Who We Are
Grounded Aerial is a company that encourages people to play, think, and grow through movement, flight, performance, events, and training. We offer bungee, silk, aerial hoop (lyra),trapeze, spanish web, and specilaized apparatus classes. Our classes are forr all levels and ages!
Locations:
Angela Bates 5129 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073
Zen Studio at Healing Energies 463 W Ridge Pike, Royersford, PA 19468
Rising Star 21 S Limerick Rd. Royersofrd, PA 19468
Where The
fantastical
is a reality
Our story
Karen (Wren), our founder, always had dreams of flying —where she could soar and leap without boundaries. She explored that with work on Broadway in NYC, and touring around the world with companies like De La Guarda, Cirque’s Cavalia, Pilobolus, Momix, and many others. She received her Masters degree in Dance Education from NYU.
When it was time to investigate her voice, she set off on a rock-climbing trip, which became her stage for exploring aerial dance. She developed her choreography and concepts among the sky on the side of a cliff in Yosemite National Park. Continuing her love for aerial dance, she brought it back to the East Coast and then offered it to the world. (90 different countries to be exact!)
After performances, audience members often say, “That looks so fun! I want to do it!” That was the inception of the classes. We make it accessible for all types and levels. Our oldest flyer is 101 for a local senior home, and our youngest flyer starts around 6 or 7 years old.
Play. Investigation. Authenticity; Our driving forces.
The Grounded Aerial team invites you to join us on our journey. It takes bravery to leave a place of comfort and stability. We hope our classes, shows, and trainings inspire you to take flight in mind, body, and spirit.
Let’s fly.
OUR TEACHERS
Rhonda Thullen Barreto
Bungee and Aerial Yoga
Rhonda has been teaching movement her entire adult life. She has a BS in Education and Dance and multiple certifications in yoga and bungee dance. She has spent many years as a choreographer in musical theatre and dance for all ages. She joined Grounded Aerial in 2021 as a Bungee Instructor. The following year she brought Aerial Yoga to the adult curriculum. Aerial Arts has been joyous and life changing. Her favorite part of teaching is watching students let go and discover their authenticity and bliss. Turn your perspective upside down and come fly with us!
Reagan Needham
Mix App, Aco and Flex/Conditioning
Reagan Needham has been doing acrobatics since age 5, flipping and tumbling his way from the gymnastics floor to the stage. He began training in aerial arts at age 14, falling in love with the lyra so much that he currently majors in the apparatus at Circadium School of Contemporary Circus in Philadelphia. He’s more than happy to help introduce bright new faces to the world of aerial acrobatics and all it has to offer!
Catherine
Mix App, Silks and Flex/Conditioning
Catherine started training in the circus arts in 2006 at Circus Juventas, and fell in love with turning herself upside down. Wanting to pursue circus professionally, she enrolled at Circadium School of Contemporary Circus, graduating in 2023. Over her career she’s taught aerial at Circus Juventas, University of Minnesota, Independent Lake Camp, Cirque Us, Camp Pontiac, Awakenings, Westchester Circus Arts, and Grounded Aerial.
Jasmin Cicchino
Mix App and Silks
Jasmin Cicchino is a professional dancer and aerialist. Trained in Italy, in disciplines ranging from ballet to aerial hoop (her specialty), she now lives in the US where she actively works throughout the three state area with companies such as “Incanto’s Productions” in NYC and “KCBC” in Philadelphia. Her most recent appearance was in “The Ghostly Circus” presented at Fringe Arts in Philadelphia.
