Elevate your aerial arts career with our comprehensive Aerial Teacher Training program, created and powered by the prestigious Circus Arts Institute.
Shine Fitness Studio proudly presents the Circus Arts Institute Virtual Aerial Teacher Training, the first online teacher training program recognized by the American Circus Educators Circus Arts Safety Network.
This virtual program is designed for current and aspiring aerial arts instructors seeking to enhance their skills, ensure safety, and gain industry-recognized training and certification from the comfort of their own space.
Dates
March 28-31, 2025
Apparatuses Available
Silks
Hammock (Sling)
Lyra (Hoop)
Trapeze
Rig Points Available at Shine Fitness Studio
Carrie Heller, M.S.W., is the Founder Emeritus of Circus Arts Institute. Carrie fell in love with circus arts as a child in 1972 while learning from the FSU Flying High Circus performers and has been happily flying through the air ever since. She has been involved with the American Youth Circus Organization since its inception and is the author of the industry’s first The Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual. Melding together her background as a social worker, play therapist, and circus artist, Carrie served as a Trainer of Trainers for Cirque Du Monde, a Cirque Du Soleil Outreach Program that uses circus arts to help youth around the world. She is passionate about passing on her experience in both adaptive and typically developing circus arts through her trainings. In conjunction with Dr. Lauren Taglialatela Carrie is the co-author of the April 2018 published article entitled: Circus Arts Therapy® fitness and play therapy program shows positive clinical results which appears in the International Journal of Play Therapy (published by the American Psychological Association).
Kasumi Kato began with CAI as a youngster and is a lifelong practitioner of circus and aerial arts. She trained with and led organizations across the USA including Cirque Du Monde and Aloft Aerial Dance.
Now, she is Program Director of the Aerial Teacher Training program and a lead trainer at Circus Arts Institute teaching Fabric, Trapeze, Spanish Web, Corde Lisse, and Acrobatics. Her clownish personality makes her classes lots of fun, and she loves the team-work, strength-building, artistic elements, and self-confidence that are all a part of classes at CAI.
Hilary Riall is a lead trainer who can teach every apparatus. Hilary also assists with Circus Arts Therapy® groups. She's been with CAI since she was 6 years old! She grew up in the circus and says that she loves everything about the circus - from the flying, to the spinning, and all the fun. Her current favorite apparatus is the hammock.
Lauren Taglialatela, PhD teaches Circus Arts Fitness® and assists with Circus Arts Therapy® groups at CAI. Her silly personality fills her classes with fun and laughter. She has been clowning around with Carrie since 1996, and her favorite circus activity is the Spanish Web. For Lauren, circus arts is an exciting escape from her everyday life where she is the General Education Coordinator and also the Chair of the Curriculum Committee for the Department of Psychological Science at Kennesaw State University. She is an expert in thoughtfully scaffolding skills (in the classroom, in the air, and over Zoom) to catalyze success for students and teachers. Lauren’s son is an acrobat-in-training who loves attending CAI’s fitness classes.
In conjunction with Carrie Heller, LCSW, RPT, Lauren co-authored the article Circus Arts Therapy® Fitness and Play Therapy Program Shows Positive Clinical Results, which can be found in the International Journal of Play Therapy, April 2018 edition.
Like many before her, Sara Deull ran away to join the circus at a young age – starting with gymnastics at age four. She first took to the air at seven at Independent Lake Camp. Twenty years later, she continues to learn and develop as a circus artist and teacher. She has trained, performed, and coached with amazing people in Latin America, Europe, Africa and most recently, North America, with Carrie Heller and the Circus Arts Institute! Through the journey, with rigging guidance from a young age under Jonathan Deull, Sara has always focused on ensuring safe rigging practices for herself, and those around her, offering workshops around the world. For Sara, circus is an inspiring and constantly challenging adventure that connects physical, spiritual, and artistic growth for individuals and communities, brings joy to audiences young and old, and demonstrates that nothing is really impossible. Sara ADORES aerial straps and flying trapeze, and co-directing the Ritz Kidz Social Circus program every summer in Newburgh, NY. During the day, she enjoys coaching students from 6 months to 60 years old, and after school enjoys learning from her son Jack at their home in Montreal.
Hayley Adamson is a classically trained mover, performer and instructor from the Atlanta area. She had the good fortune of finding the circus arts in early adulthood after a lifetime of ballet training, and has since never looked back. She received the bulk of her technical training at Circus Center in San Francisco specializing in Aerial Hoop and Contortion, and later learned to teach with Circus Arts Institute in 2017. Hayley was the Lyra trainer for Circus Arts Institute's teacher-training program for 2 years, until taking a hiatus to start a family. She came back in 2021 and currently teaches classes of all levels throughout the Atlanta area to children and adults, performs when she can, and is happy to be back to assist in the Lyra program at Circus Arts Institute.
Payment Plans are available! Secure your spot with a $200 non-refundable registration fee. The remainder will be charged in 2 equal amounts due on January 15 and February 15, 2025.
Online Training Course
The Aerial Circus Training & Safety Manual ($75 Value)
Training Manual
Circus Arts Institute Video Library for Your App
Certification of Participation
Virtual Rig Compliance Visit
Online Training Course
The Aerial Circus Training & Safety Manual ($75 Value)
Training Manual
Circus Arts Institute Video Library for Your App
Certification of Participation
Access to Shine Fitness Studio Facilities
Rig Point
Classroom space for lecture
“Helper” student for practical portion
Emma S., Professional Aerialist
"The virtual format allowed me to balance my training with my performance schedule. The quality of instruction was top-notch!"