photocredit @emmabarrowphotography

Aerialist &

dance choreographer

Kerri is an aerialist and dance choreographer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Kerri specialises in aerial sling, vertical dance and choreography. She has extensive experience in the performance sector and is always finding new ways to dance off the floor!

EVENTS

EXPERIENCE

As a graduate Kerri’s passion for contemporary dance led her to South Africa. It was during this time whilst performing and teaching as a dancer Kerri discovered her love for aerial and trained in vertical dance. She has since gained qualifications in traditional aerial through Born to Fly and Spin City and spent time studying Wired Aerial Theatre and Rebekah Leach.

Her choreographic and performance career includes ‘Solitude’ 2011 for the Barbican Theatre, UK. She then spent time developing as an artist in dance, aerial and teaching.

Kerri was a company member for Yskynna Vertical Dance Company from 2015-2019. During this time she helped develop the company, creating and performing Arts Council Funded work. Performing ‘Hyreth’, Weekend of Wonders 2016 & 2017 and ‘Torn’ 2019.

Kerri was commissioned as a vertical performer to open the Plymouth Museum in 2017. During the project Kerri helped create ‘The Box’ with a team of local artists. Corporate performances include ‘Experience’ 2018, Royal William Yard, UK and award winning duet ‘In your arms’ 2019, Plymouth, UK.

Solitude, photocredit @gemmaward

Kerri performed for Off the Wall aerial circus in 2022 and worked closely with the company as a supporting artist.

Since relocating to Canada Kerri has worked for Iness Circus and acclaimed artist SpiraLynn. Choreographing and performing ‘Of this Earth’ Halifax Fringe, Nocturne and various community events.

Kerri began working for Alana Yorke in 2023. She choreographed ‘Marion’ 2023 and ‘Tidal Wave’ 2024 working across iconic locations in Nova Scotia. Tidal Wave has been featured in the international magazine Wonderland. Kerri continues to support Alana Yorke with movement for the live performance of music from the album Destroyer.

Her lifelong passion is making aerial dance accessible for all. Within this Kerri has drawn deeper ​connections between her aerial and dance work focusing on technique and fabric theory. She has spent a ​decade focusing on the development of vocational courses and the creation of bespoke course content for ​different ages and ability levels. Kerri has worked as an artist since 2010, has performed internationally ​and is currently creating a syllabus of aerial sling for children.

QUALIFICATIONS

Aerial Silk Instructor course, Level 1-3 InesS certification 2023

Technology in Teaching and Learning, Level 3 2022.

IQA Level 4 Diploma 2021

Physiology Foundations, SpinCity, 2020.

Aerial Sling Instructor Course, SpinCity, 2018.

Qualified Teacher Lifelong learning Sector,

Society for Education and Training, 2017.

Post Graduate Certificate in Education Post 16, Plymouth University, 2014

BA Hons Dance, Northampton University, 2009

Get in touch

CONTACT

+1 902-292-0377

Email

kerridance9@gmail.com

INSTAGRAM

AERIAL_KERRI

Photocredit @bernieretallack

PRIVATE TUTORIALS

Now Offering Sling Privates!

Offering TWO types of Private classes.

• Adult In-person or Online.
  
• Kids In-person

This will be at my home address in Nova Scotia using an X-POLE ​Aerial rig.

The Aerial Rig is certified as a non dynamic rig which prevents the ​use of drops in class. We will work on conditioning, inversions, ​alignment, flexibility, open fabric and other complex ​combinations.

Classes are tailored to interest and ability level.

For online lessons, students must have their own rig and ​appropraite mat. Online lessions are delivered via Google meet.

Adult privates are $30, kids classes $25, little kids privates are ​$20. Insured and advanced DBS checked (UK) and CRC (Canada) ​inc Vulnerable sector check. Intermediate First Aid certified ​September 2024. Please enquire via email to ​kerridance9@gmail.com to discuss your needs and how to sign up.

photocredit @emmabarrowphotography

PRIVATE TUTORIALS

Adults In-person

Classes are 1 hour and consist of:-

• Warm-up (Aerial focused mix of Pilates and conditioning
  
• Aerial Conditioning
  
• Aerial Flexibility
  
• Moves and Sequences
  
• Cool-down (stretch using Sling and on the mat)
  

Kids Age 10-16 In-person

Classes are 45 mins and consist of:-

• Warm-up (Aerial and Acro mat work)
  
• Aerial Conditioning and inverts
  
• Aerial Flexibility and spinning
  
• Aerial moves
• Cool-down (back on the mat to finish)
  

photocredit Brent McCombs @alterego_halifax

Current

Kerri is an International Aerial Ambassador for SpinCity 2024. As an ambassador Kerri ​represents her love of aerial fabric and unique approach to aerial sling. As well as her thrist ​to always learn!

Please follow this link to check out what they offer!

@AERIAL_KERRI will be sharing discount codes throughout 2024!

https://www.spincityinstructortraining.com

Past student reviews

Emma Shorten (Two daughters taught for 10 years at Italia Conti Plymouth, UK)

"You could not ask for a better coach than Kerri, her warmth, kindness and enthusiasm is clear to see from the first lesson and her absolute love of aerial and dance shines through.

Her support for my daughters has been unwavering even though she is now on the other side of the World!"

Ruby Coleman (Adult and current aerialist)

"Kerri is an amazing teacher she always pushed me to be my very best and made me feel confident in what i was doing. Her choreography was always beautiful and i loved performing it,she also is very clear at explaining how to get In to positions and how to get out of one’s that you didn’t necessarily mean to get in to safely. Kerri is a kind and supportive person and I’m so grateful to have had her as my teacher and mentor".

Charlie Tearall (Level 3 Performing arts student at Yeovil Colllege).

"Kerri was extremely helpful and always pushed us to try our hardest and push our skills but never pushed us too far. She was always great to work with and always believed in us and always had a great attitude. She was extremely nice and supportive in all ways 😁"

Trish Hannah (Daughter taught between age 6 and 10).

"Kerri has been everything I would want in an Aerial coach and more! She is professional, patient, extremely talented, fantastic with all children including my daughter who has excelled in her ability to perform new moves but more importantly her confidence has soared since attending classes with Kerri. Highly recommended".

Past Work

Tidal Wave, 2024

‘’When Kerri Heslop entered and started to work on the choreography, she brought out the ways I naturally move to help express myself and the meaning of the song, and she truly helped me to achieve the visual aesthetic I was going for which I had previously thought was impossible. Our dance inspirations included Graham technique and elements of ballet. Tidal Wave the song was originally about a heart-breaking romantic relationship, but I love that we explored the meaning of the relationship with the self in this interpretation. I want fans to take away from it that you can do anything that you set your mind to, and that letting go, although terrifying and seemingly impossible, can lead to things far beyond what you can imagine. I guess it’s about transformation and this is a huge departure for me. I changed my body to make this video. I really had to step outside of my comfort zone’’

Alana Yorke.

Full article here: www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2024/02/28/alana-yorke-tidal-preludium/