AFTERGLOW AERIAL ARTS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Lyra / Trapeze, Lead Coach Youth Program
Candi has always been fascinated with the arts. She spent all four years in high school doing such fun activities as theater, choir, and photography. In college she decided to spend her free time at the community playhouse where she felt she came alive with movement and storytelling. It wasn't till the end of 2015 that a friend introduced her to aerial arts. Since then she has jumped head first into the circus scene.
She has done everything from aerial yoga to summer intensives in Ireland. She has also done 2 years of a circus based training company and has taken the Paperdoll Militia teaching course specializing in silks. She now has decided to spend her time teaching the next generations in the ways of art and circus. Her lesson she learned from all this is: you can take the girl out of the circus but you can't take the circus out of the girl.
I've always loved kids. When I was younger I wanted to have 12 of my very own. But even though I only have 2, I'm grateful I get to be a part of so many children's lives.
One of Jolene's greatest passions in life is to inspire other beings into unlocking the vast amounts of confidence and courage that is sometimes difficult to find within. She teaches through professional experience using play and creativity as tools on and off the aerial apparatus. Even through all of the fun & silliness, safety and technique are extremely important to her. You will often see Jolene strolling through the studio doing daily rigging checks or in a class saying, "pay attention to your toes!" or "engage your booty more!" She strives for grace, beautiful lines, and finding your own creative spark.
​Founding Afterglow Aerial Arts in 2014 is one of Jolene's favorite achievements. A performer down to the soul, she has been a dancer her entire life. She has worked with many troupes, DJs, festivals, and circuses around the world and continues to keep the flame alive by creating new and innovative ideas. Currently, she is deeply involved with the art of Mongolian Contortion and always in love with continuing aerial silks. Working with coaches such at Stephanie Cadd, Liza Myachina, Hannah Finn, Nicole Whiteside, Serchmaa Byamba and Susan Harkey has contributed to profound growth in her personal dance & artistic personality. Stay tuned for what is brewing up next.
Liza Myachina has spent her life moving her body and performing. She started with ice skating and gymnastics, then progressed to dance and rhythmic gymnastics, until finally she found the world of circus. Since that day, circus has been the place where she felt most at home, where she is free to express her stories through her movements.
She has trained and performed with numerous artists from Cirque du Soleil, and worked with Pendulum Aerial Arts for 6 years. While she specializes in aerial silks and trapeze, she also has a foundation with groundwork such as partner acrobatics and handstands, and is willing to give anything a try.
Job Titles:
- Silks, Character Development
Job Titles:
- Silks / Sling, Studio Manager
- Sling, Studio Manager
Mary Elizabeth is a circus enthusiast. Having practiced various dance and movement classes on and off since childhood, she has a deep love and appreciation for choreography and performance art. Early in 2012, Mary began learning aerial silks from Jolene Dickerson, it grew to be one of her biggest passions and she never looked back. No other discipline had provided as much challenge, reward, or confidence building.
Mary has performed in many Afterglow Showcases, Who's The Ross (a local late night talk show) & The Umbrella Festival on Silks, Corde Lisse (rope) and Aerial Hammock. Her favorite part of teaching is encouraging students to believe in themselves and watching them progress throughout the series. Mary has learned from world renowned circus artists such as Tanya Brno, Shannon McKenna "the Artist Athlete," and Jen Crane "Cirque Physio." Their teachings inform her work.
Mary is also a Licensed Massage Therapist, having completed the 800 hour program at East West College of the Healing Arts in 2014. In addition Mary is a hospice volunteer for Legacy Hospice. Her training in anatomy and kinesiology is utilized in class with a focus on proper alignment and enhanced proprioception.