Workshops with Aaron Koz
Koz is an aerial straps (and more!) trainer and performer with over 10 years operating an international circus and aerial coaching practice drawing from current research in human performance, motor learning, and exercise science. He has taught students on every continent (yes, including a research scientist in Antarctica), ranging from recreational students and professional circus school students up to Cirque Du Soleil performers. Aaron’s teacher & performer training courses and workshops have spread his science-backed training approach to hundreds of coaches and thousands of students worldwide.
He has authored several comprehensive e-manuals, including “All Apparatus C-Shaping,” “The Aerial Spinning Reference Guide,” “The Aerial Swinging Reference Guide”, “C-Shaping At Home,” and has co-authored e-manuals on advanced swinging as well “Couch To Aerial Fitness” and “Aerial Straps Level 1 Teaser.” These resources serve as valuable references for students, coaches, and performers in the aerial and circus world.
3-Day Straps Master Class – Advanced/Intermediate
This deep-dive into higher level dynamic aerial straps will cover things ranging from (reverse) soleils, (reverse) flares, center spins, front/back waist rolls, swings to handstand, single leg seat, 2-arm Back C/demi/mushu, and beyond. Master class content will be targeted to the specific goals of the attending students.
February 20, 2026 – Friday, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
February 21, 2026 – Saturday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
February 22, 2026 – Sunday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
***Sliding-scale pricing and/or payment plans may be available!
Aerial Straps 2-day Intensive – Beginner/Intermediate
This introductory exploratory journey into aerial straps (and how straps are fun and are really the training wheels of vertical apparatus) will explore a wide breadth of techniques, chill sequences, and progressions for self- training straps. Participants will be exposed to key concepts in dynamic theory of spinning (flares!), swinging (beats!), switches and c-shaping (waist rolls!) through spotted and self-spotted progressions. Some content will be targeted to the goals of the attending students! Walk away with a progressive roadmap for strength and skills with a series of strength/conditioning & skill drills outlined by a personal trainer and aerial coach of 10+ years.
February 20, 2026 – Friday, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
February 21, 2026 – Saturday, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
***Sliding-scale pricing and/or payment plans may be available!
See Your C-Shape
Want to improve your waist rolls OR your back balance OR your static switches? Students will move through a series of mobility exercises, proprioceptive and active flexibility drills that isolate and strengthen potential weak points in your C. Students will start on the floor, move to sling, and then finish on straps, rope, and silks for waist rolls, back balances, and switch prep!
***Sliding-scale pricing and/or payment plans may be available!
February 21, 2026 – Saturday, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Aerial Inversion Clinic
Aerial inversions got you down? Always wanted buttery inversions? Build understanding of what muscles and joint actions take your butt over your head, then do a movement screen assessing each portion of said movement to uncover YOUR biomechanics. Gain clarity on which stability, strength, and range of motion progressions you’ll benefit from to go from the ground to the air and butt over head. Progressions ranging from floor to 2-arm bent, then 2-arm straight, and then to 1-arm inversions will be covered depending on participant interest and level. This workshop was built in collaboration with circus-focused physical therapists, Angie Prescott, ACRO PT (DPT, CSCS) and Jennifer Freeman, PT (practicing and research faculty at Mercer University in Atlanta).
This clinic will include both teaching cues and training tools beneficial for anyone from a beginner wishing to deepen their own inversion understanding to coaches interested in learning how to recognize when a student may be displaying signs of potential movement dysfunction.
***Sliding-scale pricing and/or payment plans may be available!
February 21, 2026 – Saturday, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
WORKSHOPS
RJ Muna
Dorothy Louise Photography
Workshops with Abraham McBride
Abraham has been a parkour and freerunning coach and athlete for over 13 years. He has developed a systematic process for learning the standing backflip which is broken down into manageable steps, many of which can be practiced on your own. Students often come away from his classes and workshops having done things they never expected were possible. While safety is always the highest priority Abraham’s teaching style is fun and playful. You should expect to work hard and learn something new while feeling safe and supported in all of his workshops.
Backflip Fundamentals
In this workshop Abraham will be covering basic strength, mobility, and drills to prepare you for backflips. This workshop will be the perfect introduction to the basic movements associated with the backflip. If you have ever been interested in learning to backflip this workshop is a must! In this workshop you will learn backflip related strength, mobility, and drills you can practice in your own time. You will also be prepared to take the Backflip Intensive Level 1 workshop in a few months when Abraham returns to SANCA for more workshops.
Prerequisites: Basic level of strength and mobility and an excited willingness to learn something new!
(Ages 16+)
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Backflip Intensive Level 1
Have you always wanted to do a backflip, but never quite felt safe? Then this workshop is for you! In this intensive workshop Abraham will take you through how to do a standing backflip. Abraham has been teaching parkour, freerunning, acrobatics and more for over 10 years. The standing backflip will be broken down into safe, manageable steps, to ensure you feel comfortable with each drill and progression. The workshop will start with mobility, activations and drills, then participants will take turns working up to spotted backflips. Abraham teaches backflip using the two person spotting method. Participants can expect to complete assisted standing backflips by the end of the workshop and occasionally students complete unassisted backflips. The workshop is limited to eight spots to accommodate lots of specific work with each participant. Please bring along a heavy weight t-shirt or sweatshirt to help with spotting.
Prerequisites: Completion of the Backflip Fundamentals workshop or extensive previous experience with tumbling. (Ages 16+)
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
WORKSHOPS
Handbalancing Workshop with Joel Herzfeld
Moisture Festival Workshop
Press Sessions: For the student looking to make progress toward their press to handstand and for the student looking to level-up their current presses. An intensive journey through the technical, strength, and flexibility elements of pressing to handstand. Everyone will leave with exercises they can do on their own.
Saturday | April 4, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
About the Instructor: Joel has performed around the world. With Les 7 Doigts De La Main, he toured nationally and internationally in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of ‘Pippin.’ He has also performed with the prestigious Circus Roncalli in Germany, and was proud to entertain US and NATO troops across the world while touring with Armed Forces Entertainment (previously the USO). At sea, Joel performed on the flagships of the Celebrity Cruises and AIDA Cruises fleets, and was also a guest artist on the ship ranked “best in the world” by Berlitz Cruise Guide. Joel has collaborated with a MacArthur Genius and performed in front of orchestras across the continent. Joel currently holds two Guinness World Records in his field, including the record for world’s longest one-arm handstand. Teaching is Joel’s other great passion. When not on tour, Joel delights in teaching math and English with the Boston Public Schools system and coaching circus online and at local circus institutions.
WORKSHOP
Photo Credit: Mickey West
Beats and Wraps on Rope with Xochitl Sosa
Moisture Festival Workshop
This workshop focuses on generating momentum on rope and using beats to move efficiently into wraps, tricks, and drops. Emphasis is placed on fluid sequencing, reducing hand dependency, and discovering creative wrap pathways.
Saturday | April 11, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
About the Instructor:
Xochitl Sosa is a versatile performer. Specializing in Dance Trapeze, her original work has won such praise as an Isadora Duncan Award, and most recently won 2nd place at Vivafest for her aerial duo. She has worked as an ensemble and solo artist, most notably with Cirque du Soleil, and Acrobatic Conundrum.
Born in Oakland, CA, Xochitl Sosa grew up sandwiched between the bay area’s urban culture and the redwoods’ fertile soils. Exposure to circus arts at a young age gave Xochitl a purpose. She was hooked after her first flight at age 8. After years of recreational practice she attended NECCA (New England Center for Circus Arts) and completed their pro-track program 2012-2013. She then continued her circus education in Montreal with renowned coaches from Ecole Nacional de Cirque and Cirque du Soleil.
She is the director and founder of Cirque Vida , a contemporary circus company based in Austin, TX. She resides on a farm outside Austin, now a mother of two. She is proud to expose circus to the next generation.
WORKSHOP
Photo Credit: Cowell Theater Showcase
Weird Silks with Emma D’Lemma
Moisture Festival Workshop
Silks theory is one of my favorite topics to delve into, but I also like to test the rules to see what else is possible within this apparatus. In this workshop we will learn some of my favorite unconventional sequences, drops, and wraps as well as explore tried and true silks wraps to turn into something uniquely you. Prepare for your brain to get just as much of a workout as your grip strength.
Prerequisites: Students must be comfortable with being in the air on silks for several minutes at a time. Comfortable with aerial inverts, hipkeys, and must have knowledge of c-shapes. Good grip strength and an open mind.
Saturday | March 28, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
About the Instructor: Dancer turned aerial performer and teacher. In 2013, they found their passion for teaching after an aerial silks teacher training course in Houston, Tx. Since then they have dedicated their weeks to coaching and giving unabashed encouragement to all of their students. As an instructor, Emma excels at creative problem solving. They apply this to all things- from sequence creation, to human body specifics for obtaining skills. Providing accessible learning methods to students of all levels and movement backgrounds in order to achieve any desired skills, sequences, and performance goals is their specialty.
WORKSHOP
Emma D’Lemma – Allen Falkner’s “Freaks & Fetish” – April 18, 2015 – The Lizard Lounge – Dallas, Texas
