WELCOME TO OUR SANCTUARY

OWNER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Circus Sanctuary was founded by Kelsey Erickson. She has over 15 years experience in the circus arts. Kelsey loves to learn, teach, and perform. She has performed for thousands and has over 20 years of teaching experience. Kelsey completed her professional training program at NECCA where she stayed on to teach for a few years. Kelsey has completed teacher trainings in Yoga, Aerial Fabric, Lyra, Sling,Trapeze, Unata Aerial Yoga, and AcroYoga Montreal. She is also a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. Kelsey’s personal mission is to invested in each and every student; she teaches a variety of circus skills to all ages, abilities, needs, aspirations and body types, in a way that is safe, scientifically sound, and technically proficient. She offers a process-oriented approach, and her teaching style encourages self love, awareness, personal responsibility, and joy.

Learn more about her artwork and find her on instagram @ericksonkelsey and follow the studio, Circus Sanctuary @circusanctuary

INSTRUCTOR
Fluent in ASL

Brittany has been a dedicated pole/aerial artist for 12 years. She thrives in building the unique components that creates one’s personal ‘flow’, while also centering in on the necessary conditioning required to strengthen and maintain this beautiful art. She loves to explore all areas students wish to learn in pole.

Learn more about Brittany’s artwork and follow her on instagram @_brittbreezy.

INSTRUCTOR

Na-il maintains a performance and dance background of 19 years. Their signature fusion style incorporates traditional and natural movement, choreographed in an engaging, immersive and comprehensive format.

Learn more about their artwork and find them on instagram @nailaliemmert

INSTRUCTOR

Sara has been practising aerial arts for just over 2 years. Her aerial practice is informed by her background as a yoga teacher and club performer prioritising alignment, progressions, and slow controlled transitions. She has worked as a private instructor as well as a group class leader for almost as long as she has been learning the art, and she continues to learn from her practice within the yoga community, the aerial community alike. When she’s not teaching you can find her hanging with her dog Aleister, volunteering at the Desert Museum, and bartending downtown to make the dream machine work.

INSTRUCTOR

Zoe (she/her) has been a dancer for 18 years now, and has experience in ballet, jazz, hip hop, and everything else you can imagine including two years of pole dance. She danced competitively for several years as a teen and professionally as an adult. Zoe is a certified pole instructor and is CPR/First Aid. Her teaching style emphasises technique and performance so that you leave her classes ready for the stage, whether it’s in a theatre or a club!

SEASONAL INSTRUCTOR

Erin Garber-Pearson is a circus performer and visual artist. She has taught beginner-advanced silks for over 10 years, and Sling and Tightwire for 7 years. She is the founder of Birds Eye View Circus in Toledo, OH and in her 9 years as director taught a myriad of circus skills to people of all ages, as well as mentoring other teachers. Erin completed the Aloft Full Time Training program in Chicago and has also taught at The Ann Arbor Aviary, and The Detroit Flyhouse.

Learn more about her artwork at eringarberpearson.com or find her on instagram @eringarberpearson

SEASONAL INSTRUCTOR

Jordan Kensley is an internationally renowned pole dance performer, judge and instructor. She has been dancing aerially since 2011 and strives to embody all variations of this art form. Her experience & technical skill has forged her signature performance style with her compassionate & knowledgeable teaching style.

Learn more about her artwork at jordankensley.com or find her on instagram @jordankensley.

SEASONAL INSTRUCTOR
Fluent in Spanish

Monica Silva is a multidisciplinary artist, including paint, printmaking, aerial performance, dance, and nursing. She has performed on silks, lyra, and invented apparatuses with ZUZI!, Flam Chen, Dark Sky Aerial, Stories That Soar, and MurphySpeaking Films. She has taught aerial arts to students at Tucson Circus Arts, ZUZI!, and private classes.

Learn more about Monica’s artwork on her instagram @iris.engine.art

SUBSTITUTE INSTRUCTOR

Tucson-based aerialist, Tran, combines her flexibility with the athleticism of aerial arts to inspire others to find their inner aerialist. When not in the air, she can be seen balancing on her hands, playing soccer, or binging the latest sci-fi series.

Learn more about Tran’s artwork and follow her on instagram @bendyeducator.