The New Moon Staff

Before discovering circus, Jen (she/her) was a soul divided- an artsy weirdo with a passion for athletics. She worked at a rock climbing gym to support herself through art school and ran marathons when she wasn’t teaching art to teenagers. Then, one day, Jen saw a circus performance at a science-fiction convention and her two worlds collided. “Omg!” she thought, “You can be artistic and athletic at the same time!” She was dazzled by the efficiency of this prospect. Serendipitously, a circus school opened in Boston shortly thereafter.

Since that time, Jen has moved from east coast to west coast and up to the PNW, with some international stints in between. She seizes every opportunity to train wherever she goes, picking up new styles, approaches, and theories. Jen tries to impress upon her students that circus is the place where you can have it all- strength, beauty, creativity, discipline, and all the weirdness you can imagine.

Amanda has lived in the PNW her whole life and has been training as an aerialist since 2012. She has loved performing aerial all over the greater Seattle area and beyond since 2015. Her favorite way to show off her skills is with her in air (and life) partner Nick Perry as aerial duo Vertical Axis. Amanda is also deeply devoted to aerial coaching as she believes helping others understand how their bodies can move in unique and interesting ways is essential to finding joy in this life. When she isn’t in the sky she is underwater learning how to dance and move fluidly as a mermaid. If you want to make Amanda’s day, tell her what kind of fish you, as a merfolk, would be and what waters you inhabit.

Beverly (or Bev, she/her) started her aerial journey way back in 2003 and has seen circus education grow and mature in so many ways over the years. After 17 years running a studio, she handed over the reins in January 2024 and now enjoys being able to relax and  focus on her teaching. Her favorite things to teach: rope, trapeze, brand-new beginners, intermediate fundamentals, and act development. She favors an inquiry-based approach whenever possible, allowing her students to discover and explore even as they acquire new skills and build strength.

I’ve been working in movement for a long time, so long I can’t remember when I started. I started in massage therapy, moved on to Pilates and eventually found Pole, Parkour and circus all in the same year and it all went ‘up’ from there. My main focus is straps, rope and fabric, but I have dabbled in many other disciplines. So many. I enjoy it because it’s challenging, puzzling and sometimes scary. For students I like demystifying it and showing how accessible it can be for those who believe ‘I could never do that!’

Danaë is usually followed everywhere by Buddy, pictured above.

Ivanna (she/her) began her aerial training in New York City in the earlier 2000’s. Having danced professionally for many years with highly athletic dance companies, and being a rock climber, it seemed natural to combine the two and start dancing in the air. She has been teaching aerial for over 10 years, specializing in fabric, dance/static trapeze, sling, lyra, and cube. She also holds certifications in Pilates and bodywork. She combines her movement techniques to teach efficiency, body awareness, strength, creativity, musicality, and most importantly trust in yourself on your apparatus.

Grayson Hay (he/they) began his aerial journey after seeing Varekai in 2002, quickly finding SANCA to introduce him to the world of Circus, and after taking a single workshop on the trapeze he was hooked. He dove head-long into trapeze as an apparatus and performed at every Circus of  Dreams, Aerlift, and the Moisture Festival as part of an ensemble number. After many years of trapeze, an injury made him seek out aerial he could still do, finding bungee along the way to rehabilitating his shoulder. He spent the pandemic exploring bungee and working with Wren Furhmen remotely over zoom. And now as a certified Grounded Aerial instructor, he’s excited to share his love of bungee with the rest of the aerial community in Seattle.

Jill Marissa (she/her) is a former competitive gymnast who went on to receive a BA in Dance from Hunter College in 2004. Since moving to Seattle, she has danced and choreographed professionally for several companies including DASSdance. She fell in love with the aerial arts in 2007 and never looked back. In 2009 she co-founded ticktock, a company that bridges the gap between circus and modern dance. She has performed abroad with The Aerialistas, the Original Aerial Girl Gang. Currently she is one half of Dizzy Daze, partnering on trapeze with Lara Paxton. She specializes in rope, duo trapeze, handstands, and ground choreography.

Jill Maio (she/her) has been training, performing and teaching aerial acrobatics since 2003. A former coach at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, she taught frequently in the UK and Europe and founded AirCraft Aerial Arts in Boston, running the organization from 2009 – 2018. Her teaching combines technical skill with creativity and humor, allowing students to explore new reaches of ability in a safe and friendly environment. Jill is also an award-winning writer of short fiction and may or may not be working on a novel at the table downstairs.

Kim (she/her) stepped off the ground in 2012 and has never looked back. With a background in Pilates, she brings her knowledge of body mechanics and movement pathways to her teaching, helping students to find success in their aerial endeavors.  Her classes emphasize theory and technique, grounding students in proper mechanics while also teaching artistry and creative choreography. She offers keys to unlocking what can feel impossible and provides students with tools to build consistency and reliability in their aerial skills.  Specializing in silks, rope, and sling, Kim is a sought-after instructor having worked for VA, Apex Aerial Arts, Arcadia and the Bellingham Circus Guild.

Kyla (she/her) grew up here in Western Washington. She has been teaching in some fashion since she was 14: piano & vocal lessons, as a preceptor for student midwives, and more recently as a functional strength coach and CPR/First Aid instructor. Her experience as a midwife and as the mother of 3 children led to a particular interest in core function and how it affects the way the rest of the body moves. This has proven useful in her circus training, and she has a particular interest in helping people build functional strength in order to move their bodies safely. Kyla loves training rope, and practices partner acro with her husband as well as dabbling in other circus arts. In addition to aerial teacher trainings & extensive personal training education, she is a Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist and a Low Pressure Fitness Certified Trainer.

Lauren Kehl is an aerial coach, Pilates instructor, and personal trainer based in Seattle, WA who has been coaching for over 10 years. Starting her aerial journey as a recreational adult at age 28, Lauren has a particular gift for working with adult beginners and students who struggle, and strives to teach in a way that is accessible and inclusive.
Lauren attended the Intensive year at NECCA in 2011 before deciding to pursue coaching full time. Since then, she has helped to expand and develop the curriculum at Versatile Arts, her home studio, and is one half of the teacher training team there. She has led workshops at AYCOfest, the American Circus Educators conference, and NECCA’s workshop weekend.
You can learn more about Lauren at laurenkehl.com

Liz took her first aerial class in 2014 on a whim, thus altering the course of her life. Growing up in Seattle, Liz was into rock climbing, hiking, and dance. After a decade away from home she returned home to find an incredible welcoming community at Versatile Arts/New Moon. Falling in love with all things in the air, particularly lyra, led her to not only pursue this passion but a career in movement and teaching. She pursued teacher training in both aerial and Pilates and started teaching with Vitality Pilates in 2020. She loves empowering people to feel comfortable moving their bodies and exploring.

Since she could walk, Macy has had an irresistible urge to climb and test her limits, so when she discovered circus she knew immediately she had found one of her greatest passions in life. She thrives on the combination of creativity, artistry, and physical challenge that circus offers. Macy spends most of her energy in the air on straps and rope and also has extensive training in the art of contortion. She was a part of the San Diego Circus Center’s preparatory program in 2020, where she enjoyed exploring new disciplines and expanding her skill set. Her fierce determination, dedication, and positive outlook contribute to her down-to-earth and playful teaching style. Macy has been teaching and assisting at Versatile Arts for several years and has been fortunate to have many technical mentors as she transitioned from youth student to aerial coach. What Macy loves most about coaching is encouraging her students to try new things, getting to watch their confidence grow, and seeing their joy and surprise as they realize their bodies’ potential. When she’s not upside down or tying herself in knots, she’s either experimenting in the kitchen, reading, off on a hike, babysitting, or doing college work.

After 13 years of gymnastics, Meg (she/her) started pole dancing in 2016 as way to continue pursuing acrobatics. She immediately fell in love with the sport and the community. Meg performs as a pole dancer, aerialist, and hand balancer in the Seattle area. She also regularly competes in pole dance competitions around the United States, with a number of placements including 1st 2018 Pole Sport Organization Northwest Championship Level 4, 1st 2019 Aerialympics Advanced Pole, 1st 2019 Pole Sport Organization Southwest Championship Professional, and 2nd 2019 Pole Sport Organization Northwest Artistic Professional. Meg is also certified as an ACE Group Fitness Instructor and Xpert certified to teach Lyra levels 1 & 2. Meg enjoys watching her students grow and become more confident in their abilities while helping them achieve their full potential.

Meredith (she/her) is a classically trained mover, shaker, and dynamite in a neat little Swarovski-encrusted package specializing in aerial hoop, rope, and aerial frame. She holds a BFA in Performance and Choreography from UNC – Greensboro and North Carolina School of the Arts, and has been coaching for a decade and counting. A celebrated study of character and a gifted improviser, her eagle eye and penchant for unearthing what is compelling in any piece are prized by her audience and her fellow aerialists alike. Her specialty is dynamic aerial hoop work and performance coaching, and she can be found collaborating and performing regularly in and around Seattle.

Nancy Neyhart (she/her/they) began training in 2004, with early training in corde lisse, circus trapeze, rings, tissu and lyra. After years of studying various apparatus, Nancy’s first love remains her true love – the lyra. She has taught at the Circus Arts Institute in Atlanta under the guidance of Carrie Heller, author of “Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual”, and here at Versatile Arts. Nancy enjoys teaching all students especially those brand new to the aerial arts (or to lyra).

Nick was born and raised in Seattle and loves the community here. He started his circus journey in college while earning a degree in dance and competing with the collegiate rock climbing team. Aerial arts seemed like a natural fit! Nick’s primarily performs duo silks with his wife Amanda under the name “Vertical Axis”. On top of performing, Nick works as  an exercise specialist and trainer. Certifications include NASM-CES, FRCms, and E-RYT 200. One of Nick’s favorite things to do with art is collaborate and bring different disciplines together! 

Peter Amelia (they/them) is a flexibility/contortion coach at Versatile Arts. They specialize in performing Single Point Trapeze and Contortion. They love teaching people who can’t touch their toes all the way to people whose toes touch their head. Peter has worked with a number of contortion coaches from around the world and has found themselves to be most successful as both a coach and a performer in the Mongolian style of conditioning and contortion. When not at the studio and reaching their head to their butt they are at home playing with and training a menagerie of goats, birds, and reptiles even a tarantula or two made their way in there! Expect to hear the catch phrase “Chins up, we are Proud, Beautiful and Happy to be here!”

Jody (she/her) hails from the Seattle area and brings years of experience in all aerial forms (primarily cerceau) and duo/trio work (duo hoop, duo straps, duo trapeze and trio hammock). With a background in dance, eclectic influence such as flamenco and butoh, experimental theatre and flow-based movement arts – it’s true that Jody pays heed to her years of diverse training, engagements, and partnerships (locally and world-wide). Jody is largely self-trained but believes that you can always make progress as an athlete and an artist by 1) showing up! 2) having fun (and) 3) freeing your mind from the every-day. Notably, Jody has performed with Cirque Du Soleil at Sea with her aerial hoop duo, Duo Lumeria (2019-2020), as well as the Newcomer Show in Leipzig, Germany at the Krystallpalast Variete Theatre (2017) – landing an award with the famous Roncalli-Apollo Theatre. Jody has also placed 2nd within the Hoop Division at the Viva Fest aerial festival in Las Vegas, NV (2018). To date, Jody has been seen with local productions such as Moisture Festival, Valtesse, My Circus Valentine, Bellingham Showcase, Bellingham Circus Guild, Cirque Macabre, Zepto Space and in years past, The Cabiri (performative mythology troupe.) Currently, you can catch Jody at the Pink Door restaurant most Sundays in the infamous Pike Place Market, teaching upper-level lyra at Versatile Arts Aerial Studio (Phinney Ridge, Seattle), or virtually at www.JodyPoth.com of IG: @Jody Poth

Vincenza is a full-time dinosaur, part time student, and general circus weirdo. When she’s not stomping through prehistoric forests, she can be found creating art onstage and off. She was born into the world of ballet and ballroom dance but defected to the circus at the age of 19. A few years later she found her apparatus of choice, the pole; both flying and stationary. When she is not teaching or training on it, she can be found climbing, dancing, acrobalance-ing, and generally trying to learn any circus art she can get her hands on. Her favorite thing about teaching is helping people become more connected and confident in their bodies and watching them take those skills with them outside of the studio.

Kelly has been pursuing her circus dreams for the last decade or so. During this time, she’s been lucky enough to perform and play on many stages, clubs, bars, and festivals in the Pacific Northwest.

In 2014, she produced her first show, Dreams of Cthulhu as part of the Seattle Fringe Festival. Soon after, she started a production company to combine her love of horror and circus… Cirque Macabre.