About Us

Our Approach

Since its first days in 2014, Buffalo Aerial Dance has been devoted not only to the art of aerial dance, but to the art of teaching. The vision of B.A.D. is to create a space where aerialists of all types can be supported in achieving their aerial goals as a part of an inclusive community. From aspiring pros to casual danglers, we strive to meet each aerialist where they are at and help improve their skills. We offer circus classes for ages 8 and up (you’re not too old)!

Our curriculum is built around core skills that develop strength, endurance, and technique, as well as a large vocabulary that allows for exploration and creativity.  It is designed for you to learn at your own pace and find your own voice as an aerialist.

History

Buffalo Aerial Dance was founded in 2014 by Erica Cope.  Erica returned to Western New York, where she grew up, after living Seattle and training in silks, trapeze, and rope at Versatile Arts for several years. B.A.D. The studio was originally created in the beautiful Alt Theatre, which was located in the historical Great Arrow Building, with much support from Amy Taravella.  In 2013, Amy, a professional dancer of many years, invited some very determined budding aerialists, to install silks in The Alt.  The aerialists and Amy collaborated on a few small shows integrating aerial work and dance.  These shows were surprisingly popular and created a lot of interest in aerial silks. It was clear that Buffalo was ready for aerial dance!

During the later half of 2013 we began offering private aerial lessons at the Alt, while the studio developed.  Erica was joined by Andrew Kutnyak and Ashley Vita Verde who gained training in rigging and safety, technique and skill progression.  In 2014, Buffalo Aerial Dance was on the map with 3 sets of silks, 1 trapeze, and a handful of public classes.  In 2015-16, there were many shifts as Amy moved on to another career.  Shortly after, Andrew began his own aerial project, and Ashley decided to spend time travelling, leaving Erica at the helm of the studio.  She continued to seek out more training, expand into new apparatus, and refine the curriculum.

B.A.D. was located in the Alt until May 2019 when the theater drew to a close. In September of 2019, we moved to our current space in the Flips Gymnastics building in Lockport, NY.

Our Coaches

Erica: Trapeze, Lyra, Silks

Erica is the founder of Buffalo Aerial Dance, aka the method behind the madness…  She has trained in silks, corde lisse, aerial sling, and trapeze at Versatile Arts in Seattle, WA from (2008-2011).  She has completed NECCA’s Introduction to Teaching Aerials (2013), Foundation to Aerial Silks (2015), Foundation to Trapeze (2016), and Level Up Symposium (2023).  She has completed aerial rigging workshops with Jonathan Duels (2014), NECCA (2016) and two with Craig Lewis (2020 and 2021).  Erica has been lucky enough to train with too many amazing aerialists to list, but here are a few: Shannon Gray, Fred Deb, Charlie Faraday, Jill Marissa, Liza Rose, Anna Thomas-Henry, Michelle Francis, Tyler Jacobson, T Lawrence Simon, Jenn Bruyer, Gina DuBose, and Molly Graves.

Erica’s teaching style is influenced by ballet, modern dance, and yoga, all of which she has studied for many years. She loves the fact that aerial arts serves as a gateway for people to understand their own bodies and movements. Besides chasing her aerial dreams, Erica also works as a middle school teacher in Buffalo.  She also loves cats, cats, and more cats!

 

Jess: Trapeze

Jess wears a crown made of a steel bar and two ropes.  That’s right, she’s the trapeze queen!  She has skillfully transferred years of gymnastic and ballet training to this apparatus and regularly performs moves that inspire awe.  She channels much of that awe into being an awesome instructor, successfully leading students beyond their fears and doubts and into trapeze glory.  Jess is well-versed in solo as well as duo trapeze, and often performs with her “fly or die” partner Cortney Chyme.

She has trained with many top-notch aerialists including Shannon Gray, Karen Fulmar, Jenn Bruyer, Megan Gendell, and Kirsten Edwards.  Besides upholding her royal duties, she is a registered dietitian who loves vegetables, Celine Dion, and anything punny.

 

Alicia: Rope

Alicia is a rope wizard. Some of her powers certainly come from years of hard work, but the rest we believe comes from drinking copious amounts of tea.  She also has a fabulous understanding of technique and will give you great advice on how to improve yours! Alicia has been taught and inspired by P.J. Perry especially, but has also trained with many internationally renowned rope artists including Emiliano Ron, NECCA’s Rope Meeting, Jenn Bruyer (aka Heel Hang) and Joanne Galligan.  Recently, she has broadened her circus skills to include handstands and juggling. Besides being a highly respected circus artist, she is also a talented computer scientist.

Hannah: Silks, Youth Aerial

 

Amanda: Silks, Youth Aerial

Amanda leads our youth programs at B.A.D. and there could be no one more perfect for this role.  She has years of experience as a youth educator, loves kids, and of course loves circus.  Before becoming an aerial instructor, she danced for 10 years, trained aerial arts for three years, and took an aerial rigging workshop.  She is also a dynamic performer with our B.A.D. performance team.  Amanda is very artistic and has known for putting together some amazing aerial costumes, and other designs for the studio. She has trained with Brande Lee, Gina Dubose, Tyler Jacobson, Joanne Galligan, and has completed specialized training in Youth Aerial Arts.

Amanda has performed at the Lockport Exchange Circus, Old Falls Street, Slyboots Circus, Music is Art and she also performed aerial silks in the Lockport Palace Theater’s production of Pippin.

 

Mary: Silks

Mary earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Design from Buffalo State College and her M.F.A in Dance from the University at Buffalo.  She has been a longtime member of the Greater Niagara Ballet Company, serving as a principal dancer and and recently became the Artistic Director. She has performed with and choreographed for various dance and theater companies including the GNBC, Configuration Dance Theater, Neglia Ballet Artists, The National Ballet of Canada, Red Thread Theatre, Buffalo Aerial Dance and Torn Space Theater.

Mary began training on silks in 2016, and began incorporating aerial work into her dance choreography shortly afterwards. With Buffalo Aerial Dance, she has performed at Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts, Music is Art, Old Falls Street (Niagara Falls), Lancaster Steampunk Festival, and The Great Blue Heron Music Festival. She also performed aerial silks in the Lockport Palace Theater’s production of Pippin, and she has choreographed many innovative aerial pieces for Buffalo Aerial Dance.

 

Caitlyn: Lyra, Youth Aerial

Caitlyn is our blue-haired, water-loving, aerial mermaid.  In her youth she was active in gymnastics and competitive cheerleading, as an adult she fell in love with circus as a way to keep herself in the air.  She has been training in aerial silks, and lyra since 2019 and has been performing with B.A.D. since 2020. She has trained with Joanne Galligan, Tyler Jacobson, Brande Lee, and Mara Niemanis.  She also completed a rigging workshop with Craig Lewis.  She has performed on both silks and lyra at events all over WNY.  Caitlyn teaches many of our youth classes, as well as Beginner Silks and Beginner and Intermediate Lyra.

She is also a professional mermaid and a mental health counselor for children, teens, and young adults. This helps make her perfect for teaching the kids as well as building the confidence, motivation, and skills most beginners are looking for.

 

Jenn: Silks, Rope

Jenn grew up as a cheerleader and a gymnast, and found circus arts in 2016.  She began her aerial journey on the silks and soon after, fell in love with rope and trapeze.  She also trains in acroyoga and general goofiness. Jenn loves creating new drills and sequences.  She is known for her dynamic style, tornado-speed spins, and for kicking everyone’s butts in the best of ways.

Jenn began teaching intermediate silks in 2019.  In 2022, she moved to Cleveland where she was a coach and performer with the Crooked River Circus for a year, but in 2023 we got her back!  She has coached both Intermediate and Advanced Silks as well as Beginner and Intermediate Trapeze.  She has performed at the Leonard Oakes Steampunk Festival, The Lockport Exchange Circus, University at Buffalo Homecoming Carnival, Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts, and many other events.

 

Colleen: Lyra

Colleen is our graceful and fearless Advanced Lyra Coach, and the mother of an equally fearless 9 year old. She has trained in lyra since 2017, and picked up lyra very quickly and naturally.  She has performed at the studio several times, as well as performing at the Witches Ball, Old Falls Street, and Elmwood Avenue Festival for the Arts.

 

 

 

 

Maureen: Trapeze

Maureen started practicing aerial arts, specifically trapeze and silks, in 2017 and soon thereafter began performing publicly.  She often takes aerial classes when out of town to experience new perspectives, learn new skills, and just to be doing what she loves.  She has a passion for perfecting her technique and figuring out new creative challenges, and she loves sharing what she’s learned.

Maureen’s enthusiasm and love of aerial arts make her students feel relaxed and welcome. When not climbing, dropping, or hanging, Maureen works as an attorney and spends time with her husband, kids, and cats.  She is also an avid skier and a certified alpine and adaptive ski instructor.

 

H: Sling, Trapeze, Lyra, Youth Aerial

H is a coast-to-coast circus artist and coach, who was on loan to Seattle to coach for the summer. We are excited to have them back in WNY. They have been learning, coaching and performing circus for over ten years and began specializing in lyra in 2015.  H is experienced at coaching youth aerial on all apparatus, and additionally coaches all levels of Aerial Sling and Lyra.

H has performed in Buffalo, Rochester, and Seattle and contributed choreography and performance to our spring choreography showcase, Kaleidoscope Constellations. Recently they have done several trainings with Boston-based circus company, Cirque Us.