Bio
Karen (Wren)
A. FUHRMAN
Founder + Creative Director
Artistic Director of Grounded Aerial. She
approaches her work with passion and a
strong commitment to fostering
collaboration and authentic human
connections. Ms. Fuhrman expresses is
grateful to have toured across 90 countries
in various roles as a choreographer,
educator, and dancer.
Choreography
Broadway aerial choreography credits include *Sleep No More* and *Matilda the Musical*. Her additional choreography experience includes projects at Lincoln Center, The Guggenheim Museum in New York City, Microsoft’s worldwide Vista launch, the Hammerstein Ballroom in collaboration with Medeski Martin and Wood, Yerba Buena’s Art Festival, the release party for *Spider-Man II*, and a performance with Usher. She has been a guest artist at esteemed venues such as the Kimmel Center inPhiladelphia, The Palace of Guatemala City, the Lagos Events Center inNigeria, the original Studio 54, and the Bidvest Annual Celebration in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ms. Fuhrman wrote, directed, and produced an aerial play entitled *Insectinside*, which premiered in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Brooklyn,and New York City. She also conceptualized a 35-minute aerial play performed on the side of a 22-story skyscraper for the Rochester Fringe
Festival. Her evening-length production, “The Other Side,” encompasses a 70-minute performance that employs a variety of apparatuses, including vertical trampolines, contemporary dance elements, and custom-made equipment. Noteworthy television appearances include
the ESPN Awards Show, NBC’s *I Can Do That*, and a music video for Beach House. Recently, she collaborated with Tony Award-winning artist Moises Kaufman and Sasha Velour.
Teaching
Ms. Fuhrman holds a Master’s degree from New York University and has served as a Professor of Dance at various academic institutions, including New York University, DeSales University, and Kutztown University. With over 30 years of experience, she has instructed both traditional dance disciplines (modern, jazz, musical theater) and aerial dance (bungee, wall dancing, mixed apparatus) on a national and international scale. Grounded Aerial® has successfully certified 175 individuals in bungee dance within the United States and across 13 additional countries.
Performance
Ms. Fuhrman has performed globally with the renowned dance theater company Pilobolus and the aerial spectacle *De La Guarda.* Her performance highlights encompass prestigious events such as the *Oscars*, *The Ellen DeGeneres Show*, *Good Morning America*, two appearances on *Conan O’Brien*, performances with MOMIX, VH1/ Vogue Fashion Awards, MTV, PBS, ABC, SHOWTIME, the Victoria’s Secret Christmas Show, and Cirque du Soleil’s *Cavalia*. “It was thrilling to have Grounded Aerial® in Broadway Bares. They helped us to raise the roof, pulse, and a ton of money with their aspiringly effortless art!”—Jerry Mitchell, Tony Award-winning Broadway choreographer
A note from Wren
I always had dreams of flying as a kid- where I could soar and leap without boundaries. I found my first flight with the off-Broadway show De La Guarda, and have continued flying since. But where I found my personal wings- is with nature. Among the trees and sky of Yosemite National Park— that is where flight and dance merged in giddy joy. Grounded Aerial strives to maintain a mindset of playful investigation.
When we openly listen to others and ourselves, we release. We become more available for connection and growth. Aerial art offers that same opening. It is an opportunity to practice patience, mindfulness, and acceptance. Then, we walk out of the studio, and it automatically applies to our lives, and the ripple affect begins. How grand is that?
Life is full of many struggles and challenges that feel constraining. The bungee experience reminds us that these forces, which appear to hold us back, can be harnessed to help propel us forward and beyond our natural limitations. We can find hair-raising excitement, clarity of self, and overall acceptance- while working hard with gratitude.
This physicalized and practiced mindset directly affects how we dance through life. In our classes we investigate trust, accepting guidance, releasing control, and nurturing perseverance. We find levity with a good belly-laugh here and there as well! We believe that every class and show is an opportunity for collective and individual growth. Remember, if you can fly…what else can you do? #justlikelife