I am really excited (and nervous) about this post because, as the avid readers of my blog may notice, I am focusing on a new topic which is very close to my heart and reveals a lot more about who I am and one of my deepest passions: being an aerial showgirl.
I haven’t previously shared much about my aerial and creative work on the blog because I didn’t wanted to be judged negatively for it. Would I still be taken seriously in the wine world if people knew this other side to my life? That was a question I asked myself a lot, but I have come to the conclusion that there is no shame in being able to do both – we should all embrace the, sometimes conflicting, different sides to us! Whether it is being both serious and playful, creative and studious or emotional and controlled, all of these things combine to make us the interesting and unique individuals we are. Through a journey of self-realization and acceptance, I have been able to identify and take advantage of the different sides to myself. Maybe you can too? This has added a dynamism, I believe, to my professional life and I find myself bringing creativity into the marketing and wine-focused elements of my work. The ideas of storytelling, visual production and presentation, while central to performance, add depth and a new dimension to my corporate responsibilities.
I want to use this post to explain more about my professional aerial career and how I got started, the road back to performing after the pandemic, information about my upcoming shows and an insight into aerial and the lifestyle it demands.
I have always had a passion for exploring different ways of moving my body and telling stories through physical interpretations, specifically dance performances. While I have been training in aerial arts for over 15 years, my journey into this world began with pole and floorwork. This allowed me to discover the power of expression using fluidity and strength to invoke a sense of imagination, sensuality and sensitivity in my audiences. As I progressed, I began to specialize in aerial hoop and fabric but I have always enjoyed infusing different mediums into my performance work, creating (I believe) a deeper and more engaging act. This desire to explore different aspects of performance led me along a path of character work and drag artistry. I was lucky enough to study burlesque under Indigo Blue and other award-winning performers at Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque in Seattle – an incredible experience which I will never forget!
In 2010, I began teaching and, as I realized how rewarding sharing my experience with others through teaching, not only performing, was, I founded Pole Fitness Seattle in 2011. I am a firm believer in the importance of passion in business, without which it is very difficult to succeed. I like to build relationships with my clients and take a personal interest in their journeys and development. When establishing Pole Fitness Seattle, I witnessed the growth of many and it has had a huge and positive impact on me. I keep this first experience in entrepreneurship with me.
In 2015, I came in 1st place in the Northwest Aerial Arts Championship in Seattle and the following year won 2nd place in the Pacific Aerial Arts Championship in LA. Although competing was never my focus, it taught me the key skills of discipline and handling high pressure situations which I have applied to all aspects of my personal and work life.
My induction into professional performances began in Seattle, where I produced pole dance, burlesque and aerial shows at the Can Can Cabaret, the Rendezvous and local wineries. These led to me accepting a permanent performance residency at Le Cabaret Magnifique, Drag show at Julie on Broadway, where I stayed for two years before selling everything (including my business) and moving to France.
So, Paris… What a wild ride! That is a long story that deserves its own post (or series of posts) . My main motivation to make the move was complex but in short, I wanted to push my own boundaries. I draw inspiration from Paris and its history of the cabaret arts. Going directly to the sources and immersing yourself in a subject is what allows one to master its complexities. I chose to move to France because it allowed me to pursue the dreams inside my head. In Paris, I was able to stand in front of the paintings, sculptures and inside theaters and reflect on how small details have such cultural significance. I had easy access to most major wine regions. I was also bitten, hard, by the wine bug! These experiences allowed me to connect what I had learned in my WSET and Wine Scholar certifications with real-life examples. It is through this direct contact that we can gain insights that cannot be found in textbooks.
My dance career and passion for wine grew simultaneously and at a rapid pace. I started work as a sommelier and wine educator while juggling teaching aerial dance and movement classes at three studios throughout Paris. I was also offering private dance lessons and developing choreography for artists from the Moulin Rouge and Crazy Horse who had the desire to add aerial to their own, well-established repertoire. In Paris, I have had the opportunity to travel internationally to perform at festivals, aerial and ground-based shows, corporate events and nightclubs, to name just a few amazing venues.
Jump forward a few years, to 2019, and I underwent ‘Flow Movement’ teacher training with Marlo Fisken in Lisbon. The following year, I produced the first “Cabaret et Vin” show in Paris and I was cast as an aerialist in the Bohemia show in Seattle. We performed 26 shows in January. The show was scheduled to tour in Berlin in March 2020, a really exciting and motivating prospect. Little did I know that my aerial journey was about to come to an abrupt halt.
When Covid took hold of the world and almost every country and industry closed its doors, aerial performing and teaching was not immune from the severe effects of the pandemic. I experienced a very challenging time, as did so many people. I couldn’t have imagined how painful it would have been to see all the progress I had made be cut short. I felt trapped within my own life and didn’t know where to turn for an escape. I honestly believe that I lost myself for some time and experienced such raw, emotional pain that I wasn’t sure I would come out the other side. For a very long time I thought that I shouldn’t dwell too much on the negatives, and certainly not vocalize them, but I realize there is no shame about being honest with my emotions and how I felt during that dark period of my life. If reading this can resonate with any of you then I know it is worth it to put into words. This experience has made me realize that I am stronger than I ever thought and made me appreciate how lucky I am, now, to be free to pursue and share my passions. The first step towards training for and performing professional aerial again is a strict physical and nutritional routine. This return has not been easy and I have found that I am not the same person as I was two years ago. But how many of us actually are?
Hours of movement research, deeper splits, cleaner lines and more pullups than I care to count are just some of the examples of how this is one of the most challenging mediums in the arts. But I have never been one to shy away from a challenge. I am, after all, a girl who moved across the world, not knowing what to expect or, at the time, the language! I am very proud to say I am making visible strides forward, with the amazing support of my partner, who I now live with in Beaune.
Moving, again, after 4 years in Paris, was not a decision taken lightly but certainly one I do not regret. I have left behind the bright lights and constant buzz of the big city and found myself surrounded by nature and peace. Instead of drawing inspiration from the hustle and bustle of Paris, I am now finding it in the vineyards which surround me in Bourgogne.
Life is definitely slower but it feels all the richer for it. Of course, I am enamored with the wine, but I have discovered so much more. Bourgogne may be known for its viniculture, cheese, beef and escargot but I can assure you this is not all it has to offer. I am very lucky to live in an area which can support the highly nutritious diet needed for aerial training and performing. I can locally source fresh eggs, yogurt, fruits, vegetables, grains and specialty foods, such as fermented beets (don’t knock them till you’ve tried them!), from the Saturday market.
I continue my work which I took up during my hiatus from performing, mainly involved with marketing, communication, photography and writing (focused on my other passion, wine). This provided an outlet for my creative and intellectual impulses at a time when I couldn’t satisfy these with aerial. Now, I am fortunate enough to be able to pursue both endeavors and very thankful that they complement each other so well. I want this blog to tie together all the different aspects of my life and interests, while entertaining and informing all who read it.
So here I am, starting anew on this journey back to aerial and performance. It’s been a painful and unfamiliar road so far, but I’m hopeful that by sharing my story, I can inspire others to keep moving.
A bit about my upcoming shows… and an invitation to YOU
My first big show since January 2020 is scheduled for August 13th, 2022 as part of the scène d’été (summer festival) in Beaune, where I will be performing at the wine museum in the ancient winery, amongst old grape presses. I am very grateful and humbled to be able to perform this show and to be working with the city to make it all possible.
I will be showing my new ‘Godfather’ piece (for the first time!) before I take it back to the US for the New Orleans Festival. I will also be performing an aerial hammock routine which was originally developed for the Bohemia show in Seattle but unfortunately has had to wait 2 years to be seen by an audience. I will be reunited with my Seattle-based cast in October, where we will be revealing my hammock act in Berlin.
Show dates and venues:
- Beaune, France | August 13th, 7PM at Cuverie de l’Hôtel des Ducs for Festival Scène d’été
- New Orleans, USA | September 23rd and 24th, 8PM and 11PM at the House of Blues for the New Orleans Burlesque Festival
- Berlin, Germany | October 14th and 15th at the Ballhaus Berlin for the Bohemia show
