Elena Sherman
Aerialist / Coach / Designer
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About

Elena Sherman is an aerial artist specializing on aerial hoop and working on aerial straps & dance trapeze. She especially enjoys ensemble collaboration, improvisation, and aerial partnering work. Photo by Tim Dub, 2019.

Elena Sherman is an aerial artist specializing on lyra & aerial partnering and working on aerial straps & dance trapeze. She especially enjoys ensemble collaboration, improvisation, spinning, and partnering work (both on the ground and in the air). Elena is one half of the artistic collaboration of Duo Kelaini.

 

Lyra solo performance teaser 2024. Music: Sparks by LAAKE

 
Photo by Spencer Studios.

Photo by Spencer Studios.

bio - elena sherman

Growing up, though she loved the idea of acting, Elena found herself gravitating behind the stage, especially in college where she worked on the technical stage crew at the Lied Center of Kansas learning everything it takes to put on full-scale Broadway productions to intimate lecture series.

Elena’s passion for aerial & circus arts started soon after her undergrad and had begun working full-time as a fitness wearables User Experience Designer while researching fitness trends. She took a lyra class in 2011 and hasn’t gotten off the hoop since. Realizing aerial & circus arts are the perfect combination of all her interests (design, artistic & physical expression, stage production, fitness) she began apprenticing at the Quixotic School of Performing Arts in 2012 and later became a founding member of Kansas City Aerial Arts (formerly Lucia Aerial Performing Arts) where she coached aerial & fitness classes. In addition she has taken on several production & performance roles including prop, makeup, costume, and graphic design. She moved to Portland in 2015 for 18 months where she continued developing as a circus artist at Pendulum Aerial Arts, The Circus Project, and Night Flight Aerial as well as traveling around the west coast to find as much training as she could. She returned to her roots in Kansas City in 2017 and has been delighted to continue performing, choreographing, and coaching circus skills to all levels, most recently through the newly formed performing troupe, Circus Scorpius.

Elena is one-half of Duo Kelaini with her performing partner Kelsey. The two first met in Portland in 2016 but did not start working together professionally until 2017 after Kelsey agreed to follow Elena back to KC to take a chance on a new partnership. The two have been completely inseparable since, blending their high technical acrobatic & aerial skill and goofy personalities to create meaningful art together. Together, the two of them have opened a movement arts training facility in spring of 2022.

In addition to her circus training, Elena is taking on a newly rediscovered passion of creating art through papercraft. The intricate detail and technical problem solving required for each piece she assembles perfectly balances out the high-stakes danger of her circus lifestyle.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE DESIGN PAGE.

INSTAGRAM : EMSPACES

I had every intention of going to juggling club tonight as this is the first week in a really long time I’ve had a good opportunity on a Wednesday, but today is not a good day and I need time. So instead, I’m doing my homework of thinking
I had every intention of going to juggling club tonight as this is the first week in a really long time I’ve had a good opportunity on a Wednesday, but today is not a good day and I need time. So instead, I’m doing my homework of thinking of things that give me joy and fill my cup so I can get through this darkest timeline. Photo from Umbrella Enchanted from a time that made me happy and brought me joy - find moments that bring you comfort and squeeze your people a little closer today
Break week means I get to spend a little time working on some things for myself. Was nice to have some guided play time tonight with @dani.winks.flexibility - thanks for the class time! 🥰
Show of the month, supportive colleague edition! Was a joy to be able to catch this show with these lovely dancers last night! #showofthemonth
Show of the month, supportive colleague edition! Was a joy to be able to catch this show with these lovely dancers last night! #showofthemonth
And just like that, our magical time at #glowild has come to a close. I have some complicated feelings but as a whole it was really a special experience with some of my most favorite people so it’s hard to beat that. Now, on to the next… 📸 by Bill Arimborgo
The rain may be keeping us from #GloWild tonight, but you can still catch us tomorrow night for our last evening at the @kansascityzoo. One more night doing this act for “Search for Atlantis” with the rest of the gang @circusscorpius #lyralove #whirlpool #justkeepspinning
Storm is coming… Back to my regularly scheduled storm casting for the next two weeks for the @circusscorpius production “Search for Atlantis” at #GloWild2024 Was nice to have a bit of a break from it, but I do like my Lyra a great deal than mermaiding 📸 by Bill Arimborgo (who has come to see the show almost every night since we opened 🥹)
This is a drill I’ve recently given to one of my students looking for more stability and control in his one arm inversions on straps. Today seemed like a good enough day as any to put my own “broken wings” to the test to see how they are doing (head position exaggerated a bit so I could see my back more). Anyway, coming back from injury is tough y’all 😮‍💨
Last night to see me as Cordelia the mermaid in @circusscorpius production of “Search For Atlantis” at #GloWild2024 Then back to your regularly scheduled Storm business for the rest of the month. Hope to see ya there! 📸 by Bill Arimborgo
Today was a fun change of pace, playing the role of Cordelia the mermaid in our show at @kansascityzoo for #glowild2024 with @circusscorpius. Just over 3 weeks left of this run 🥹 📸 All photos from our new friend Bill Arimborogo
Just some casual September things, where I spent a good portion of my evenings frolicking around the Kansas City zoo doing so many things with the rest of the @circusscorpius gang :) Being on month no.2 💪 📸 by Bill Arimborgo #glowild #lyralove #whirlwind #circusshow #searchforatlantis #giglife
Getting to spin around with Pirate Wyatt three times a week has been a whirlwind adventure… only one more month(ish) to go! Soon, I get to try out a different role a bit 👀🧜‍♀️ @myheavymettle @circusscorpius #glowild #searchforatlantis #circusshow #lyralove #whirlwind
Getting to be a juggling pixie 4x/wk has been pretty neat 🤹🏻‍♀️🧚🏼‍♀️ GloWild is in full swing and all here at @circusscorpius have been having a blast each night 🎊
Getting to be a juggling pixie 4x/wk has been pretty neat 🤹🏻‍♀️🧚🏼‍♀️ GloWild is in full swing and all here at @circusscorpius have been having a blast each night 🎊
Putting in the work, one handstand at a time - thanks as always to my coach @splits_whisperer for the motivation and drive to get there, even on the days I am feeling down on myself
Show of the month - circus supporter support edition! Went to see this show featuring the spouse of a long-time Circus Scorpius support human and it was so nice seeing him rock the stage. Nice job Mike - it was, in fact, a Beautiful show :) #artis
Show of the month - circus supporter support edition! Went to see this show featuring the spouse of a long-time Circus Scorpius support human and it was so nice seeing him rock the stage. Nice job Mike - it was, in fact, a Beautiful show :) #artistssupportingartists
This is not the correct music for it, but T-9 days until I get to start doing a version of this act for the stage show @circusscorpius is putting together for the @kansascityzoo during #glowildkczoo this fall. We have so many things we are putting together! See ya there soon!
Spotify reminded me today how much I like #ImogenHeap and I’ve been a bit on repeat since. Two weeks left to prepare for putting together a new act and I am very much in the slog of the creative process - here is to hoping for coming out the other side 🤞
It wouldn’t be an Elena vacation without some circus snuck in someway… Managed to catch opening night in STL of #cirqueitaliasilver show Metropolis and I was entertained. The singing handbalancer adding in foot juggling was an unexpected
It wouldn’t be an Elena vacation without some circus snuck in someway… Managed to catch opening night in STL of #cirqueitaliasilver show Metropolis and I was entertained. The singing handbalancer adding in foot juggling was an unexpected mashup of skills! 🎪🤹🏻‍♀️ #showofthemonth
Not how I was expecting to spend my Friday evening…especially since there were puppets involved :)
Not how I was expecting to spend my Friday evening…especially since there were puppets involved :)
“Must go faster…” practicing for spin tolerance is hard work 😵‍💫
9th year of #KCFringe (10th show) is complete. What an honor to be part of “pivot” and @circusscorpius for the 20th anniversary of this festival here. It’s always wild. Always weird. Always worth it. Thank you to the cast and crew,
9th year of #KCFringe (10th show) is complete. What an honor to be part of “pivot” and @circusscorpius for the 20th anniversary of this festival here. It’s always wild. Always weird. Always worth it. Thank you to the cast and crew, and to all the artists who participate and support each other in making this such a unique and memorable experience every year 🥳
I had every intention of going to juggling club tonight as this is the first week in a really long time I’ve had a good opportunity on a Wednesday, but today is not a good day and I need time. So instead, I’m doing my homework of thinking
Break week means I get to spend a little time working on some things for myself. Was nice to have some guided play time tonight with @dani.winks.flexibility - thanks for the class time! 🥰
Show of the month, supportive colleague edition! Was a joy to be able to catch this show with these lovely dancers last night! #showofthemonth
And just like that, our magical time at #glowild has come to a close. I have some complicated feelings but as a whole it was really a special experience with some of my most favorite people so it’s hard to beat that. Now, on to the next…
The rain may be keeping us from #GloWild tonight, but you can still catch us tomorrow night for our last evening at the @kansascityzoo. One more night doing this act for “Search for Atlantis” with the rest of the gang @circusscorpius #l
Storm is coming… Back to my regularly scheduled storm casting for the next two weeks for the @circusscorpius production “Search for Atlantis” at #GloWild2024 Was nice to have a bit of a break from it, but I do like my Lyra a gr
This is a drill I’ve recently given to one of my students looking for more stability and control in his one arm inversions on straps. Today seemed like a good enough day as any to put my own “broken wings” to the test to see how the
Last night to see me as Cordelia the mermaid in @circusscorpius production of “Search For Atlantis” at #GloWild2024 Then back to your regularly scheduled Storm business for the rest of the month. Hope to see ya there! 📸 by Bill Arimbor
Today was a fun change of pace, playing the role of Cordelia the mermaid in our show at @kansascityzoo for #glowild2024 with @circusscorpius. Just over 3 weeks left of this run 🥹 📸 All photos from our new friend Bill Arimborogo
Just some casual September things, where I spent a good portion of my evenings frolicking around the Kansas City zoo doing so many things with the rest of the @circusscorpius gang :) Being on month no.2 💪 📸 by Bill Arimborgo #glowild #lyralove #
Getting to spin around with Pirate Wyatt three times a week has been a whirlwind adventure… only one more month(ish) to go! Soon, I get to try out a different role a bit 👀🧜‍♀️ @myheavymettle @circusscorpius #glowild #searchforatlantis #
Getting to be a juggling pixie 4x/wk has been pretty neat 🤹🏻‍♀️🧚🏼‍♀️ GloWild is in full swing and all here at @circusscorpius have been having a blast each night 🎊
Putting in the work, one handstand at a time - thanks as always to my coach @splits_whisperer for the motivation and drive to get there, even on the days I am feeling down on myself
Show of the month - circus supporter support edition! Went to see this show featuring the spouse of a long-time Circus Scorpius support human and it was so nice seeing him rock the stage. Nice job Mike - it was, in fact, a Beautiful show :) #artis
This is not the correct music for it, but T-9 days until I get to start doing a version of this act for the stage show @circusscorpius is putting together for the @kansascityzoo during #glowildkczoo this fall. We have so many things we are putting to
Spotify reminded me today how much I like #ImogenHeap and I’ve been a bit on repeat since. Two weeks left to prepare for putting together a new act and I am very much in the slog of the creative process - here is to hoping for coming out the ot
It wouldn’t be an Elena vacation without some circus snuck in someway… Managed to catch opening night in STL of #cirqueitaliasilver show Metropolis and I was entertained. The singing handbalancer adding in foot juggling was an unexpected Not how I was expecting to spend my Friday evening…especially since there were puppets involved :)
“Must go faster…” practicing for spin tolerance is hard work 😵‍💫
9th year of #KCFringe (10th show) is complete. What an honor to be part of “pivot” and @circusscorpius for the 20th anniversary of this festival here. It’s always wild. Always weird. Always worth it. Thank you to the cast and crew,

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