Ariel
Ariel started competitive gymnastics at age 5. He later competed nationally on springboard and platform diving under Dave Burgering (president of USA Diving). He competed nationally in Horse Vaulting with Tambourine 4H Vaulters. After training aerial at UCLA, he continued aerial silks with Shayna Swanson and aerial straps with Andrew Adams. He performed in Aloft’s El Circo Cheapo and taught aerial silks and tumbling at The Actors Gymnasium, MSA & Circus Arts and Aloft Loft in Chicago. He performed Duo Aerial Straps, Bungee, double-point harness and original apparatus with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Splendour of the Seas in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. He was a dancer and aerialist for contemporary ballet company Coco et Compagnie and currently teaches aerial straps at Ascend.
Camille
Camille Yabut first encountered aerial silks in 2012 and immediately fell in love. She first started her training at Believe Fitness Studio in Los Angeles. After moving to the Bay Area in 2014 she continued her aerial study, first at Athletic Playground in Emeryville, and then here at Ascend. Camille is a firm believer that ANYONE can aerial, and is excited to share her passion, dedication and joy in silks with her students. She is honored to join the ranks of the Ascend instructors and eagerly invites you all to come and fly with us.
Claire
Claire started aerial silks in 2012, training at Nightflight Aerial Arts and later with The Circus Project as a member of their Training Company in Portland, OR. They’ve also been known to mess around with lyra, trapeze, and contortion. In 2015 they graduated with a degree in Theatre from Reed College, and soon after moved to the Bay. In addition to circus, they delight in discussing historical European fashion, alternative relationship structures, and Star Trek.
Colleen
Colleen Richey began aerial training in 2010. A former gymnast and swimmer with a strong yoga background, Colleen brings a keen eye for the form and technique required in aerial acrobatics. She also loves the opportunity for expression and creativity that aerial dance has given her. With a combined focus on form and expression, she encourages her students to explore the art of aerial silks while building a strong, balanced, and healthy body. Colleen mainly trains aerial silks and rope. She also dabbles in static trapeze and aerial straps.
Connie
Connie Ng was bitten by the circus bug when she began her aerial silks training under Elizabeth Finn at Poletential. She has since had the opportunity to learn from many circus greats, including Helene Turcotte, Leslie Tipton, and Sarah and Rain of Paper Doll Militia, and has choreographed and performed solo and doubles acts on a variety of apparatus, including silks, rope, and trapeze, with aerial doubles partner Janelle Peters. She has a strong ballet and pilates background and is known for her clean lines and eye for detail.
Katerina
Katerina’s aerial journey began at Ascend Aerial Arts in 2016. In 2019, she completed Paper Doll Militia’s Level 1 Teacher Training and officially began teaching in the summer of 2020 after lots of hard work shadowing instructors and assisting in classes. She completed Level 2 Teacher Training in 2022. Katerina finds immense joy in teaching. She strives to help her students build strong technical foundations that will allow them to have long and full aerial journeys. While Katerina’s primary apparatus is silks, she also trains in straps and pole dance.
Laura
As a child, Laura was often found dangling upside down from the monkey bars. Not much has changed. By day, Laura is a fourth grade teacher with a continued affinity for the monkey bars. By night, that love for acrobatics takes stage on the silks. A long time swing dancer, Laura began her aerial journey in 2014 through a connection from the dance community. It was love at first climb. Since then, Laura has trained with a passion at Ascend Aerial Arts. She has also studied with Paperdoll Militia for her teacher training. That training serves her well. From the silliness the monkey bars to the musicality of swing dancing and the conditioning of pilates, Laura brings joy to every class and performance.
Tzvetelina
Tzvetelina Tzeneva trained and competed in rhythmic gymnastics for five years in Bulgaria and then spent the next twelve years of her life focusing primarily on mathematics. After moving to the Bay Area in 2011 she got into rock climbing, ballet and dance until she discovered aerial as a way to combine all her passions. She puts an emphasis on clean movement through form and strength but also on enjoying the time in the air. She’s addicted to being upside down and can’t wait to get other people addicted too.