Winter Youth Aerial Dance Intesive

Each intensive day runs from 8:30am-5:30pm and will include classes in both vertical and bar aerial apparatus, dance, theater, flexibility, and extra-curricular circus disciplines such as handstands, acro, tumbling, juggling, etc. 

Learn about yourself as an artist and athlete, grow as a mover and performer, and challenge yourself in a safe and supportive environment. 

Intensive swag is included with registration. 

Prerequisites: Must have some aerial experience and be able to climb proficiently, invert in the air multiple times, pullover, double foot lock (in the air) to cross back invert. Aerial classes will either accommodate multiple skill levels or students will be split into different groups based on skill. Students will be assessed for level on the first day. 

Level & Age: Intermediate-advanced, 12-19 years

Cost: Sliding Scale $435, $465, $495 (includes intensive swag)

What to Expect: 

The winter intensive is a place for you to learn about yourself as an artist, performer, and athlete in a supportive community. Expand your knowledge and challenge yourself by exploring multiple movement styles and circus disciplines. Our intensive coaches will facilitate the growth of each individual in their movement journey. This is a safe space to try new things, cultivate confidence, and stretch out of your comfort zone.  

Some classes will be split by student’s skill levels. Depending on the number of students at the intensive this will either be a split level class or two separate groups. Aerial classes will include both vertical and bar based apparatus. Students will participate in both styles even if they have one preferred apparatus. All students will attend icebreakers, dance, flexibility, and cool down together. 

Example Schedule

(This is a draft, schedule will change based on coach availability, number of students, & space needs) 

Each day runs 8:30am - 5:30pm. The first ½ hour is built in time for students to arrive and settle into the space. Students will have two 15-minute snack breaks and a 45-minute lunch break. Students will receive 6-6.5 hours of coaching throughout the day. 

8:30-9:00a Arrival, settle in, & self warm up

9:00-9:15a Theater games, icebreakers, & warm up

9:15-10:30a Dance class

10:30-10:45a Snack Break 

10:45-12:15p Aerial class #1 

12:15-1:00p Lunch 

1:00-2:00p Extra curricular class (such as acro, contortion, handstands, juggling, stilts, etc)

2:15-3:45p Aerial class #2 

3:45-4:00p Snack Break 

4:00-5:15p Active flexibility

5:15-5:30p Cool down & close out 

What to Bring: 

• 2 snacks & lunch

• Water bottle

• Clothing for class

• Socks for dance

• Fitted athletic wear for aerial

• Plus fitted long sleeve top/elbow covers, pants that cover backs of knees

• Layers for warm up & time between classes

• Sweatpants

• Sweatshirt/Zip up

• Optional: knee pads, personal rosin/chalk, ballet shoes/dance paws

Coaches:

Sarah Goetz

Sarah Goetz is a passionate aerialist, dancer and educator. Originally from Alaska, Sarah grew up spending all of her time dancing and avoiding the cold. She immersed herself in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, partnering and modern. After graduating high school she joined The Young Americans Performing Arts College and traveled the world performing and teaching. 

Sarah discovered aerial in 2017 and what began as a three-month trip to Australia turned into three years abroad. During that time, she joined the Aerial Angels Pro Course, where she trained intensively, began coaching, and launched her career as an aerial performer. 

Today, Sarah is the Director of FlyCo, A-WOL’s Adult Pre-professional Training Company, and a performer with A-WOL Dance Collective.  With a background in dance, Pilates, and yoga, she brings a well-rounded approach to her coaching. She has completed a 500-hr Yoga teacher training and holds certificates in Aerial Yoga, Barre and Pilates. 

When she’s not in the air, you can usually find Sarah knitting or hanging out with her dog Winnie.

Ash Zagst

Ash Zagst is a Portland-based dance artist, educator, and choreographer whose work weaves athletic floorwork, musicality, and nuanced partnering into rigorously crafted, human-centered performance. In Portland, Ash has performed with B Movement PDX for the past four years in the company’s Dark Side: A Piece For Assorted Lunatics show, and has created new works for AWOL FlyCo’s Open Air show and Winter Gala. Earlier choreography includes the dance film “Crossing” (2017) and “Somewhere in Between” performed at Dance Lovers SF (2016) and debuted at Resonance in Eugene, OR (2014).

In the studio, Ash emphasizes clear mechanics, efficient pathways, and curiosity-driven exploration, guiding dancers to expand their range and facilities as movers. Classes are a blend of contemporary technique with improvisation, phrase work, and compositional tools, supporting movers at diverse levels to develop precision, presence, and resilient artistry.

Ash is excited to join AWOL’s Winter Intensive, offering training that is challenging, musical, and deeply embodied.

Daniel Patrick

Daniel Patrick is a versatile circus artist, with over fifteen years of experience, both performing and teaching acrobatics. A graduate of the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) professional development program, he has trained in a variety of disciplines, but most extensively in hand balancing, aerial rope, and aerial silks. 

Upon graduating from NECCA in 2014, he began following his dream of a career in circus; he spent three years traveling around the country performing and teaching with various companies including The Santa Fe Opera; in July of 2015 he won Best Artistic Performance at the Acrobatic Arts Festival held in Denver, CO with his quirky rope act; from 2017 to 2023 he worked internationally with AIDA Cruises and later became aerial captain with Celebrity Cruises. 

Daniel is now based in Portland, OR and lives with his husband and dog, Jinx. You can catch him teaching all sorts of acrobatic classes and performing in the occasional local show.

Rachel Belling

Rachel Belling is a dynamic movement artist that loves intertwining different disciples together.  Her training is a mix of aerial arts, technical and street dance styles, contortion, acro and partner work. She really loves rolling on the floor and getting weird in the air, especially if it involves spinning. 

Rachel is devoted to creating community through collaborative creative projects as well as  building safe spaces for students to learn and grow. As a coach Rachel is passionate about helping students build confidence and joy through movement regardless of their experience.  Her classes incorporate a fusion of energized play, mobility, Pilates, mindfulness, expression and connection. Rachel is a co-founder of Salt City Circus and the Education Director at A-WOL Dance Collective. 

Rachel fell in love with the Pacific Northwest over a decade ago. She lives in Portland, OR adventuring with her wife and pup Kiwi and baking treats for anyone that will eat them.

Angela Bryant

Angela grew up in dance studios and on gymnastics floors, but her real passion was jumping rope. She performed and traveled as part of a jump rope team all through middle and high school. This is how she realized her love of the stage! Years later she took up partner acrobatics and aerial dance. As an adult she has found that these art forms feed her soul in a way that nothing else can. So much so that she has chosen the path of teacher, coach, and performer. Angela is a founder, director, coach, and performing acrobat with Tempos Contemporary Circus and is an aerial performer with A-WOL Dance Collective.