About Aerial Space
Aerial Space is a studio dedicated to the promotion and education of all forms of expressive movement and art. Trapeze, Lyra, Silks, Aerial Dance, Aerial Yoga, Acro Yoga and ... just good clean fun. Since 2009 our goal has been to contribute to the Asheville community by offering both adults and children an outlet for play, self-expression and exercise. We offer a variety of classes for all ages and skill levels from Aerial Kids to 'Find your Inner Beast' strength training. As the first circus arts studio in North Carolina, our instructors are some of the most knowledgeable and experienced in the south.
Andrew Hartnagel
Owner, Aerial Silks
As a former ropes course director and martial arts instructor, Andrew found aerials to be unique synthesis of his past. After graduating with a degree in geology from Washington and Lee University, he wandered the world teaching just about every subject out there. He joined Asheville Aerial Arts in 2008, but upon finding performing allowed so little time for naps, he devoted himself to teaching instead. Eventually he completed his teacher training at NECCA in 2010. He has also managed and taught at science centers all over the country; as a result, he’s one of the few instructors who will discuss your rotational inertia with a smile. He specializes in curriculum development, fabric theory, anatomy and injury prevention.
Valerie Phillips
Owner, Mixed Apparatus
Valerie has been practicing aerial arts since 2011. Growing up she studied ballet and modern dance, later choosing to focus on theater arts and eventually receiving her Bachelor's Degree in theater. Valerie loves performing whether it's in on the trapeze, silks or in a rock band. Her dream is go on an aerial road trip and visit aerial arts studios all over the country.
Gillian Mauer
Silks, Flexibility, Acro
Gillian grew up in Asheville, North Carolina and started dancing at a young age. As they explored various forms of dance and movement, aerial arts and acrobatics became the main focus of Gillian’s passion and talent. Gillian began teaching aerial silks and acrobatics in 2015, and joined the Aerial Space team in 2019. In addition to teaching, they have a passion for performance work and have performed regionally as well as internationally. When they are not hanging upside down, Gillian is a fine artist with an interest and focus on sociology. They find a great deal of excitement in finding new ways to fuse these multiple passions, and in using arts of all kinds to help people find connection and empowerment.
Jenna McKelvy
Jenna fell in love with aerial silks in 2018 after moving to Asheville from Augusta Ga. Growing up she surrounded herself in the performing arts from ballet to competitive figure skating competing all over the southeast. Later working as a figure skating director and coach. Jenna also spent several years ballroom dancing with a passion for Argentine Tango.
“Movement is the song of the body.” - Vanda Scaravelli
Carly Christensen
Carly studied theatre at Willamette University and received her MFA in acting from Purdue. She taught a variety of courses for both majors and non theatre majors including Intro to Acting, Voice and Speech, Acting 1, and Beginning Stage Combat. Carly's teaching philosophy revolves around validating her students efforts and valuing creative play.
Her movement background is in team sports, powerlifting, and bodybuilding, though she always wished she were a dancer. Her introduction to silks occurred in 2014 when she saw her first aerial performance from the dance department at her undergraduate university, and decided to pursue a semester of it herself! Silks is the perfect combination of grace and strength that Carly had been searching for. After a long hiatus filled with graduate school and cross-country moves, she is happy to return to a movement she loves at a kind and welcoming studio. Carly is passionate about all things theatre, uncomplicating health and wellness, cultivating creative spaces built around consent and joy, and very silly puns!
Gracie Fulghum
Gracie was first exposed to the art of aerials in college at East Tennessee State University where she studied theatre and dance and obtained her BA. She has been dancing and performing since she was three. Like most people with movement backgrounds she practiced the standard dance curriculum which can be demanding and unhealthy. She has grown as an artist and now strives to prioritize safety, health and personal expression in her dancing. She has found aerials has grown her confidence, community & added years to her life. She practices silks, hoop (lyra), trapeze and flexibility. When not doing aerials she’s making coffee at a local coffee shop in Hendersonville, reading, journaling or sleeping. Sleep is very important.
Emma Martin
Emma began her aerial arts training with Aerial Space at age 14 and has been in love with the practice ever since. She finds it is the perfect combination of several of her passions: physical training, art, and fun!
Being an Asheville native Emma has developed a deep appreciation for the natural beauty that the area provides. She enjoys being outdoors and in the middle of the breathtaking mountains.
Emma followed her curiosity for physical training and body mechanics and earned her degree in Health and Fitness Science. She has been working as an ACE certified Personal Trainer since 2019. She finds joy in helping people of all ages connect to their body and develop new skills and abilities.
Caroline Dougherty
Caroline began practicing aerial arts in 2019 and fell in love with silks. Since then she has channeled a love of strength building into a teaching philosophy centered on nurturing mental health and (re)discovering the joy of play. In addition to teaching, she acts as Aerial Space’s graphic designer and finds delight in hiding drawings of dinosaurs around the studio.
Megan MacLeod-Blackwell
Megan began her aerial arts journey in 2021 at Aerial Space in Asheville. She immediately fell in love with the community, physicality, and creativity of the circus arts world. Since then she has trained in silks, trapeze, and lyra at three different studios. Megan began performing in 2022 and her favorite performances are duo routines with her friend Sherri. Shortly after beginning this journey, Megan started teaching silks classes. She is passionate about encouraging and guiding people through their own journey in the aerial arts world. When she is not up in the air, Megan works in data analytics and loves hanging with her many dogs and cats at home.
Anna Bartlett
Trapeze
Anna has always preferred a high perch to the ground, whether on the swingset, in the high branches of a magnolia, pole vaulting, or on a trapeze. She trained as a gymnast for twelve years and taught gymnastics from 2010-2014. Her aerial training began in 2010, when she fell in love with trapeze. She has performed with Asheville Aerial Arts and Bromelia Aerial Dance Collective.
On Sabbatical, But We Miss Them
Craig Lewis
Visiting Instructor, Silks
Craig has been fascinated with circus arts since age 10 when he taught himself to juggle from an instructional book. In 2009, he began his training in aerial arts at San Francisco Circus Center, and in 2010 he continued his training at Aerial Space in Asheville under Andrew Hartnagel and Blue De Leeuw, and also participated in the ETSU Aerial Dance program. After several years of training, he became an instructor at Aerial Space, and a performer with Asheville Aerial Arts. In 2013, he founded Night Owl Circus Arts in Johnson City, TN, where he enjoys directing performances, and helping people of all fitness levels and backgrounds achieve their goals in circus arts.
Savannah Willingham
Kids’ Classes
Savannah Willingham has been a part of Aerial Space since 2011 as a wide-eyed lover of the circus arts, so it was only a matter of time before she joined on as an instructor. Thanks to her own childlike wonder and love of finger painting, as well as being a mother, teaching kids is her passion. Savannah is thorough in giving our aerial kids the structure and important building blocks of learning how to play on mixed apparatuses so that they can move forward in a safe and positive learning experience that still fulfills every kid's love to fly and climb. She believes you're never too old to learn and that her students have just as much to teach her as she does them. Especially about whatever the cool kids are saying these days.
Meet Our Friends and Family
Aerial Fit • Charleston, SC
Providing top notch aerial training to anyone who wants to learn. All of our classes focus on excellence, safety, empowerment, and fun!
Night Owl Circus Arts • Johnson City, TN
Aerial Space alumni Craig Lewis offers classes in a wide variety of circus arts for kids and adults.