(Photo by Ralph Palumbo)
Photography by Ralph Palumbo
Orange County aerial arts classes and camps teach kids to soar to new heights with silks, hammocks and other equipment.
Eight-year-old Jessie Payne expertly flips, bends, hangs and climbs up a pair of blue aerial silks during a recent visit to Cal Elite in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Full of smiles and flexibility, she makes the challenging performance sport of aerial arts look fluid and easy.
“It makes her so happy and has given her so much confidence,” said her mom, Rachel Payne, of Ladera Ranch. “Aerial arts has also helped with her upper-body strength in tumbling too.”
Jessie has been practicing aerial arts for three-and-a-half years now and is on the aerial, gym and tumbling teams at Cal Elite. She will be performing at Viva Fest Vegas International Variety Act Festival in Nevada in March. Cal Elite, a training and activity center for children 5 months to 18 years old, is one of several studios in Orange County offering aerial arts classes and camps.
Inspired by circus aerial acrobatics like those seen in Cirque du Soleil, aerial arts offers children and adults a unique form of fitness encouraging strengthening, flexibility and coordination while using equipment like hoops, silks and hammocks to perform in the air.
“At the core of our program is the belief that children learn best when they feel challenged, supported, respected and encouraged,” said Heather L. Wisehart, aerial department director at Cal Elite. “We meet students where they are and help them grow not just as athletes, but as confident, curious learners. Every class is thoughtfully structured with clear progressions, individualized attention and a culture where students feel seen, supported and valued as individuals. Students are encouraged to explore and push their boundaries safely while discovering what they’re capable of in an uplifting environment.”
Wisehart said Cal Elite offers a range of aerial camps throughout the year, including for summer and seasonal holidays. Camps are designed for children with a wide range of experience levels, blending aerial arts, creative movement, games and performances. Cal Elite programs include Kindercirque camps for ages 4 to 6, and aerial camps for ages 6 to 18 at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Students are grouped by age and skill level. Kindercirque and beginning camps are designed to be accessible to first-time students while still offering challenges and growth for more experienced aerialists.
“Students gain strength, coordination, flexibility and body awareness,” Wisehart said. “They also develop focus, problem-solving skills, teamwork, new friendships and a sense of accomplishment. We encourage creativity, collaboration and joyful movement across all our programs. This supports students in feeling more assured in their aerial abilities and in themselves, while remaining genuinely excited about what they have experienced.”
She said they also gain emotional regulation, discipline and the ability to think creatively. She said aerial arts is challenging and progress isn’t linear, which teaches students resilience and patience.
“I’ve had the opportunity to coach a student from her very first aerial class through entering the professional circus as a performing aerialist,” Wisehart said. “I’ve also worked with students who have gone on to win and place at competitions. That said, some of the most rewarding moments come from seeing students realize they’re capable of far more than they thought they were.”
Cal Elite’s aerial camps give students extended time over regular weekly classes to practice skills, build strength and experiment creatively across multiple days.
“Camps also create space for fun, friendship and play, while incorporating games, creative exploration and opportunities to try different apparatuses in a supportive environment,” she said. “Many camps conclude with a performance that families are invited to attend, giving students a chance to share what they have learned and celebrate their progress.”
She said for students interested in performances and competitions, their aerial program offers opportunities to train toward these.
“Competition preparation focuses not only on execution, but on artistry, musicality, stage presence and performance quality,” she said. “Students learn how to set goals, bring to life their creative ideas and work through technical challenges in a structured and supportive environment. Students also have opportunities to participate in community-based performances, allowing them to share their work in supportive, real-world settings.”
Jacque Rogers is owner and founder of Elevate Aerial Silks in Huntington Beach. Elevate Aerial is a movement-based aerial arts studio offering classes, after-school programs, camps and performance opportunities for children, teens and adults.
“While aerial acrobatics is our foundation, what we really offer is a creative, confidence-building experience that blends strength, flexibility, artistry and play,” she said. “For kids, our after-school programs and camps are structured, safe and fun.”
The studio serves children as young as 5 through adults of all ages with no prior experience needed. Students range from brand-new beginners to advanced performers.
“Aerial used to feel very niche, but it has grown tremendously as families look for alternatives to traditional sports,” Rogers said. “Parents are drawn to programs that emphasize creativity, whole-body strength and confidence. Kids love that it feels magical while still being athletic.”
She said there’s something empowering about lifting your own body, learning to trust yourself and accomplishing things that initially feel impossible.
“Kids love the sense of flight and creativity, and parents love watching their children gain confidence, resilience and joy through movement,” she said.
Rogers said that at their classes and camps, children learn foundational aerial skills, strength, coordination, flexibility and body awareness. Camps often include creative games, storytelling through movement, teamwork and simple performance elements that help children express themselves and build confidence.
“Many parents tell us they see growth not just physically, but emotionally,” she said. “Kids stand taller, try harder and believe in themselves more. Witnessing some of the transformations is what has become our motivation.”
Rogers said they’ve had students go on to pursue aerial and movement-based paths professionally.
“Professional opportunities include performing with circuses or entertainment companies, teaching and coaching, choreography, cruise ship entertainment, stage productions and even stunt or movement work in film and theater,” she said. “There are also scholarships available in the aerial arts if the student wants to pursue higher education. Many of our students have used their aerial experiences in their college applications. It’s a great way to differentiate yourself and intrigue the admissions representative.”
Kenneth Miller’s daughter, Mila, 9, of Coto de Caza, has been practicing aerial acrobatics for about two years. She started through a class at Cal Elite and her interest grew from there. Mila participates in Cal Elite aerial acrobatics classes and will also be at Viva Fest in March.
“Skill-wise, Mila has seen major growth in her flexibility and her strength has increased significantly, especially through the climbing and sustained positions required on the silks. Her dynamic movement and control have also improved across the board,” Miller said. “The biggest benefits we’ve seen are in her confidence, courage and performance presence. She’s become more comfortable being seen, taking risks and performing. That confidence carries beyond the silks — she actively seeks out challenges, studies skills on her own and pushes herself in a healthy, self-motivated way.”
By Jessica Peralta
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