Performance, Training and Rigging

Aerial Acrobatics, Dance and Circus In and Around the Nation's Capital

This website is a project of Washington DC aerial performance artists Ann Behrends and Sara Deull with the support of Jonathan Deull. 

We are proud to part of an emerging community of aerial performers, students and teachers in the Washington DC area, and have put together this site as a resource and directory.

 We can be reached by email at info@airbornedc.org or by telephone at 202 232-4138. 

Special thanks to Baltimore-based Air Dance Bernasconi for the use of many of the photographs on these pages. 

AirBorne DC! News

AirBorne! Celebrates Earth Day 2008

On Saturday, April 26, 2008, AirBorne! DC aerialists Ann Berends and Sara Deull performed suspended from the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge over Washington, DC's Anacostia River as part of the Anacostia Watershed Society's Earth Day Rally and Celebration.

Upcoming Aerial Rigging Workshop -- Eastern Tennessee State University

On June 28 and 29, 2008, Delbert Hall and Jonathan Deull will a hands-on aerial performer rigging workshops at Eastern Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.  

For information or to register, contact: info@airbornedc.org  Click here or on the image to see photos from earlier workshops. 

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Updraft Aerial Classes in West Virginia 

Studio sessions will be held at Slipperyslope in the beautiful mountains of Washington County, Maryland, just across the Potomac River from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Directions will be provided upon request. Individual Aerial Sessions are offered in blocks of 4 weekly appointments and allow the participant too explore movement using suspended equipment such as low-flying trapeze and aerial fabric. Tailored to the experience level of the learner, these sessions introduce or refine basic aerial movement vocabulary.  Sessions begin on the ground, move to new heights, and take the dancer home to a new sense of center. Session times scheduled on an individual basis. Groups possible. Cost begins at $35 per hour for individuals. For more information on these and other classes, call or email 301-834-9291 or slipperyslope@cs.com

AirBorne! Mardi Gras 2008

For the second year in a row, AirBorne! DC performers provided spectacular entertainment for the gala Louisiana Alive celebration at the Washington DC Hilton.  Featuring eight aerialists on trapeze, lyra and fabric, the evening included both atmospheric elements and a new mainstage piece choreographed by Ann Behrends.  We were joined by contortion artist Shelly Guy, juggler/comedian Michael Rosman, juggling stiltwalker Doug Young and the talented performers of the Aerial Angels.  Click here or on the image for some photos.

Arts on Foot Takes to the Air

DC's annual Arts on Foot street festival got a lift this year with crowdstopping performances by AirBorne artists Ann Behrends, Sara Deull, Jessica Mislevy, Carey Nagoda and visiting New Yorker Heidi Button.  It was a windy but beautiful September 15th in front of the Verizon Center.  Special thanks to Arlie Hart who drove down from Vermont with his portable rig to do the show. 

Congratulations to Arachne Aerial Arts!

On September 10, 2007 Arachne Aerial Arts (Sharon Witting and Andrea Burkholder) were awarded the Metro DC Dance Award (www.mdcda.org) for Emerging Performer or Group, in recognition of their theatrical performance piece, Luxury Lofts Coming Soon, performed the Woolly Mammoth Theater in July, 2006.  For more information: www.arachneair.com.

Jayne Bernasconi Recreates Aerial History

On September 29, 2007 Jayne Bernasconi recreated Alwin Nikolais' Sorceror, one of the first aerial modern dance pieces (originally choreographed in the 1960s) as part of the Art of the Solo Show at the Baltimore Museum of Art.  More information is available at www.theartofthesolo.org.

Aerial Dance Company Makes Waves:

One Fell Swoop at the Baltimore Museum of Art

Air Dance Bernasconi's recent show at the Baltimore Museum of Art had an underwater theme focusing on climate change and environmental stewardship.  For more information: www.airdancebern.com

AirBorne DC! Performance Dazzles Kennedy Center Crowd

AirBorne DC! aerialists Ann Behrends, Sara Deull, Blair Lee, Moira Lee, Stephen Lee and Tiffany Race provided a dynamic opening for the 22nd Annual DC Mayor's Arts Awards at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on March 19, 2007.  Choreographed by Ann Behrends to the music of Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, the five-minute piece was webcast live as part of the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage program and can be viewed online at the Millennium Stage website or by following link: www.tinyurl.com/28st45.

© 2008 Ann Behrends and Sara Deull, all rights reserved.