News

2024 Youth Summer Programming

We had a blast at our 10 year party and now onto the next project.  Thanks to all of you who have been patient with the question of “what are we doing this summer?”  We are figuring out the answers to that question right now and we will have all of our youth offerings for summer posted right here by March 25.  Stay

March 9 – Our 10 Year Anniversary party at the Kenan Center

March 9th is getting closer and we’re counting on you to celebrate with us! Our 10th anniversary is a big deal to us and we’re going all out. The Kenan Center arena will be filled with circus magic, live music, and all kinds of festivities. Tickets are only $20 and include a drink ticket, live entertainment and more. Part 1 7:30-8:30 Slyboots African Drum ensemble. The night opens with live drumming and a variety of circus acts taking the stage – we’ve got fire, comedians, jugglers, dancers, hula hoopers, and aerialists ready to perform for you. Part 2 8:30 Buffalo Aerial Dance Memory Lane.  We celebrate 10 years with some of our favorite memories and a few throwback performances. Our Founder will also be making a big announcement! Part 3 9:30-11:00 Jess and The Mess. There’s a rock band in the house!  Jess is bringing the party with your favorite pop and rock hits, and once again we will have live aerial and fire performances happening to the music.  The dance floor will be open as well! All night – drinks, snacks, Buffalo Aerial Dance

Urban Legends in the Air – November 4, 2023

We are extending the Halloween season for a few days because it’s too short. Join us on November 4 for our student showcase with the theme of Urban Legends. Witness aerial feats inspired by spooky, creepy tales such as Bloody Mary, the Spider Woman, an exploding dog, and more! Some of your favorite BAD performers will be back in action as well as some first-timers! Tickets are $10 cash at the door, $5 for under 12 or seniors. First come, first serve. Doors open at 5:30. Show is at 6:00. It will last approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, including a 15 minute

July 19 – Aerial Choreography Workshops with Brande

On Wednesday July 19, Brande Lee is coming to visit us from Virginia, and she’s bringing a whole lot of awesome with her.  Join us for one or both of her wonderful workshops described below. . About Brande: Brande has been teaching fitness, including aerial/circus arts since 2012. She is certified in group fitness through the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and has received teacher training in aerial/circus arts through Orange County Aerial Arts/Ruby Karen Project (OCAA/RKP), Circus Arts Institute (CAI), AURA Pole Dance Fitness, SHOW Circus Studio and the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA). . Brande has performed with numerous circus and dance companies around the country and was a principal aerialist in the Cirque de la Mer show at SeaWorld, San Diego, from 2014-2016. She participated in Aerial Arts America’s 2nd Annual West Coast Aerial Arts Festival (WCAAF) November 2014.  She placed 1st in her category, tissu/silk professional, and 1st overall. Brande also performed in the 10th annual Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival (HCCDF)

Kaleidoscope Constellations – May 13 at 2pm and 7pm

Let us take you on an astrological journey showcasing the 12 signs of the zodiac as well as the sun and the moon. Nine different choreographers have created pieces for a magical show that features aerial rope, silks, trapeze, lyra, as well as contemporary dance and a heels routine. Our studio will be transformed into an enchanting star-filled galaxy, but the true stars are the talented aerialists and dancers twirling high in the sky. .  Shows at 2:00 and 7:00. Tickets are $20 (plus fees) through Eventbrite. Purchase tickets here .  — Audience members are welcome and encouraged to dress to represent their astrological affiliation! It’s not a contest…but may the best sign win  — Appropriate for ages 12+, but we do not have any children’s priced tickets for this performance. — Venue is handicap accessible. Ample free parking on site. Open seating so arrive early for the best seats! .  The cast is made up of our fabulous aerial students as well local guest artists from Niagara University and La’Movement Fitness. .  Choreographers are as

Sunday March 26 — Show and Workshops from Cirque Us

Cirque Us from Boston, MA is touring their original circus show, One Man’s Trash, and we’re lucky to be one of the tour stops!  They will perform at our studio on Sunday March 26, and several cast members will lead workshops following the show. About Cirque Us: Since its founding in 2016, Cirque Us has grown into a notable contemporary circus companies. Its eight original members quite literally stitched a show together with recycled materials and old car tires. Since then, Cirque Us has continued to produce original, full-length circus shows, alongside educational camps and workshops for people of all ages and abilities. Read more about the company and their mission: https://thecirqueus.com/one-mans-trash-2023-spring-tour/ About the show: “One Man’s Trash” is back for its third national tour. With the limitless spirit of circus, this cast reanimates all that’s left in trash cans or garages to highlight the power of community. The performance’s playful nature proves what we’re all capable of–together through a pass of a juggling club or leap of

Hooping it Up: A closer look at the Lyra

Lyra is a such pleasure to watch. Those beautiful, spinning shapes appear effortless and full of magic. Achieving that magic involves lots of hard work, lots of strength and flexibility, and lots of refining details.  But it’s also very rewarding to see your lyra goals come to life. Erica performing on lyra at a Slyboots Circus event For almost a decade I was obsessed with silks, and trained rope and trapeze here and there, but rarely set foot on a hoop. In 2016, the studio’s original lyra teacher moved away, leaving behind a big demand for aerial hoop classes that I was somehow supposed to fill.  I started driving to Toronto for private lessons, and spent a lot of time experimenting on lyra in the studio.  I also watched many lyra videos on social media, many, many videos. To be clear, trying to learn aerial skills from Instagram is definitely frowned upon for many reasons that I won’t get into here, but there are also ways to use social media constructively. As I watched, I gathered data about this mysterious apparatus, trying to understand the different ways to

Pippin The Musical at the Lockport Palace Theater

This September, experience the magic of Pippin at the Palace Theater in Lockport!  Four performers from Buffalo Aerial Dance will be joining the Pippin cast to bring the circus to this historic stage. Aerial performers Hannah Lippincott and Mary Schnepf will be performing aerial silks, and Amanda Reed and Erica Cope will be on aerial hoop.  The aerialists also helped design the aerial rigging for this show and worked with Pippin cast members to teach them a few aerial skills of their own. Also, the Palace theater is gorgeous! It was originally built in the 1920s like Shea’s and The Riviera, and was recently fully restored. This show itself is visually beautiful and full of deeper meaning. The set design, costumes, and choreography channel both an old time circus aesthetic and classic Fosse style.  And the story is one we can all relate to. It begins with a young prince who goes to great extremes in search of the secret to happiness. Ultimately Pippin finds that true happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but in every day moments. This talented cast signs,

Trapeze and Lyra Workshops with Joanne Galligan

From just over the border in Toronto, Joanne is finally able to come share her skills with us in on this side of Lake Erie.  Several of us at B.A.D. have worked with her at Hercinia Arts Collective, and we couldn’t wait to bring her to our studio for workshops. Saturday 10:00-12:00 Trapeze Workshop — Intermediate/Advanced (1+ years of experience) EXPLORING THE ROPES: ROLLING UP, CROSSES AND ROPE CHOREO  In this workshop students will learn ways to wind the ropes around their bodies, create crosses and transition between shapes up in the lines.  Many of the sequences were inspired by classic silks combos, so this is also a great workshop for silks students looking to explore trapeze. please make a freaking space here SATURDAY 2:00-4:00 Trapeze and Lyra Workshop — Intermediate/Advanced (1+ years of experience) CIRCLES, ROLLS AND DYNAMIC SKILLS This workshop will cover all of the ways you can roll around the trapeze or the lyra including Russian / Monkey rolls, Hip Circles, Mill Circles and more.  It will also cover fun pullover transitions, different takes on

Black Lives Matter

Our studio stands in solidarity with the anti-racism movement.  For further information on where we stand on this issue, please feel free to watch this video from the studio
1 2 3 6