I have been training with Heather since 2016, starting at age 13 on the silks, and sometimes throwing in a Lyra class or two! I always jumped between the beginner to intermediate levels. When working with Heather she never hesitated to make me smile while also pushing me to be the best person and aerialist I could be. She has been the most supportive coach and is so true to her craft, and continues to be even when I take breaks from training. I’ve gained not only knowledge about the aerial world but an incredible amount of strength. She puts up with my antics and is always excited to create new shapes with me!
There was one moment that I remember and has since changed my life. My first showcase I was extremely nervous and didn’t quite get a move in my routine. Being upset, Heather not only gave me peace of mind but told me I should go again in front of the crowd. More nervous than ever I did, and did it correctly. She showed me that it was okay to make a mistake and go back and try again (even in a crowd of people!). I have taken that mindset with me since then and I am forever grateful!
-Jesse C
I did advanced silks with Heather as my coach for about 4 years. She took over for the coach I was previously working with, and I was initially worried about different teaching styles, working with someone new, etc. Heather is kind, hardworking, wants to see you succeed, and is safety driven to a fault. I was comfortable with her and confident in her ability before my first class with her was finished. She’s hands on, will step you through every step, and will make sure you are healthy and taking care of yourself. She is a wonderful coach and I feel so lucky to have worked with her.
-Madison H
I trained with Heather at Cirque Indy for ~2 years including doing girl pride. She taught me intermediate -advanced silks. I would highly recommend training with Coach Heather as she always had well thought out lessons, was exceptional at breaking moves down, and always had safety at the forefront. Her knowledge of the apparatus is phenomenal, she is well versed in theory and knows the pitfalls of each move. She has also taught me in a private lesson about rigging which showcased her complete understanding of aerial and how seriously she takes safety precautions!
-Emily H
I have trained with Heather for about 4 months now. Primarily lyra but slowly started to mix in aerial rope and lollipop lyra. I am mostly an intermediate artists with a few advanced tricks up my sleeve. I would highly recommend Heather because as you grow in aerial the little things begin to matter more. Your foundational skills become just as important. I learned more about about refining technique and maintaining a strong foundation in and hour with Heather than I could in a month on my own.. These adjustments played a huge role in improving my performance skills and knowledge of theory. It is a fun, safe, and beneficial learning experience everytime.
-Lauren G
I love that Heather has such a vast knowledge of aerial. Fabric theory is so important and Heather makes sure you know the theory behind all skills. She can challenge you with a brain breaking sequence! It’s so fun!
-Kelsey S
I trained with Heather for three years as an advanced silks student. During my time with her, I advanced more than I have with any other coach! Heather is adept at quickly learning students’ individual learning styles, and playing to their artistic strengths. She holds students to high but realistic standards, encouraging us to unlock new skills and moves. I would undoubtedly still be training regularly with her if I still lived in the state!
-Allison L
I have been training with Heather for over 3 years. I mostly trained silks and dabbled in partnering work and cube. I started off as a complete beginner with no dance or sports background. Heather took me in and supported me in my journey until I got in the a professional circus school. From teaching me fun things to challenging things, my safety has been her top priority. I 100% trust her and know she always wants what’s best for me. She listens to her students’ needs, and she goes above and beyond to support her students.
I gained lots of skills safely from Heather. With her support, I was able to do performances, competitions, and auditioned for the program I’m in now. I would recommend Heather to others because 1. She is a great aerial instructor who can always meet what you’re seeking for in a class no matter what level you’re at (fun, high level skills, pretty poses, etc). 2. She will make sure you’re safe! If you ask for a skill too challenging, she will break the skill down and build up for it. 3. Heather has a big heart. She genuinely cares shout her students’ well-being. 4. Heather is super smart! You gain a life coach on top of having an awesome aerial coach. She gives great career advice. She also has good connections in the industry.
-Iris S
I was a student with Suspended Animation for 4 years recreationally. Within that time, I went from a complete novice in aerial arts to a student in her most advanced classes for both Lyra and Silks and performing in gigs around Indianapolis. While my apparatuses were Lyra and silks, Heather’s classes and training provided me with the strength, knowledge, and body self-awareness to cross-train in other areas such as trapeze and sling.
More importantly than getting me to be an advanced student, Heather instilled a foundation of knowledge and theory for aerial arts that provided me with the ability to know and assess my own safety in the air.
Heather is a wonderful teacher and whether you want to dabble in aerials for the ‘gram (Instagram), train recreationally, or become a professional artist, I would highly recommend her for your goals
-Sydney P
I have been training with Heather since she started teaching and she is one of the most knowledgeable and caring instructors I’ve ever had. I trained intermediate and advanced silks and beginner and intermediate lyra with her and she gave clear and complete instruction and allowed me the space to grow and learn not only skills and tricks but the theory behind the tricks so I could grow into being my own artist. Training with Heather made me more confident and allowed me to feel safe trying something that can be scary sometimes. I trust Heather to be honest about my abilities but also give me the tools to get further in my training. She’s a wonderful instructor for all ages and abilities and I can’t recommend her enough for aerial circus classes.
-Amanda O
I trained with Heather for about a year. My main apparatuses was silks at a beginner level, though I trained a few times with her on lyra. I engaged in training for fun and as a means of increasing physical fitness. Heather is one of the best instructors I have ever worked with. She explains material in an easy to understand manner. She is focused on helping individuals meet their goals and push them beyond. Lastly, she is the most safety concious instructure I have met. In the world of aerials, this is the most important piece. I trust her so much I brought my husband to train with her as I knew she would take care of him and work with his physical limitations.
-Andrea R
I have worked with Suspended Animation Aerials since 2017 mostly on silks, but my first ever class with her was lyra! She has coached me through all stages of my aerial journey, from baby beginner to now doing more intermediate and advanced skills. One thing I love about her coaching is how much feedback I get on form and technique. She is so knowledgeable about proper execution of every skill she teaches and is continually learning to become a better coach to her students. She also knows the right way to challenge her students based on the individual. Whether you’ve never touched any apparatus or you’ve practiced for years, you can always learn something new from Heather!
-Rachel L
I’ve trained with Heather for 4 or so years, starting when I was an intermediate lyra student and continuing to advanced lyra. She has a great sense of what her students’ strengths are and how to enhance these in training. She also has a sense of her students’ weakness and is able to adjust training, sequences, or poses to fit what each student is capable of. Additionally, Heather is able to provide a spot for more dynamic moves (my favorite!), which allows students to try things they wouldn’t otherwise be able to try. She is also very knowledgeable about safety, both in training and in rigging. Her focus on safety is very clear. Because of all of this, if Heather said I could do something in class, even if I felt a little timid, I always trusted that she was correct. And she pretty much always was. She was able to push me to do things out of my comfort zone while still feeling safe at all times.
-Courtney M
I took my very first private lesson with Heather when I first started my aerial journey. I was very new to aerial and Heather did a great job making me feel comfortable and teaching skills that were right for my level. I have been doing areial for a year and plan on taking many more lesson with her in the future. Heather does a wonderful job making sure you are getting what you want out of your lesson by messaging ahead of time and seeing what you want to learn. She is supportive and encouraging throughout the whole lessons. She does a great job assessing your ability and giving challenges during the lesson too. I tell everyone to take a lesson with Heather if they are wanting to learn something new and challenging themselves.
-Shelby R
Heather is an amazing coach. She takes the time to tailor a program for your needs and has a wealth of knowledge to share. Coming back to aerials post partum, she worked with my new schedule to help me fit in my training while also helping me navigate my transformed body. Whether you are looking for personalized training, choreography, unlocking fabric theory, or mastering new and advanced skills on any apparatus, Heather can help you reach your goals and have fun doing it!
-Poppe T
Coach Heather is an incredible instructor who possesses the innate ability to understand what her students need and how to help them achieve their goals. Her teaching style is fun, but focused – you can always count on some solid conditioning in addition to learning new skills and sequences. She has a wealth of aerial knowledge that she doesn’t hesitate to share. And she’s incredibly safety conscious, which is important in all aerial disciplines.
I started training aerials with coach Heather back in 2016. In fact, she taught my intro to aerial arts class! Since then, I’ve had the privilege of taking countless group classes, as well as private lessons with her. My primary apparatus is silks, although I have taken numerous hoop/Lyra classes with her as well. I have personally grown so much as an aerialist under her instruction.
Whether you’re brand new to aerial, just starting out with your very first silks class, or you’re an advanced aerialist with years of experience, I highly recommend coach Heather!
-Molly C