoid cramps.

Love of Lyra

Teacher Tidbits Corner - March 2021

Love of Lyra from Ann Marie Savini

You walk into the studio and notice two metal hoops suspended from the ceiling. You wonder what are they and what are they used for? Well wonder no longer, because I am about to tell you. These metal hoops are called Lyras or Aerial Hoop, and they are used in our Lyra classes to perform acrobatic poses and flows.

Out of all the classes that are offered at Aerial Fun and Fitness, the Lyra is definitely my favorite. The first time I saw the Lyra I knew that I was in for a challenge. The poses require deliberate and controlled movements that come together in a beautiful aerial dance. I enjoy putting these movements together with music and performing in our showcases.

Putting the moves together to make a flow is like creating and solving a puzzle. How do you get from one pose to another? How many poses can you do from one pose? How can you make the movement flow and look graceful? These are just a few of the things to consider when choreographing a routine.

I love participating in Lyra classes so much that I decided to teach it as well. The best part of teaching is seeing your student's eyes light up when they learn to do something new, especially when they do not think that they can do it in the first place. I like seeing my students progress and improve their skills.

Are you a new Student?

Teacher Tidbits Corner - JoAnne Stout - May 2021

I’ll never forget a good friend of mine reaching out to me about the studio. Knowing me as she does, she told me that she knew of a workout she knew I’d be sure to love. Fast forward six years later, and I’m now an instructor, and I have the opportunity to spread the passion I have for aerial to new students. When I love something I go all out, so in less than 12 months, with three of those occurring during the time of COVID-19 shutdown, I went to teacher training for all three hammock levels and for bungee fitness.

The Intro Beginner class is one of my favorites to instruct. I’ve had students come through that have ranged in age from 8 to 81. I’ve had husbands and wives come in together. I’ve taught a great grandmother, granddaughter, and great granddaughter. I’ve taught existing friends, and so many others that have become new friends. I’ve had the opportunity to instruct a bride and her bridesmaids, a birthday girl and her cohorts, and co-workers for team building outings. I’ve seen new mothers, mothers and daughters together, and grandmothers checking things off their bucket lists. Students are teachers, medical professionals, bankers, magicians, students, bus drivers, child care workers, stay at home moms, chemists, and from every other line of work. There have been students that are gymnasts, cheerleaders, body builders, those without an exercise program, and those that haven’t found a workout program that they love yet. Then there are the students that, during class, turn to me, and I see the same spark of passion in their eyes that reflects from mine. They’re hooked and quickly become part of our aerial family.

There are three things I’d like to impart to new and existing students. First, please do not measure your progress by comparing yourself to other students. Instead, look to your own progressions each week. What challenge have you now accomplished that was perhaps not doable a few weeks ago? Keep that mindset when meeting your next challenge. Everyone has their own “super power”, as Zina is known to say. Cheer each other on when a challenge is met. Secondly, “We train and coach for your long term success, not instant gratification”. That probably doesn’t need much clarification, but to me that means “slow your roll” and take your time progressing to each pose and each level. We’d like you to be part of our aerial family for a long time. Lastly, have fun. There’s a reason we call the studio “our happy place”! As they say advice is easier given than taken, so thankfully I have Zina by my side to remind me of these things!

To most of my intro classes, I tell the story of my very first class that I attended with my husband and which was taught by Karly. When it came time for the angel wing flip out, my husband went right over and to the ground. I, on the other hand, looked at Karly like she was crazy (same look I get from many students!), and I told her that I couldn’t. I did eventually do it, and I haven’t stopped flipping since. Take “can’t” out of your vocabulary and walk out of the studio feeling like so many have told me they felt - empowered, strong, graceful, determined, flexible, and happy.

See you at the studio!
JoAnne

Let’s talk about Stretch..ba-by

Teacher Tidbits Corner - May 2021

Let’s talk about Stretch..ba-by
By Laura Rafferty

Did you know it takes about 30 seconds for a stretch to be effective? This is because it takes the first 10 seconds for your brain to convince your body that a tiger, shark or small child/pet isn't trying to pull your leg off (for example). After that, your muscle will relax and let the stretch
happen. This reflex is designed to protect your muscles from overstretching. In Intro classes, we often tell new students to trust the fabric and themselves. The stretch reflex is a great reminder that we should trust ourselves, because our bodies are programmed to try their best not to let us
down.

However, if you feel uncomfortable for longer than 10 seconds, you are probably pushing too far, too fast. Stretching should not be painful, especially in your joints. If you feel pressure or pain in your joints, you may need to adjust your body alignment during the stretch, or quite possibly your bone structure prevents you from stretching any further. Also, bouncing during a stretch (ballistic stretching) can cause muscle or nerve damage, and honestly, just looks ridiculous, so let’s not do that.

Before you stretch, you should warm up for at least 5-10 minutes. Jumping jacks,
jogging/marching in place, speed walking to the nearest bathroom in an emergency or even quietly side shuffling down the hallways of your home trying to hide from your kids are all great options. Also, since stretching elongates the muscles, it weakens them too so it is best to save the deep stretching for after a super fun strenuous aerial class. Stretching is great for increasing your range of motion and reducing your risk of injury along with many other amazing health benefits.

Aerial hammocks are great tools to assist in stretching, but they can also put us in some pretty crazy, awkward positions that our bodies aren't used to being in, which can sometimes cause a deeper stretch than expected. So if you tend to be bendier than the average person, activating your muscles while stretching them, strengthening the muscles surrounding your joints, and listening to your body when it yells at you to stop can all help keep you from injury.

Why I Love Aerial Fun and Fitness

Teacher Tidbits Corner - June 2021

Why I Love Aerial Fun and Fitness
By Janice Giannini

For anyone who doesn’t know me, I started with Zina/AFF about 7 years ago. Initially, it was to get stronger for my creative arts ballroom dancing. I went through teacher training and realized I can do this; it’s a lot of fun.

I was not the most adventuress student initially. The first time we got into hip-hang I wouldn’t let go. Seriously! When Zina demonstrated sacrum wrap to invert, I didn’t. So she met me where I was, and we used the folded belt wrap, and I slowly became comfortable with inverting.

At this point, I enjoy it all: low-hammock, hip-height hammock, Lyra (yes even that), bungee, and silks. It’s great exercise. It’s a ton of fun! I get to meet awesome people! I also look forward to the day when everyone is comfortable again with Thai - Assisted stretch.

I enjoy teaching, sharing what I have learned, and helping people exercise with fun and laughter.

Low-hammock offers excellent stretching. Being closer to the ground makes it easier to develop some skills and gain confidence. You may think that the low-hammock is easier than hip-height hammock. While that’s true for some positions, it’s more challenging for others. It’s marvelous for developing flexibility, as you are so close to the floor. Hip-height hammock is amazing for all the above as well as strength and flying through the air. Look, mom, I can fly!! Bungee is an outstanding cardio work-out and doing cool stuff that I am not able to do without assistance. Think handstands. Lyra doesn’t let me cheat. The hammock will mold to the body, Lyra not so much. It’s excellent for alignment, strength, flexibility, and did I say FUN.

I enjoy teaching Thai-assisted stretch. It offers a way for me to help people truly relax. In our culture, we are always” on”. Taking time to just “be” is essential and very difficult for most people.

What do I love about AFF? We meet you where you are. If you are a gymnast, great; if you have never done any exercise in your entire life, great; and if you are somewhere in between, great; we start where you need to start and build from there. It’s all okay.

So whether you are an accomplished gymnast, have been sitting in a conference room for 30 years (my story), sitting on the sofa for 20 years, or somewhere in between; Come hang with us. I guarantee you will leave laughing!

We are back in the Studio

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Karly Keenan - July 2021

I simply cannot express how happy I am to be back teaching in the studio but to see everyone’s faces! It has been a wild year with more obstacles than usual, but we as individuals saw these new challenges and persevered. Way to go!

If we haven’t had the pleasure to meet yet, I’m Karly and I teach Level 3 Hammock. My teaching style is boot camp fitness with tons of flips & flows. I focus on building strength to have fun in the hammock.

Now that we're back in the studio, we have tons of space to create lines. I would like to challenge you (and myself!) to focus on straight arms/legs and pointed toes. Not only do they make the best pictures, but you will look extremely professional even if you are a newbie! Bonus: It’s practice for the next Showcase!

To Flail or Not to Flail

** Teacher Tidbits Corner - Karly Keenan - October 2021
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Do you ever find yourself spinning/flailing in the silk and wonder, geez how do other people not?  First of all, spinning is not a bad thing! And when it's intentional, it's fun!  But I have a tip, that will not only help your control, but also build strength and look amazing.  The tip; keep your core strong.  Keeping your core strong means abs + back.
* Engage.
* Maintain Alignment.
* Notice your posture.
* Think tall spine.
* Feel strong throughout the movement.

These cues may not work for all poses and flows, but I guarantee that if you keep them in mind, you will notice less hammock flailing.

Showcase Reflections

** Teacher Tidbits Corner - Laura Rafferty - December 2021
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Showcase Reflections

There's a great quote that says, "If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when it wanders." For me, when I daydream or right before I fall asleep, I am always thinking about how to string together hammock or lyra poses to make different flows. Zina knows what I'm talking about! After telling her about my aerial nerdiness last year after completing my level 3 test out, I think I said, "If you need another teacher to help choreograph for the showcase, I would love to try it." Fast forward months later and Zina asked me if I wanted to choreograph the Hammock Level 2/3 piece. I had never choreographed anything before in my life and was really honored that she trusted me to do it. Thank you, Zina for giving me this opportunity and for all your guidance along the way! It was more challenging than I thought it would be, but I loved every minute of it and learned a lot. Here are 10 things I learned from my first choreography experience...

10) Timing is really important. Like, really, really important. If the timing is off, it can make it look like everyone just decided to freestyle their own routine.

9)  You believe in your group and see their potential even when they are frustrated - we should all feel that way about ourselves too.

8)  It is okay to stop the music and say, "What was that?!" As long as they think you are kidding, it still gets in their heads a little and helps them focus.

7)  There is a magical practice that happens and makes you feel like everything is gonna be alright.

6)  Unfortunately, that magical practice happens much later than you hoped.

5)  There's also a practice that makes you feel like you wanna walk to the bar next door and become a regular.

4) You become so proud of your group and all their hard work, and when they nail it in the final performance, you feel like they are your children and just graduated high school.

3)  Videos during practices are extremely helpful in seeing the "big picture"...and also helpful to point out their mistakes..mistakes that are sometimes being made over and over again. Of course, say it very nicely and follow it with, "You got this!" They won't know you really wanna pull your hair out.

2) Choreographers also can get nervous when filming the final performance.

1) Everyone should always carry confetti in their pocket at all times, just in case the moment should arise.

It is time for Showcase!

** Teacher Tidbits Corner - Kelsey DeMonte - September 2021
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You’ve signed up for the Aerial Fun and Fitness Student Showcase this year... so now what?

The student showcase is your opportunity to show your friends, family, and yourself how far you’ve come with your aerial skills. This year, due to COVID, we will be holding the showcase via a live Zoom viewing party mid-November! You might think November is awfully far away, but
here’s a quick breakdown of how we plan our student showcase:
* Students were given the month of July to sign up for our student showcase via Google Forms survey, and the survey closed on August 1st.
* During the month of August, Zina and Kelsey will be working together to assign all students into group pieces and choreographing those pieces. You will hear from us in August with your assigned group and rehearsal time!
* Showcase rehearsals will start during the first week of September. Groups will rehearse once a week, and additional rehearsals may be added as we get closer to the showcase as necessary.
* The first week of November, all group pieces will be professionally filmed. Our wonderful videographers will take the footage and edit it prior to our live viewing party.

Are you new to the student showcase or looking for some tips to make this process as fun and successful as possible? Here are our keys to success in the student showcase:
* Attend as many of your scheduled group rehearsals as possible! This ensures that you have enough time to learn the choreography and commit it all to muscle memory so that when the time comes to perform, you are not as stressed about remembering each step. This also builds comradery within the group and allows everyone to work together cohesively.
* Figure out what your best way of learning is! We tape and share rehearsal videos so you can refer back to them as needed. Some of our favorite memory strategies are watching the rehearsal videos over and over, recording your own voice saying the steps over the music, writing down the sequence of steps, etc. Find what works best for you!
* Go into showcase rehearsals with an open mind and positive attitude! Remember- we have plenty of time from the start of rehearsals until our viewing party to learn and perfect our pieces. They might not look or feel great right from the start, and that is 100% okay! The learning curve for every student will be different, and we promise that with time and practice, all of you will look great by November and have the greatest sense of pride in your hard work.
* HAVE FUN! This is our favorite time of the year not only because you all get to show off all of your hard work, but we get to know all of you so much better. We always talk about how we at Aerial Fun and Fitness are truly an aerial family, and this is magnified during showcase season!

What is Showcase?

** Teacher Tidbits Corner - Ann Marie Savini  - November 2021
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It’s Showcase Time!

Here at Aerial Fun and Fitness we offer students an opportunity to show off what they have learned.  Our annual Student Showcase allows students to express themselves using the skills that they have learned in our aerial fitness classes.

During class, our students learn many poses that increase their strength, flexibility and improve their balance. The poses are often woven together to form flows which are not only fun but help the students to understand how to transition from one pose to another.  So what does this have to do with our annual Student Showcase?  Well, in our Showcase we put together several flows to music so that our students can participate in an “aerial dance”.

All students are welcome to join our Showcase regardless of ability. Everyone has something that they can contribute whether they are a beginner or an experienced student.  We work with each student so that they can be proud of their performance.

We rehearse for several weeks prior to the Showcase.  It is hard work but a lot of fun!  It is really inspiring to see it all come together.  After the first couple rehearsals, you wonder if you are ever going to be able to memorize the routine.  And then there are changes to the routine along the way.  But somehow by the last couple rehearsals, everything seems to come together.  It is so rewarding to see the final result. In addition to participating in the Showcase routines, you get to know the other students in a way that you would never get to know them by just taking a class together.  During rehearsals, the students often get to know each other better and develop friendships.

There is so much communication during rehearsals.   We encourage participation and students are encouraged to make suggestions or provide input to the routines.  Our students have a lot of great ideas and often make significant contributions to the final routine.

Even if you chose not to participate in the Showcase, we encourage you to watch the show.  You will not be disappointed!

It is showcase time.... Ann Marie summed this up so well. Performers remember to breathe and as Kelsey would say "if you mess up, mess up with confidence". My favorite part is how all these different types of people come together. I love watching all this happen. So proud of the teachers for inspiring students, students working together as a team, and all of this coming together to create our version of Aerial ART! - Zina

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Laura Rafferty

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Laura Rafferty

 Dec 2021

Showcase Reflections 

There's a great quote that says, "If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when it wanders." For me, when I daydream or right before I fall asleep, I am always thinking about how to string together hammock or lyra poses to make different flows. Zina knows what I'm talking about! After telling her about my aerial nerdiness last year after completing my level 3 test out, I think I said, "If you need another teacher to help choreograph for the showcase, I would love to try it." Fast forward months later and Zina asked me if I wanted to choreograph the Hammock Level 2/3 piece. I had never choreographed anything before in my life and was really honored that she trusted me to do it. Thank you, Zina for giving me this opportunity and for all your guidance along the way! It was more challenging than I thought it would be, but I loved every minute of it and learned a lot. Here are 10 things I learned from my first choreography experience...

10) Timing is really important. Like, really, really important. If the timing is off, it can make it look like everyone just decided to freestyle their own routine.

9)  You believe in your group and see their potential even when they are frustrated - we should all feel that way about ourselves too.

8)  It is okay to stop the music and say, "What was that?!" As long as they think you are kidding, it still gets in their heads a little and helps them focus.

7)  There is a magical practice that happens and makes you feel like everything is gonna be alright.

6)  Unfortunately, that magical practice happens much later than you hoped.

5)  There's also a practice that makes you feel like you wanna walk to the bar next door and become a regular.

4) You become so proud of your group and all their hard work, and when they nail it in the final performance, you feel like they are your children and just graduated high school.

3)  Videos during practices are extremely helpful in seeing the "big picture"...and also helpful to point out their mistakes..mistakes that are sometimes being made over and over again. Of course, say it very nicely and follow it with, "You got this!" They won't know you really wanna pull your hair out.

2) Choreographers also can get nervous when filming the final performance.

1) Everyone should always carry confetti in their pocket at all times, just in case the moment should arise.

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Ann Marie Savini

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Ann Marie Savini

Nov 2021

It’s Showcase Time!

Here at Aerial Fun and Fitness we offer students an opportunity to show off what they have learned.  Our annual Student Showcase allows students to express themselves using the skills that they have learned in our aerial fitness classes.

During class, our students learn many poses that increase their strength, flexibility and improve their balance. The poses are often woven together to form flows which are not only fun but help the students to understand how to transition from one pose to another.  So what does this have to do with our annual Student Showcase?  Well, in our Showcase we put together several flows to music so that our students can participate in an “aerial dance”.   

All students are welcome to join our Showcase regardless of ability. Everyone has something that they can contribute whether they are a beginner or an experienced student.  We work with each student so that they can be proud of their performance.

We rehearse for several weeks prior to the Showcase.  It is hard work but a lot of fun!  It is really inspiring to see it all come together.  After the first couple rehearsals, you wonder if you are ever going to be able to memorize the routine.  And then there are changes to the routine along the way.  But somehow by the last couple rehearsals, everything seems to come together.  It is so rewarding to see the final result. In addition to participating in the Showcase routines, you get to know the other students in a way that you would never get to know them by just taking a class together.  During rehearsals, the students often get to know each other better and develop friendships.  

There is so much communication during rehearsals.   We encourage participation and students are encouraged to make suggestions or provide input to the routines.  Our students have a lot of great ideas and often make significant contributions to the final routine.

Even if you chose not to participate in the Showcase, we encourage you to watch the show.  You will not be disappointed!