Alina Candelario

Alina has been practicing and performing Aerial and Circus arts since 2009, and she's been teaching since 2015. 

She has trained in many different areas of California from Orange County all the way up to Humboldt County and everything in between since she started learning Circus arts. 

Her specialties are Aerial Rope, Aerial Fabric, Aerial Sling, and Handbalancing.  And she also dabbles in Physical Theater, Juggling, Acrobatics, and Partner Acrobatics.

She enjoys teaching because of the challenge it presents in finding out how each individual student learns best, whatever their learning style is.

Kirstin Brown

Kirstin has a background in ballet, modern, jazz and belly dance. When she found aerial she was excited to take her unique movement style to the sky. Her specialty is in pole and dance trapeze. She brings her extensive background in dance to all her classes and provides students with the tools to create their own unique voice and movement while teaching them skills and technique. 

Sofia Elvira

Sofia was born and raised in Barcelona training classical ballet from a young age. She recently moved to the Sierras via New York City.

During her 13 years in NYC she explored and trained several movement disciplines falling in love with pole dance and trapeze.

The inclusive and diverse training environments she found at Circus Warehouse, where she trained in the professional program for 4 years, and several pole studios around the City inspired her to pursue a performing career in the rich NYC nightlife and variety shows around Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.

After being a student all her life and supporting herself as an entertainer in the wild city, Sofia is beyond excited to teach in the mountains and embark on this new thrilling path. She can’t wait to meet you all at Aerialution and fly together!

Cassie McAlister

Cassie is a California Credentialed Teacher. She discovered aerial arts in 2011 in search of a way to extend her dance repertoire. She came into aerial with a substantial background in musical theater and dance (ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, and tap). Cassie has been teaching aerial fabric and lyra since 2015 and aerial yoga since 2018. Cassie directed children’s musicals for 10 years and directed a dance company for 8 years. She also ran an after school dance program in Southern California for 2 years. Cassie worked as the Assistant Director to the Nevada Union Theatrical Dance program from 2014 to 2019. She has performed professionally as well as for mere enjoyment. 

With over 30 years of experience in dance, Cassie approaches aerial from a dance perspective. Cassie seeks to bring out that unique quality from each of her students so that they may find their own wings to fly, transforming their aerial skills into art.

Paige Wyatt

Paige Wyatt was born an acrobat. She’s been handstanding longer than she’s been able to read and write. She was a gymnast and Spring Board Diver in her youth. Her 20’s took her on a journey through the extreme sports world which landed her firmly in the Yoga and Circus Arts. She now teaches and performs Vertical Rope, Aerial Cube and Clowning. After many years of teaching and performing she is excited to share her love and experience with the Aerialution Community.

Ronja Giesser

Aerial fabric became Ronja's passion after taking a class in Seattle at the age of 35. Completely hooked, she was determined to bring this art form home to Hawaii where she was living at the time. Combining it with skills from her past career as a teacher and current profession as a massage therapist, she embarked on a journey of learning to teach aerial arts. After a teacher training with Elsie Smith from New England Center for Circus Arts, she co-founded Hawaii Aerial and Performing Arts on Hawaii's Big Island. Ronja is excited to now be part of Aerialution's team and is hoping to share the amazing world of flying with people of all ages and walks of life!

Helen Fitanides

Helen danced on the ground for many years and fell in love with aerial dance in 2009. She’s since been part of La Petite Chouette Aerial Dance Company in Santa Barbara, and performed and taught with UpSwing Aerial Dance Company in Berkeley. She loves to watch other people fall in love with dancing off the ground, and is excited to be teaching at Aerialution! She currently lives in Nevada City and works in the environmental field when she’s not flying.

Emilio Mils

EMilio Mils is a movement artist, AcroYoga instructor, and connection facilitator with a passion for play, trust, and community. Blending partner acrobatics, performance arts, and embodied movement. He makes AcroYoga accessible and engaging for all levels. His teaching focuses on strong foundations, fluid movement, and intuitive connection—creating a space where students can explore, grow, and build confidence together.

Mary Chapman

Mary Chapman, a movement artist, started as a competitive gymnast and then switched over to sports acro or acrobatic gymnastics and competed at the elite level in a women's trio. From there, she went deeper into circus acrobatics and hand balancing training. She also studied acrobatic yoga intensively and performed in Hawaii for several years. She now mostly dances and teaches acrobatics to kids and adults.