Kristi Alyssa Workshops
Intro to Lollipop & Intro to Duo Lyra workshops
June 29, 2025
Into to Lollipop Lyra at 11am
Come and try a unique apparatus – the Lollipop! This apparatus offers a world of gorgeous movement with the combination of the lyra and pole together. In this workshop we will explore specifically what makes the Lollipop it’s own unique apparatus – we will be interacting with both the pole and the lyra together and learning skills more specific to Lollipop. Students should have experience in either dance pole, lyra and/or trapeze. Students should wear shorts to have their knees exposed for better grip on the metal. Ages 13 and up.
Prerequisites: Strong mount at shoulder height, hip hang, knee hang, and invert to top bar (toe tag is ok). Suspended Animation students should have approval for one of Lyra 2, Trapeze 1, or Sling 2.
Intro to Duo Lyra at 12:30pm
Come explore the beauty of partnering in the air with Kristi Alyssa’s Duo Lyra workshop! This workshop is suitable to those who are comfortable with hip hangs, knee hangs and inverting in the air. You will be introduced to some of the basics of Duo Lyra with a mix of classic technique and creative play through base/flyer, counter-balance, synchronous and asynchronous shapes and skills. Students should be comfortable with close contact with another partner. A consent agreement for safety and touch will be conducted at the beginning of class. Ages 13 and up.
Prerequisites: Strong mount at shoulder height, hip hang, knee hang, and invert to top bar (toe tag is ok). Suspended Animation students should have approval of one of Lyra 2, Trapeze 1, or Sling 2.
Instructor Bio
Director, Producer, Choreographer, Instructor, Performer
Kristi Alyssa (@kristialyssa) has been a circus artist for 17 years. She first found circus by joining the Gamma Phi Circus at Illinois State University. She later went on to graduate from NECCA (2012) and Aloft Circus Arts (2015) professional training programs. She specializes in lyra, duo lyra (with Chloe Zabicki) and single point trapeze. Kristi is a highly in-demand instructor, director and choreographer in the Chicagoland area. She is the Director of the Professional Training Programs, Director of the Youth Program, Director of the Aloft Youth Ensemble, an instructor, performer, lightning designer and photographer at Aloft Circus Arts in Chicago, IL.
She also performs and teaches lollipop (plyra), silks, spanish web, flexibility, juggling, pole, diabolo and more. Kristi is known as a director and choreographer who brings strong ensemble, narrative-based storytelling to the stage. Her work is rooted in emotion, story and character. She is the founder and director of Reminiscent Circus (@reminiscentcircus) who are the creators of the contemporary circus show “Way Home” (premiered July 2024). She also directed “Somewhere Out There” (May 2023) and “All in Good Time” (May 2024) “From the Ground, Up” June 2024 and is currently forming the next Reminiscent Circus Show (set to run Winter 2026).
Kristi has a masters degree in clinical mental health. Alongside her circus career, she is a professional photographer (@kristialyssaphotos). She enjoys film acting (and was in AMC’s Interview with the Vampire, 2022) , figure skating, traveling, her cats and Taylor Swift.
