Moisture Festival Workshops
Dynamics on Rope and Silks with Katie Lynch
About the Instructor: Katie is a full time aerial arts instructor and performer based out of Gig Harbor, WA. Her passion for fitness and people led her to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science with the intention of becoming an Occupational Therapist. After earning her undergrad she was swept into the world of circus arts and used her skills and education in an entirely different way. Katie founded Ethereal Arts Northwest, an aerial studio in her hometown, in December of 2018. Coaching and performing has now become her full time occupation and allows her to pursue her passion for aerial while sharing it with her community. She has been coaching circus arts for over 10 years now, and works with students of all ages and abilities. Katie primarily performs corde lisse (rope), hand-balancing, and straps. She is also a proficient performer and instructor in silks and acrobatics. Katie has performed for several different companies and shows in many beautiful venues around the west coast! She has also taught workshops and retreats around the world from California, to Hawaii, and all the way to Japan!
Learn the basics of beats and how to build your momentum in a way that makes following skills feel effortless! Learn new pathways in and out of dynamic skills!
Workshops with Valentina Zackrone
Valentina is an award-winning aerialist and coach. She holds a Master’s degree in teaching and several coaching certifications, including interpersonal neurobiology for coaches (a neuroscience based approach to adult learning). Her coaching and wellness programs received national recognition from Rutger’s University and American Heart Association. Her innovative acts earned her international recognition including a gold medal from Крылья /Wings International Aerial Festival for her tension chains act. She’s known for her fierce, adrenaline infused dynamic style, with a touch of ballroom flare. She performed on stages big and small all over the world, from London to Tahiti and at sea aboard Windstar Cruises. She is the Mis(Chief) executive and artistic director of Quatrefoil Cirque, a small circus company in Central Washington where she spends her summers and serves as a fairy Godmother to Wenatchee Youth Circus.
Essential chains (beginner level): This workshop will give you everything you need to start exploring chains safely and with minimal pain. Students will explore simple photogenic poses beyond splits and cradle, and learn about key considerations to keep in mind that distinguish chains from any other apparatus.
Wednesday, June 10 – 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Chains sequencing and basic drops (intermediate level): This workshop is designed for chain enthusiasts wanting to create unique acts to showcase their aerial technique and artistry. We will explore a few options for transitions in and out of some basic drops and dynamic technique nuances on chains that will help you take what you learned in your aerial journey and successfully adapt it to chains.
Wednesday, June 10 – 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Workshops with Clara Scudder-Davis
Originally from Seattle, Clara is an acrobat specializing in hand balancing and hula hoops. She found her way to circus after studying dance and theatre, and fell in love with its playful rigor and creative community. After completing the professional formation at the Quebec Circus School in Canada, she worked with companies including Acting for Climate Montreal, Machine de Cirque, and Circus Evo. Most recently, Clara toured as an ensemble member with Brisbane-based contemporary circus company Circa. During her formation, she trained with coaches Marie-Ève Dicaire and Irina Bozyan (Montreal), Vita Radionova (Seattle), and Oleh Kurinskyi (Kyiv, Ukraine). Alongside her circus career, Clara earned her BA in psychology from Concordia University in Montreal.
Foundations for a Handstand Practice
In this handstand workshop, we will focus on the foundations of handstand alignment, strength, and flexibility while working towards a solid freestanding handstand. Our goals will be to grow confidence upside-down and to build a toolbox of drills that support your solo practice. All levels are welcome, whether you are working towards your first handstand or refining your handstand practice.
Monday, April 20, 2026 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
WORKSHOPS
Backflip Workshops with Abraham McBride
Backflip 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.
Saturday, May 16 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Backflip Level 2: Abraham has been teaching parkour, freerunning, acrobatics and more, for over 10 years. This is the perfect workshop if you have previous experience with the standing backflip and want to spend some focused time progressing towards the unassisted flip. The workshop will start with mobility, activations, drills, and spotted standing backflips. The participants will then get the opportunity to practice spotted backflips in a variety of settings designed to help you build comfort with the flip. Abraham focuses on safety while he teaches backflips and tries to provide challenges to each student that will push them to achieve more while making sure everyone remains comfortable. During the workshop participants will be expected to complete assisted backflips in a variety of different settings. With participants’ consent, occasional flips will be recorded for video analysis coaching to help participants better understand the fundamental movements and timing involved in their backflips. Ideally by the end of the workshop some students will be doing completely unassisted backflips. The workshop is limited to eight spots to accommodate lots of specific work with each participant. Please bring along a water bottle and comfortable clothing you can flip in. Do not take this workshop the same day as the Backflip Level One Intensive.
Saturday, May 16 2026 | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
WORKSHOPS
Aerial Workshops with Blacktrapeze: Enya White
Enya is a trapeze artist, aerial coach, Guinness World Record holder, and a graduate of the
National Circus School of Montreal. Her work has been featured in Luzia by Cirque du Soleil,
and after more than 2,700 performances and a decade of teaching workshops internationally, she
brings both stage experience and a refined eye for movement to every class she teaches.
Known for her love of spinning and her obsession with movement quality, Enya’s teaching focuses
on the intention behind every shape and how movements flow in and out of one another. She has
a talent for transforming simple positions into rich, dynamic sequences that feel effortless,
musical, and deeply satisfying to perform.Rather than focusing on tricks alone, Enya helps aerialists understand the why behind what they’re doing. Through clear progressions, creative exploration, and attention to detail, students learn how to refine their execution, move more efficiently, and develop their own artistic voice.
Her goal is simple: to give aerialists tools that make their practice more expressive, more creative,
and more fun.
WORKSHOPS
National Circus School of Montreal. Her work has been featured in Luzia by Cirque du Soleil,
and after more than 2,700 performances and a decade of teaching workshops internationally, she
brings both stage experience and a refined eye for movement to every class she teaches.
Known for her love of spinning and her obsession with movement quality, Enya’s teaching focuses
on the intention behind every shape and how movements flow in and out of one another. She has
a talent for transforming simple positions into rich, dynamic sequences that feel effortless,
musical, and deeply satisfying to perform.Rather than focusing on tricks alone, Enya helps aerialists understand the why behind what they’re doing. Through clear progressions, creative exploration, and attention to detail, students learn how to refine their execution, move more efficiently, and develop their own artistic voice.
Her goal is simple: to give aerialists tools that make their practice more expressive, more creative,
and more fun.
Catch Me If You Can
Saturday, September 5th | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
In this 90-min workshop, we’ll cover all the ways to enter and exit the catcher position on dance
trapeze—from dynamic movements to sneaky entries. You’ll learn how to use catchers as a
building block for creating unique and authentic sequences. By the end, you’ll have greater confidence in incorporating catchers into your choreography and
aerial practice.
Learning Outcome:
You’ll discover various movement pathways, giving you a deeper understanding of how to
approach the catcher position and how to seamlessly transition into other moves. By the end of
the workshop, you will feel empowered to craft your own connections with ease, opening up new
possibilities in your choreography.
Cross My Back
Saturday, September 5th | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
In this workshop we will dive into a variety of ways to enter and exit the cross back position.
From dynamic movements to sneaky entries, we will explore how to use this movement as a
building bloc to create authentic, flowing sequences. You will even learn some fun transitions
to add some choreographic flair to your work!
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the session, you’ll have mastered 10+ unique pathways that will give you deeper
understanding of what type of movements can lead you to this position. You will walk away
with with the confidence to create your own connections with ease. Most importantly, you will
have fun exploring all the possibilities this move has to offer.
Resonance: Exploring Intention & Presence in Aerial Performance
Saturday, September 5th | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
What if your performance could be felt before the first trick? Resonance is a 90-minute workshop designed for aerialists of all apparatuses who are ready to go beyond shapes and sequences—and step into storytelling, energy, and artistic presence. In this class, we’ll explore what it means to resonate with your audience: how to move with intention, express with clarity, and embody your unique voice in the air.
Who This Is For: This workshop is open to intermediate aerialists of all disciplines who are:
• Curious about movement beyond tricks
• Interested in building performance confidence
• Ready to explore new ways of thinking about choreography and connection
• Open to working both on and off apparatus
Through guided prompts, floor and aerial exercises, and movement exploration, we’ll uncover how the quality of your transitions, your gaze, your breath, and your pauses shape the emotional impact of your work. Whether you’re performing on stage, in rehearsal, or for yourself in the studio, your presence matters. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present.
Applicable to all aerial apparatus.
Inside The Skill: Deep Dive into the C-Shape Roll
Sunday, September 6th | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
What We’ll Work On
• Biomechanics of the C-shape (spine, pelvis, ribs, arms, legs)
• Timing
• Using breath to allow rotation instead of forcing it
• Common errors and corrections
• Regressions and repeatable drills
• Apparatus-specific considerations
Outcome
• A clear understanding of how the C-shape roll works
• Tools to identify and fix personal sticking points
• Drills you can repeat independently
• A roll that feels lighter, smoother, and more reliable across apparatuses
Applicable Apparatus: Trapeze • Lyra • Sling/Hammock ✖ No rope or straps
Spin Club: Master the Art of Spinning
September 6th | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
In this 90-min workshop, we will:
• Learn proper alignment in different spinning positions to more easily find your center
• Practice off-apparatus exercises for better control
• Learn ways to “come back” quickly after spinning fast.
• Create more efficient spins, maintain them for longer and control them.
• Deconstruct the mechanics of a fast spin, avoid orbiting when starting them, and how different spinning dynamics will influence choreography and vice versa
What to bring: Water, candy or a sweet snack, a sweet drink or electrolytes, food or protein bar for energy and fight off nausea in case it shows up during class. Applicable to all aerial apparatus.
