• Photos: Chimera
• Photos: Zita the Aerialist
• Video: Zita the Aerialist

Being an aerialist basically means I perform acrobatic feats in the air. My apparatus of choice for quite some time was Vertical Rope, also known as Cord Lisse. Recently I have diversified more, and enjoy performing on Silks, Trapeze and Sling as well.  My unusual ground skills include Fire eating, Fire Poi spinning, and Partner Balancing.

I am a former aerial teacher and student at the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts in SODO, which I highly recommend for childrens aerial classes.

I am a current teacher at Versatile Arts in Greenwood, which is owned and operated by my trapeze partner Beverly Rose. As a duo, we are known as Chimera. I have an out dated website for our work at http://chimerials.com.

“Zita the Aerialist”

Usually, I perform aerials under the guise “Zita the Aerialist”. Zita the Aerialist was concepted by writer Winda Benedetti. I first became Zita when I played her in the short film “Geek like me”, in 2004. I fell in love with the character and asked if I could adopt the stage name of Zita for future performances. Winda agreed and the rest is history!

You may have seen Zita at:

• How Art Saved My Life, Jan 2011 (Silks)
• There Must Be Something In The Air, June 2010 (Silks)
• Little red Studio, NYE 2009/2010 (Silks)
• The Pink Door, Aug - Nov 2009 (Trapeze, Sling)
• Circus of Dreams Benenfit, Sept 2009 (Rope)
• Rip Roarin’, Soul Soarin’ Summer Spectacular Benefit, July 2009 (Silks)
• An Intimate Spectacle, June 2009 (Silks)
• Daedalus Rising, May 2009 (Rope, Trapeze)
• The Ghost Game: Tales of 13 Witches, Halloween 2008 (Silks)
• The Obsidian Show , 2008-2009. (Director, Silks, Doubles trapeze with Beverly Rose)
• The Seattle Erotic Art Festival Gala, March 2008. (Director of aerials, Silks)
• Little Red Studio, the Fall season of 2007. (Silks)
• Aerlift II Benefit, May 2007 (Doubles Trapeze)
• Critical Massive, June 2006. (Rig technician)
• Little Red Studio, with Beverly Rose. May 2006.
• Circo Vivo Benefit, May 2006. (See the video!)
• Northwest Folklife, May 2006 (Trapeze demonstration and instruction)
• The Seattle Erotic Art Festival, with Beverly Rose. March 2006.
• Cirque Du Noc, Dec 2005 (See the video!)
• Westlake Center, Sept 2005
• Circo Vivo Benefit, a celebration of life! May, 2005
• Musica Vitae! Cabaret!, With Mike Ehmann. Winter 2004
• On the set of “Geek like me” Nov 2004, as Zita the Aerialist.

I have trained with the following teachers and institutions:

• Versatile Arts (Silks, Rope, Trapeze, Sling, Hoopeze)
• School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (Everything!)
• Bobby Hedglin-taylor (Silks)
• The Toronto School of Circus Arts (Static trapeze, Silks, Corde Lisse)
• The Cabiri (Fire eating, Character Portrayal, Static Trapeze, Aerial Sling)
• Trapezius (Corde Lisse, Static Trapeze, Aerial Hoop, Silks)
• The UMO Ensemble (Aerial Hoop, Low Flying Trapeze)
• Donia Love, formally of Ignis Devoco (Fire Spinning)

Zita has a newly redesigned official site, at http://zitatheaerialist.com (formerly LoftyArts)