2025 Aerial Fun & Fitness Showcase — Recap & Replay!

We’re still glowing from last week’s incredible Showcase! Our 10th annual celebration brought together 30 amazing acts, including three new black light pieces, and the energy in the studio was unforgettable.

Thank you to every performer, volunteer, stage crew member, family, and friend who helped make this year’s showcase such a success. Your support keeps our “small top” circus thriving and full of joy.

Missed the Showcase? Watch the Full Performances Online

Both nights featured different lineups, and each show delivered its own magic.

You can now watch both full shows online for just $10.00.

Get access to the full Showcase here

2025 Highlight Reel — Now Live!

Take a look back at the artistry, energy, and joy from our 10th-year celebration—Musical Icons with an International Flare.

Moments From the Weekend

We captured some beautiful photos throughout the weekend. Here are just a couple to bring you right back into the energy of those days. 

Thank You for Being Part of Our Community

This event would not be possible without the performers who poured their hearts into every act, the crew who kept everything running smoothly, and the families and friends who continue to cheer us on. You make our community strong, vibrant, and full of joy.

We cannot wait for another year of growth, artistry, and connection.

Happy day!

SHOWCASE 2025 Season is here! Our 10th Year.

It is showcase time. This is a big year, we started running showcases in 2016, so this will be our 10th year highlighting our students’ hard work and getting to show off all the different levels of talent we get each year. You will find beginner to advanced, sling/fabric to metal hoops/lyra, bungee, dance, and maybe even black-light this year.

Are you interested in performing? Click here to sign up. You have till Aug 24th.

https://forms.gle/yEMnDvw8fZXQPLfHA

Want to watch our showcase live? Save the Dates, Nov 14th, Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday Matinees, 15th and 16th Weekend. Once we know how many performers we have, we will set the times. There will also be videos available after the live performances for performers and those who cannot attend.

We are so excited for this next season.

Get to Know Us — Watch Our New Video!

Zina's Aerialsophy

This month's tip is all about two beautiful shapes we use a lot in  dance and aerial arts: the Straddle Strike and the Pancake Shape.  Can you spot the difference?  They shapes we can make in the air and on the ground, right side up and upside down. 

What is a Straddle Strike?
In aerials, a straddle strike is when you sit up, open your legs out wide to the sides — with strong, active legs. Your hips are at a 90 degree angle and you keep your core engaged. You can be sitting, standing, suspended  or upside down in the air when you strike this shape.  This is also considered and safety shape for cross backs in fabric.  If you pancake too much you could slip out of your wrap.   Think sit your bum on the ceiling and not fold.  Which takes us to the next shape.

What is a Pancake Shape?
From the wide straddle, you hinge at the hips and fold your torso forward between your legs. Imagine trying to flatten your chest toward the ground (or the floor if you’re upright). This creates the beautiful, long "pancake" line we love to use in poses and transitions. It’s a strong stretch that challenges your flexibility and core control!

Where You’ll See These Shapes

• Entering and exiting tricks like front balance, hip key, or straddle back.

• Conditioning exercises to build hip mobility and hamstring flexibility.

• Posing for flowy, graceful transitions in choreography.

Zina’s Quick Tips

• Stay Active: Pull those quads tight and point or flex your ankles/arch/toes with purpose. Keep your legs strong in either position.

• Control Your Fold: Engage your core so you fold with strength, or to hold the 90 angle in your hips.

• Check Your Support:  in wraps.... Can you tell/feel the difference in these shapes in the air?

These shapes are not just about flexibility — they build strength, control, and confidence in your aerial movement!

New Collaboration: Andrea's Dance Studio x Aerial Fun & Fitness

We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Andrea’s Dance Studio! This exciting collaboration brings aerial training to Andrea’s competitive dance students, helping them build strength, control, and creative expression in the air.

Training has already begun, and we can’t wait to see how these dancers soar in future performances here at Aerial Fun & Fitness and Andrea's Dance Academy. 

Welcome to the AFF family, Andrea’s team!

Weekly Class Schedule

Hammock:

• Intro Beginner - Sunday 10 am and 4:30 pm / Saturday 8:45 am

• Mixed Level - Mondays 6:35 pm / Tuesdays 4:15 pm / Friday 8:30 am and 7 pm / Saturday 10 am 

• Level 2 Intermediate - Saturday 2 pm

• Level 2/3 - Monday 5:30 pm / Friday 5:45 pm 

• Level 3 - Sunday 4:30 pm / Thursday 6 pm and 7:05 pm

• Advanced Multi Apparatus 3/4 - Wednesday 5:30 pm / Thursday 10 am (ADV* Instructor permission needed)

Lyra:

• Lyra Intro Foundations - Monday 5:30 pm

• Lyra 1/1+ - Sundays 2 pm / Tuesday 6:35 pm

• Lyra 2 Intermediate - Sunday 3:15 pm / Friday 4:30 pm

• Lyra 3 - Tuesday 5:30 pm (ADV* Instructor permission needed

Bungee Fitness:

• Bungee Intro - Sunday 1:10 pm 

• Bungee Mixed Levels - Sunday 12:15 pm / Wednesday 6:45 pm

Specialty:

• Mixed Apparatus ADV* - Wednesday 5:30pm / Thursday 10 am (Instructor permission needed)
  Aerial THAI Stretch - By Appt. 

• Private Lessons/Group Parties are by appointment. Contact us for more details.

Class dates/times subject to change. Confirm on the calendar.

Sign up to flip out with us!

Teacher Training Updates

We’re growing our team—and our knowledge base!

Introducing the Safety Teaching Assistant (STA) Course

Want to get more involved in class and build leadership skills? The STA course is perfect for students or teachers wanted to add a new apparatus. Be ready to step up as classroom assistants or safety spotters. Learn spotting basics, equipment safety, and how to support instructors during classes.

This is a great opportunity to deepen your aerial understanding and be part of our teaching team!  Contact Zina for details.

October at Aerial Fun and Fitness: Fall into Flight!

As the leaves change, we’re embracing the season with new classes and exciting events. September was full of inspiring workshops and performances, and October promises even more to help you reach new heights—literally!

Whether you're perfecting a routine for the upcoming showcase, exploring a new aerial skill, or simply looking for an exciting way to stay fit, we’ve got plenty in store to keep you soaring through this season.

Here’s what you will see inside this issue:

• Highlights from the previous month

• Updates on this month's events

• Upcoming events to look forward to

• Teacher and Student Spotlight of the Month

• Aerial Tip by Zina

• Class Highlight and Schedule

• Teacher Training Updates

Recent Events

Pelvic Floor Workshop With Dr. Becky Quintangeli

The more you learn about your core, the better you’ll be.

A big thank you to Dr. Becky Quitangeli of The Movement Paradigm® for joining us and sharing valuable insights on enhancing movement, health, and well-being through understanding and strengthening your pelvic floor in the Pelvic Floor Workshop.

Upcoming Events

Student Showcase 2024

Showcase Rehearsals and Updates

We’re in full swing with showcase rehearsals! Performers, please keep an eye on your emails for important updates.

This year, we’ve added a second show to accommodate more attendees. If you couldn’t make it to the live show, we now have a Sunday Matinee, which will be open to the public.

Seating and Availability

The maximum seating capacity for the weekend is approximately 25 to 30 people, with some standing room available.

Stay tuned for social media updates regarding ticket availability after November 1st!

Showcase Tips from Zina

Our 2024 Student Showcase is just around the corner!

For all performers, the most important thing to remember is breathing. Before you start your performance, take a deep breath — a full inhale and a full exhale.

Try to let your face show how much fun you're having. I know there’s a lot going on in your mind, but remember how enjoyable this is.

And if you make a little mistake, that’s okay! Keep going. Mistakes happen, especially live, but if you keep moving and have a good time, the audience will too.

Remember to point those toes or flex your feet strongly, depending on what your character is doing. Be definitive with your ankle joint — make sure the audience knows it was a deliberate choice.

For hands, generally, the palms should face away from the audience. Lead with the back of the hand, then the elbow, the wrist, and finally the fingers. Complete the entire line, whether you're placing your hand in the air or creating a circle. Hands tell a story, but they’re probably the hardest part.

Remember to take a breath and engage your core when you climb — it will make your movements look effortless.

Most of all, have fun!

Spotlight of the Month

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Alicia and Sheperd! They have been an incredible source of inspiration in our community.

Our Teacher of the Month

Alicia

Meet Alicia, our dedicated student turned teacher at Aerial Fun and Fitness. Alicia Rivera has been a part of our community for nearly ten years!

My name is Alicia, and I have now been an aerial student for 7 years and teaching for 2+ years.  I stumbled into Aerial Hammock when my sister gifted me a class at an aerial studio in the area.  Unfortunately, that studio was not at a convenient location for me to attend regularly, but a year later I found AFF and have not stopped practicing since.

My advice to our current students is to allow yourself time to progress.  We all start at different levels and all too often we see students not giving themselves the appropriate grace to progress safely.  If you find yourself absent from class for an extended period of time, don't be afraid to humble yourself and level down until you get back to where you were.  Being smart and safe with your progressions will allow Aerial to be in your life for a long time.  

Cheers,

Alicia

Our Student of the Month

Sheperd - Age 11

Meet Shepherd, our Student of the Month! Shepherd, 11 years old, started at Aerial Fun and Fitness in August 2023 after being inspired by YouTube videos. What kept hercoming back? 

When did you start at Aerial Fun & Fitness? I started in August 2023.

Why did you start aerials? I started aerials because it looked fun! I first saw it on YouTube and that made me want to try it. I love to try new things.

What made you come back and stick with it? I really liked the people. Everyone was really nice. I love aerial.

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness? Keep trying and do your best. It can be hard at first but don’t give up!

What have been some of your challenges? Some tricks are challenging if you try them for the first time. But after trying them a few times, I can figure it out.

What apparatuses do you train on? I do hammock, lyra, and sling.

Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it? All drops, cross back, seahorse, and double horse. I like drops because they’re scary at first but after you’ve done it, it’s fun! Something I like about cross back is it’s challenging at first, then you can learn to do a lot of things from it. Seahorse is pretty, fun, and you can do perch from it! I love the drops from double horse. 

One word that defines you? Courageous. I’m not scared to try new and challenging things!

What path would you like aerial to take for you? I want to perform in concerts, musicals, and the circus!

Zina's Aerialsophy

In aerial fitness, injury prevention is key to staying safe while having fun. The PEACE and LOVE method is a simple approach to help manage injuries and support recovery, both short-term and long-term.

PEACE

When an injury first happens, follow PEACE to minimize damage and start healing:

1. P – Protect: Avoid moves or tricks that could make the injury worse.

2. E – Elevate: Raise the injured area above your heart to reduce swelling.

3. A – Avoid anti-inflammatories: These can slow healing, so let your body do its thing naturally.

4. C – Compress: Gently wrap or compress the area to control swelling.

5. E – Educate: Learn about your injury and listen to your body to avoid overdoing it.

LOVE

Once the injury starts healing, switch to the LOVE method to recover fully:

1. L – Load: Gradually reintroduce movement and weight to strengthen the injury.

2. O – Optimism: Stay positive—recovery is just as much mental as physical.

3. V – Vascularization: Keep blood flowing with light exercise, like gentle stretching or walking.

4. E – Exercise: Regularly work on strengthening and flexibility to prevent future injuries.

By following PEACE and LOVE, you can manage injuries smartly and get back in the air safely. Aerial fitness is all about balance—both in the body and the mind!

Classes

Check our website for the latest class schedule and join us for some fun and fitness!

Special Highlight: Lyra Classes

Wednesday at 4:30 pm

Friday at 10am 

Learn the fundamentals of Lyra and master the basic poses to prepare for advanced classes. Build strength, improve balance, engage your core, and most importantly, have fun! 

Join Our Lyra Class

Weekly Class Schedule

Hammock:

• Intro Beginner - Sunday 10 am and 4:30 pm / Saturday 8:45 am

• Mixed Level - Mondays 6:35 pm / Tuesdays 4:15 pm / Friday 8:30 am and 7 pm / Saturday 10 am

• Level 2 Intermediate - Saturday 2 pm

• Level 2/3 - Monday 5:30 pm / Friday 5:45 pm

• Level 3 - Sunday 4:30 pm / Thursday 6 pm and 7:05 pm

• Advanced Multi Apparatus 3/4 - Wednesday 5:30 pm / Thursday 10 am (ADV* Instructor permission needed)

Lyra:

• Lyra Intro Foundations - Monday 5:30 pm

• Lyra 1/1+ - Sundays 2 pm / Tuesday 6:35 pm

• Lyra 2 Intermediate - Sunday 3:15 pm / Friday 4:30 pm

• Lyra 3 - Tuesday 5:30 pm (ADV* Instructor permission needed)

Bungee Fitness:

• Bungee Intro - Sunday 1:10 pm 

• Bungee Mixed Levels - Sunday 12:15 pm / Wednesday 6:45 pm

Specialty:

• Mixed Apparatus ADV* - Wednesday 5:30pm / Thursday 10 am (Instructor permission needed)
  Aerial THAI Stretch - By Appt.

• Private Lessons/Group Parties are by appointment. Contact us for more details.

Class dates/times subject to change. Confirm on the calendar.

Sign up to flip out with us!

Teacher Training Updates

We’ve got something exciting in the works—a brand-new Hip and Core Challenge! Get ready to fire up your muscles and strengthen your practice or learn the details to have safe splits and back bends in a whole new way. More details are coming your way soon, so stay tuned!

September 2024 Newsletter

As August wrapped up, we’re looking back on a month packed with excitement at Aerial Fun and Fitness! From the adrenaline of our Liberty Challenge to the new Zumba class that’s got everyone moving, it’s been a month to remember. And don’t forget—we just launched our brand video!

But we’re not stopping there—September is bringing even more excitement, including a super cool creative photoshoot and some amazing workshops. We can’t wait to share all the details with you!

Here’s what you will see inside this issue:

• Highlights from the previous month

• Updates on this month's events

• Upcoming events to look forward to

• Teacher and Student Spotlight of the Month

• Aerial Tip by Zina

• Class Highlight and Schedule

• Teacher Training Updates

Recent Events

Brand Video Launch

We launched our brand-new video, and it was a great success! If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, check it out now. It’s a fantastic way to get a glimpse of what makes Aerial Fun and Fitness so special.

Aerial Fun Liberty Challenge

We had fun during our Aerial Fun Liberty Challenge!

This Year’s Challenge Winner: Reilly Myhre!

We had so many great photos this year.  Congratulations, Reilly Myhre, for best spirit and most photos - winning this year’s challenge! As a reward, you’ll receive a free class and get to choose a t-shirt of your choice!

Acro Aerial Workshop with Melodic Movements

We enjoyed an exciting afternoon with the dancers from Melodic Movements in our Acro Aerial workshop. The energy was high, and the creativity was through the roof as we explored new aerial techniques together.

New Zumba Workshop

We launched our first Zumba workshop and were excited to see how it would go. While it was our first workshop, we definitely enjoyed the experience.

Explore our class

Upcoming Events

Creative Photoshoot

Aerial Fun and Fitness is partnering with Erin Coyle Photography for a photoshoot against the green screen on September 7th, 2024 from 2pm to 5pm!

Get all decked out and show off all the hard work you have done to be amazing. Choose an aerial apparatus. Make sure to come early and be ready for your time slot, be ready and warmed up.

PRO TIPS:

• Greens will not work well with the green screen background but other colors will be great.

• Solid colors work well for the detailed backgrounds. Patterns can work for the plain backgrounds. If you have questions on colors, contact us and we can help you decide.

‌Contact Zina for details if you are coming to the photoshoot. 

Student Showcase 2024

Our 2024 Student Showcase will have a movie theme this year! Interested in participating? Fill out the interest form below.  LAST MINUTE Signups until Wed the 4th.

SIGN UP for SHOWCASE here!

Pelvic Floor Workshop with Dr. Becky

Join us for an exclusive workshop with Dr. Becky Quintangeli on September 28th at Aerial Fun and Fitness! Discover the secrets to better movement, health, and well-being by understanding and strengthening your pelvic floor.

• Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024

• Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

• Location: Aerial Fun and Fitness at Hockessin Crossing, 2nd Floor

Did you know that you can get $20 off if you register before Sep 15th? Use code early-bird-gets20 .  Make sure to apply it before you check out. 

Only 15 spots available – don't miss out! Click the link below to register now.

Register Here

Our Teacher of the Month

Laura

Meet Laura! After maternity leave, Laura is excited to be back at Aerial Fun and Fitness. With a decade of aerial experience, she’s ready to help you find your flow and bring your moves to life.

With showcase just around the corner my tip for y'all is to let your body and your feelings flow through each movement. Don't overthink it. Slow down and really accentuate each movement/pose. And finally, don't forget about the transitions, because the transitions are what really bring your choreography to life!

Hope to see you in the air!
Cheers,
Laura Rennegade

Hello! Laura Rennegade here. I’m just returning from pregnancy leave (or should I say postpartum leave) since I was teaching throughout most of my pregnancy and performed in the showcase 2 weeks before giving birth to my little man. 

The past few months have been amazing being a new mom, though I've missed this community and am excited to be back teaching Lyra Intro foundations and choreographing for showcase. I look forward to teaching Lyra level 1 again soon and training to teach Lyra level 2 as well. 

Before moving to Landenberg and joining the Aerial Fun and Fitness team, I lived in Philadelphia where I found my love for circus and aerials and have been performing for over 10 years! Creating and developing my own choreography throughout that time. My passion is partner Lyra or doubles as I like to call it. Though I also really enjoy cube, sphere, trapeze, and have dabbled in silks and hammock. I just love to spin and hang upside-down.

Our Student of the Month

Christine

What have been some of your challenges? For me, my enthusiasm for aerial was so great that it was hard not to realize I was pushing my body too far sometimes. I gave myself (small) finger injuries by relying too much on my grip for too long, and not enough on my core. Fortunately Zina realized what caused my injury and gave me a plan to heal as well as avoid creating that injury again in future, and now I’m all healed up and actually better off for the whole experience. This experience has made me more respectful in the way I treat and respond to my body. 

What apparatuses do you train on? Lyra, Sling, and Hammock

Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it? Inverted crossback! It makes me feel tied up, free, and challenged at the same time. 

One word that defines you? Passionate 😂

What path would you like aerial to take for you? I’d love to be a teacher someday, and personally I’d love to get into silks! The little I’ve tried on them so far was …illuminatingly addictive.

When did you start at Aerial Fun & Fitness? July 2023 - just over 1 year ago!

Why did you start aerials? I was about to begin a new job I was dreading, and so I decided to sign up for the most fun activities I could think of to take my mind off work. I signed up for art classes and aerial. And aerial stuck!

What made you come back and stick with it? I was shocked by how much fun it was. I realized I had never done physical exercise that was that fun or exhilarating before in my life, and I couldn’t bring myself to consider quitting.

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness? Keep showing up, and it will get easier, and you will be improve faster than you realize!

Zina's Aerialosophy

(Get it? aerial +philosophy)

Those of us in aerial arts all want splits. We all want those ever-elusive splits...
But did you know that the shape of your pelvis could affect which type of splits you might be better at?

What if your hip bones are more to the side? What if your hip bones face more forward?

There are so many factors to consider when we start working on more advanced positions of the body. For example, everybody has a different amount of collagen and varying muscle fiber types. Are you hypermobile? Are you not hypermobile? Are you stiff? What type of job do you have? Do you sit all day? Do you stand all day?

The next big thing is, "Oh, flexibility will give me splits." Flexibility is a great buzzword, but do you have the strength to hold a limb or your body at end range?

We need to create core strength and mobility. Holding those extreme positions without getting injured should be the goal versus trying to do something more intense too quickly and possibly ending up injured.

Now, does that mean we can't do splits or we shouldn't do splits? Quite the contrary! It's always great to train these skills. After all, we are doing aerial and circus arts, so there are some shapes that need splits. We just need to learn to train them safely.

Consider these points: core strength, keeping your hips square, knowing how to use your core, keeping your quads and your hamstrings active. Do you know how to use your hip flexors and your glutes on the other leg? Do you think about how you breathe and use your core and pelvic floor? Are your ribs down in line with your hips?

I know that's a lot, but it's important to start thinking about these things when you want to start training. A quick fix for a lot of this is making sure you know where your core position is and that you can breathe properly.

Are your ribs over your hips? It sounds too easy, but if you can't breathe in a position, then you're not strong there.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Classes

Check our website for the latest class schedule and join us for some fun and fitness!

Special Highlight: Apprentice Classes

Saturdays at 4:30 PM

Join our Apprentice Class! We are offering discounted INTRO Hammock classes for just $20.00 to help our new teachers get their hours.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to learn and support our budding instructors.

Join Our Apprentice Class

Weekly Class Schedule

Hammock:

• Intro Beginner - Sunday 10 am and 4:30 pm / Saturday 8:45 am

• Mixed Level - Mondays 6:35 pm / Tuesdays 4:15 pm / Friday 8:30 am and 7 pm / Saturday 10 am

• Level 2 Intermediate - Saturday 2 pm

• Level 2/3 - Monday 5:30 pm / Friday 5:45 pm

• Level 3 - Sunday 4:30 pm / Thursday 6 pm and 7:05 pm

• Advanced Multi Apparatus 3/4 - Wednesday 5:30 pm / Thursday 10 am (ADV* Instructor permission needed)

Lyra:

• Lyra Intro Foundations - Monday 5:30 pm

• Lyra 1/1+ - Sundays 2 pm / Tuesday 6:35 pm

• Lyra 2 Intermediate - Sunday 3:15 pm / Friday 4:30 pm

• Lyra 3 - Tuesday 5:30 pm (ADV* Instructor permission needed)

Bungee Fitness:

• Bungee Intro - Sunday 1:10 pm 

• Bungee Mixed Levels - Sunday 12:15 pm / Wednesday 6:45 pm

Specialty:

• Mixed Apparatus ADV* - Wednesday 5:30pm / Thursday 10 am (Instructor permission needed)
  Aerial THAI Stretch - By Appt.

• Private Lessons/Group Parties are by appointment. Contact us for more details.

Class dates/times subject to change. Confirm on the calendar.

Sign up to flip out with us!

Teacher Training Updates

We’ve got something exciting in the works—a brand-new Hip and Core Challenge! Get ready to fire up your muscles and strengthen your practice or learn the details to have safe splits and back bends in a whole new way. More details are coming your way soon, so stay tuned!

Special shout out to Elena for helping us compile our newsletter.  She does a lot of work behind the scenes for us. 

Zina DiTonno
Owner, Aerial Fun & Fitness Studio
Founder, Aerial Technique Teacher Training and Studio Programs

Aerial Fun & Fitness is a Veteran-Owned and Operated Business. Thanks for your support.

Try something new. Save your spot in class.

Special Thanks for all those who serve others.

To Spilt or Not to Split ... Zina's Aerialosophy - July 2024

Zina's Aerialosophy

(Get it? aerial +philosophy)

To Spilt or Not to Split . Those of us in aerial arts all want splits. We all want those ever-elusive splits...
But did you know that the shape of your pelvis could affect which type of splits you might be better at?

What if your hip bones are more to the side? What if your hip bones face more forward?

There are so many factors to consider when we start working on more advanced positions of the body. For example, everybody has a different amount of collagen and varying muscle fiber types. Are you hypermobile? Are you not hypermobile? Are you stiff? What type of job do you have? Do you sit all day? Do you stand all day?

The next big thing is, "Oh, flexibility will give me splits." Flexibility is a great buzzword, but do you have the strength to hold a limb or your body at end range?

We need to create core strength and mobility. Holding those extreme positions without getting injured should be the goal versus trying to do something more intense too quickly and possibly ending up injured.

Now, does that mean we can't do splits or we shouldn't do splits? Quite the contrary! It's always great to train these skills. After all, we are doing aerial and circus arts, so there are some shapes that need splits. We just need to learn to train them safely.

Consider these points: core strength, keeping your hips square, knowing how to use your core, keeping your quads and your hamstrings active. Do you know how to use your hip flexors and your glutes on the other leg? Do you think about how you breathe and use your core and pelvic floor? Are your ribs down in line with your hips?

I know that's a lot, but it's important to start thinking about these things when you want to start training. A quick fix for a lot of this is making sure you know where your core position is and that you can breathe properly.

Are your ribs over your hips? It sounds too easy, but if you can't breathe in a position, then you're not strong there.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Bella - Teacher Tips and Bio July 2024

Meet Bella, a long-time student turned dedicated teacher at Aerial Fun and Fitness. Bella started her aerial journey with us when she was just 9 years old. Over the years, she has grown into a skilled and passionate teacher.

Hello, my name is Bella, and I’ve been teaching hammock for a year now! I’ve taught at a children’s summer camp and I teach Monday night Level 1-2 Flexibility & Flow. I will be heading off to college this August, but I plan to bring my hammock with me to school and hopefully find a way to continue aerial!

During my classes, I really enjoy seeing my lesson plans come to life and testing out new skills and flows with my students. When teaching new skills, I get to see what my students enjoy the most and what they need more help with, which helps me gauge which skills are appropriate for future classes. It’s also nice that I get to basically take the class along with my students since I demonstrate in the hammock for them, haha.

Some advice for students coming into my class is to be vocal about your needs. If a certain body part is hurting on a class day, let me know so that I can help you work around it. If you feel particularly uncomfortable in a pose, I can help you adjust until you feel it working the right muscles without pain.

I hope to see you all in some of my last Monday night classes before I leave for school!

Student of the Month - Shepherd - Age 11

Student of the Month - Shepherd - Age 11

When did you start at Aerial Fun & Fitness? I started in August 2023.

Why did you start aerials? I started aerials because it looked fun! I first saw it on YouTube and that made me want to try it. I love to try new things.

What made you come back and stick with it? I really liked the people. Everyone was really nice. I love aerial

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness? Keep trying and do your best. It can be hard at first but don’t give up!

What have been some of your challenges? Some tricks are challenging if you try them for the first time. But after trying them a few times, I can figure it out.

What apparatuses do you train on? I do hammock, lyra, and sling.

Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it? All drops, cross back, seahorse, and double horse. I like drops because they’re scary at first but after you’ve done it, it’s fun! Something I like about cross back is it’s challenging at first, then you can learn to do a lot of things from it. Seahorse is pretty, fun, and you can do perch from it! I love the drops from double horse. 

One word that defines you? Courageous. I’m not scared to try new and challenging things!

What path would you like aerial to take for you? I want to perform in concerts, musicals, and the circus!

Showcase Sign up 2024 OPEN

IT IS HERE!! TIME to start planning

We have in person and video options - if you cant be here for the live performance, or just shy, away at college, or want to be a part but live in say “the virgin islands”. (wink) Make sure to fill out the form so we can communicate with everyone.

Practice starts Week of Sep 8th - Performance is Nov 9th and Nov 10th. Due to the high demand we will have a Sunday Matinee for friends and public. Limited tickets will be available as we can only seat about 24 each show.

Student Showcase 2024

• Showcase interest form - fill out if you want to participate this year!

• Movie themes this year

Details about the showcase will be sent after we finalize our list.

Our new Brand Video 2024

WATCH HERE

See how Aerial Fun started, meet the amazing people involved, and learn about Zina's passion and heart to inspire others and why we are here and why this type of movement is so fun and empowers others at so many levels.

Thanks to ​​​​OnSetMG Productions and Jaciel Sanchez for their fantastic work in putting this together. We also want to extend our gratitude to all the students, clients, and wonderful folks we’ve had the pleasure of teaching since 2012. Thanks to all who took time out of their day to help us film this and be a part of our story.

Watch the video and be inspired by our journey!

Gwen - Student of the Month - June 2024

Gwen - Student of the Month

When did you start at the studio?
Late July/ early August of 2023

Why did you start?
I had aged out of most colorguard performance opportunities around 2020 and was looking to pick up a new kind of performance art. A lot more aerial videos were starting to show up on my social media feeds around that time, so I'd been interested for a while, but I hadn't found a place close to me to try it out until the studio moved to Hockessin.

What made you come back and stick with it?
I immediately fell in love. Getting to spin and climb was reminiscent of the pole dancing classes I was taking, but the added rolls and drops added another element of excitement. The staff are also super supportive! They encourage me to grow at my own pace and push me to try harder skills they know I'm capable of.

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness?
Give yourself the grace of the 24 hour rule. Sometimes you just need to sleep on a trick before it makes sense.

What have been some of your challenges?
Flexibility. It's something I've always wished I had more of and continuously have to work on. I've made a lot of progress since coming to the studio, and wanting to be able to hold better shapes/lines in the air has given me more motivation to keep working on it.

What apparatuses do you train on at the studio?
Lyra, hammock, and sling, but I would like to add on more.

Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it?
I like leg tangles that keep me supported while allowing me to explore different shapes and expressions. It lets me bring my own creativity and characterization to the pose.

One word that defines you?
Curious

What path would you like aerial to take for you?
I think I'd like to get back into competing/performing again. Not exactly sure how to get there, but it's a goal to strive towards.

Featured on Fox 29

WATCH HERE

Circus Tricks at Aerial Fun & Fitness

Bob's flying through the air! He went to get a workout at Aerial Fun & Fitness, where he learned some moves from bungee fitness, aerial yoga, and circus arts!

By Bob Kelly

Posted June 13, 2024 10:14pm EDT

Our Values, Mission, and Vision

Join us as we move together. Our commitment is to our craft, our community, and our connections.

Values

• Treat Everyone Like a Friend

• Meet Everyone at Their Unique Starting Point

• Build Aerial Expertise Within Our Community of Students and Instructors

• Move with Purpose

• Raise Each Other Up and Be Amazing!

 

Mission

Welcoming you inside our family-friendly aerial community to experience the fun of being in the air with a safe and encouraging environment, enhancing your quality of life by transforming you to move freely and fully.

 

Vision

Leading and inspiring students and instructors into the next generation with education and passion. Cultivating and creating a unique movement community.

Gwen - Teacher Bio - June 2024

Our NEW Teacher Spotlight  BIO
Gwen is one of our newest teachers and is one of our higher level lyra, hammock and sling students.

Hi, my name is Gwen Snavely, and I'm excited to start teaching! I've been a performer since I was 3, with a long history of performing arts from classical dance (ballet, tap, jazz), to color guard, to musical theater, to pole dancing, and now aerials. I've coached/choreographed for color guard at the collegiate level and competed at world championships at the "A" level for 5 years. I have a strong understanding of movement foundations and a passion for movement and dance as a form of self expression and creativity. Come hang out!

Core for More - Zina's Aerialosophy

Zina's Aerialosophy
(get it - aerial +philosophy)

Core for More
Sounds funny, right? But seriously - the better you can learn to use your breathing and core, the more efficiently you can transfer forces and learn flows, tricks, and fun stuff. We are not stable in the air, so we need to create that from … yes, our core and where we are attached to an apparatus.

Learning how to stabilize the sides of our core to create that full cylinder all the way around.

What does that look like?
Try this: place your hands on your belly and on your chest - take a deep breath - which moves first?

1. Chest - less efficient and we want to get the breath lower into the belly

2. Belly - this is what we want - now can you breathe into the lower belly?

3. Other - reach out and I would be happy to give you some pointers.

Remember, make sure the exhale is a little longer than the inhale to help with feeling of lightheadedness, unless you really like that! 😂

Let’s breath better, (for) better core function, (to) function better in the air, (making) aerial skills easier, wink. (see what i did there? ha)

I also wrote a core challenge for our NEW APP and am working on 3 more courses to learn how to take your aerial skills to the next level. If you like to learn and can spend about 5 minutes 3 days a week on your own, reach out and we will get you the details on HOW to do this.

Can you say, Game Changer? Think you have a strong core? I bet you can find some challenges here that are aerial specfic  since most gyms are not flying through the air like you are.

Current courses: 

1. Core Corset/Cylinder: learn to control it all the way around

2. Hips and Core: in process

3. Shoulders and Core: coming Fall 2024

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Alicia Rivera - August/September 2022

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Alicia Rivera

August/September 2022

Growing up Alicia was not much for organized fitness.  She did not participate in any organized sports as a youth, and it wasn’t until reaching her 30’s that she saw the importance of exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  One year she received a gift certificate for Christmas to attend an aerial yoga class.  It took one class for her to realize that this needed to be a part of her fitness routine.  While she enjoys a variety of different types of fitness, Aerial remains the constant. She has been practicing as a student at Aerial Fun and Fitness for the last 4 years and her growing interest has led her to get certified as an Aerial Technique TM aerial fitness instructor so she can teach and share her passion.

By trade Alicia is a Physical Therapist Assistant in which she has served the local community for the last 12 years.  In her career Alicia has found passion in encouraging and challenging people of all ages to achieve activities they never imagined, and she now brings that drive to the Aerial Fitness world. Her knowledge of the human anatomy helps keep her students safe and challenges them to achieve their aerial fitness goals. Flips and tricks are Alicia’s go-to aerial moves to practice but no worries she can cater to all levels so that everyone can enjoy the fun!

Showcase Sign Ups 2023 are OPEN

SHOWCASE SIGN UP IS HERE

Here is the form to fill out to JOIN our AMAZING students to show off all the work you have been doing. 

This is the initial form to gauge interest and how many pieces we will need to choreograph.   Yes we will also be featuring tweens, and our remote teachers and/or students that consider us their 2nd aerial home when they are in town. 

https://forms.gle/noFA8PGTiJWK3Z1B9

Add your name to the list if you are interested in being a part of our showcase this year.  We can’t wait to see who wants to join us this year.   This year we will be able to record our dress rehearsal night and perform live for our friends and family.  

Dates Sept 10 - thru Nov 11  

We will send out an email toward the end of the month with the details and casting information. You will be required to attend at least 8 practices and Dress rehearsal(s).

If you already know you are joining - you can register here - and still use the form above to send us the details.

Registration Fee of $30.00 placeholder on FITLI  is Sep 3rd.  This is to help cover setup, extra cleaning, choreography time, etc… 

Live in Person - 8:00 am - is the placeholder for sign up

https://app.fitli.com/business/aerial-fun-fitness/schedule#session-2554921

Remote Performance - 9:15am is the placeholder for this group

https://app.fitli.com/business/aerial-fun-fitness/schedule#session-2554922

 * There may be a small additional video fee, but we try to keep that cost down for everyone.

Georgia Cox - Student of the Month- Oct / Nov 2022

Georgia Cox
Student of the Month!

Oct / Nov 2022

When did you start at the studio?  I started at the Aerial Fun & Fitness Studio a couple months after Christmas 2021. I was 9 years old.

Why did you start?  The reason why I started aerial hammock was because I thought it would be a great way to challenge myself. 

What made you come back and stick with it?   The reason why I suck with aerial hammock was because Zina was very nice and it was fun learning something new. 

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness?  That if they stick with aerial hammock they will get higher and higher in skills and get more and more flexible along the way. 

What have been some of your challenges? 
Some of my challenges have been trying to do some really hard poses and remembering to breathe. 

What apparatuses do you train on at the studio?
My favorite and the one apparatuses I train in the studio is aerial hammock/sling, but I have tried lyra and silks.

Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it?
My favorite poses on aerial hammock are the ladder climbs and mermaid because they are both fun and challenging poses. 

One word that defines you? 
Bendy. 

What path would you like aerial to take for you? 
I would like aerial hammock to take me on a path that would get me to do my first showcase beautifully. 

GC bye bye. 

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Amanda Anderson - Oct / Nov 2022

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Amanda Anderson

 Oct / Nov 2022

Amanda is an Intro/Level 1 teacher here at Aerial Fun and Fitness.

The reason she made the decision to become an instructor is because she wants to share the joy she feels while she is at the studio with others. She is a big proponent of "fitness is for everyone" and would like to share that sentiment with the students she has the privilege to teach! 

She has been practicing aerial fitness for the better part of three years! She began her aerial fitness journey after moving to the Wilmington, DE area in 2020. She was looking for something to do in her free time that was active and fun. After she took her first class, she was hooked! The instructor was positive and encouraging, and the environment was uplifting and non-judgmental. After about 2 years, Amanda decided to take the plunge and get certified to teach!

Outside of teaching aerial, Amanda is a 4th grade teacher at a local charter school. She enjoys reading, going to concerts, and cooking! Amanda wants everyone to know that this is an accessible fitness activity for pretty much everyone and would love you to come fly with her sometime!

Student of the Month - Abby Myhre - August / September 2022

Abby Myhre
Student of the Month!

August / September 2022

When did you start at the studio?   4 years ago

Why did you start?   Was looking for a fun way to get exercise

What made you come back and stick with it?    Aerial fitness was more fun that I could have imagined and the classes are never the same so i don’t get bored. Although classes were challenging I could see and feel improvement after just a few classes.

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness? Aerial fitness is the most fun you will have while getting strongWhat have been some of your challenges? 
Remembering to what side i did first. Remembering to breathe and engage my core.

What apparatuses do you train on at the studio?
 Lyra and hammock/sling

Your favorite pose(s), and why do you like it?
Delilah in hoop because it’s very bending and graceful feeling! Cross back straddle in hammock just because it’s fun!

One word that defines you? 
Strong (mind and body)

What path would you like aerial to take for you? 
Aerial has helped me improve pain and discomfort associated with hypermobility and other joint issues. I hope to keep improving strength while improving my stability/flexibility. I would like to continue improving on current skills and learning new one and as always just have fun!

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Sarah Willsey

Teacher Tidbits Corner - Sarah Willsey

June / July 2022

FROM A TEACHER PERSPECTIVE

When did you start at the studio?:
I started at the studio back in 2018

Why did you start?:
I started because my gymnastics team took a class at Zina’s studio and I fell in love with aerial.

What made you come back and stick with it?:
I came back because I wanted to start teaching at Zina’s studio. 

What would you tell someone just starting aerial fitness?:
I would tell them to just relax and allow to have themselves to have a wonderful time! I would let them know that no one is there to judge you, so have loads of fun!  Also, I would tell them to not be afraid to ask for help or to ask the instructor to re-explain a question they do not know. Lastly, I would tell them that as an Instructor that I am there to make this experience amazing for them!

What have been some of your challenges?:
One of my challenges was slowing down to learn the intro/level one tricks I have trained on single silks, hammock, Lyra, sling, and bungee I can’t pick a favorite I love them all! Fun!  

What apparatuses do you train on in the studio?
I have trained on single silks, hammock, Lyra, sling, and bungee.

Your favorite pose(s) and why do you like it?:
I can’t pick a favorite I love them all! 

One word that defines you?:
Fun

What path would you like aerial to take for you?:
I want to keep teaching and help people find something that works for them that they love doing and can be proud of!