André Simard, a former Olympic gymnast who co-founded the National Circus School and began working with Cirque du Soleil as an acrobatic choreographer in 1987, is credited with developing the discipline of aerial silks into what it is today. Throughout the 1990s, silks began appearing regularly in circus performances and became recognized as its own circus discipline.
When I returned to the Comox Valley in 2013, I was looking for a physical outlet and a place to make new friends. While flipping through the good old Comox Valley Recreation Guide, I found an adult aerial class at the Lewis Centre through 7 Story Circus. My only previous exposure to aerial arts had been at a music festival where artists performed impressive, complicated, ethereal routines. The thought of becoming an aerialist myself felt powerful.
For the first few years, I treated aerials as a casual interest and would attend sessions when I had extra time. Only in the last five years have I dedicated time to pushing myself further.
I didn’t expect circus arts to play such a major role in my adult life, yet here I am—totally hooked.
When I started attending classes, I was surprised to discover a whole circus community. Aerialists of all skill levels, from age seven to well into their fifties, practice weekly in Courtenay. My first few classes were hard; I could barely lift myself off the ground. I persevered, strength trained outside of the aerials gym, and enjoyed the physical challenge. Unexpectedly, aerials came to mean something much deeper to me.
“My mind is truly quiet in a way that I have otherwise only experienced while rock climbing”
An aerials class is a collaborative and uplifting experience. Students bounce ideas off one another, celebrate each other, and offer guidance when working on new skills or routines. Aerial silks offer an opportunity for creative expression, and I’ve seen many classmates come out of their shells, displaying unexpected confidence and strength. At the end of the season, each student is given the opportunity to choreograph their own solo or group routine. We perform to friends and family throughout the year and have a show for the public each June.
Aerial silks isn’t just physically demanding; it requires, and induces, uninterrupted mental focus. When I’m up there, I enter a flow state. My mind is truly quiet in a way that I have otherwise only experienced while rock climbing. Time slows down, and I consider each moment. Where I place my hands and feet, and the careful way in which I wrap the fabric around my body, are intentional.
After a few years, I found that one class a week just wasn’t enough; I needed more silk time. Through a friend, I found a homemade aerials tripod for sale. The owner had built it for his daughter who no longer used it, and he was happy to see me give it a new life. It now stands in my backyard and helps create a beautiful setting to practice my art. With the help of my partner, I also rigged up silks in our living room. Now I can practice at home all year.
I’m still surprised at how silks has become part of my identity—it’s no longer just a hobby. Practicing aerials is a celebration of the love I have for my body and all the things it can do. It is the perfect balance of strength and beauty. When I pull, push, and stretch myself into new positions, it is a meditation and an expression of my spirit. The deep satisfaction and enjoyment I experience when practicing has shaped my life, reminding me that leaving my comfort zone behind and sticking with something hard can have immense rewards.
I plan on being an aerialist for the rest of my life. My second pregnancy has put a pause on my regular practice, but, as soon as I’m able to get back up there, I’ll pick up where I left off.
A leap of faith
7 Story Circus teaches aerial and circus arts to kids, youth, and adults. The company was started in 2012 by aerial artist, instructor, and performer Kaya Kehl, who apprenticed for six years with Robyn Fox of Flying Fox Circus. “When Robyn moved away from the Comox Valley,” says Kaya, “I took a leap of faith and established 7 Story Circus.”
Kaya continues to learn from esteemed aerial artists and circus coaches. As a teacher, she focuses on individual expressive movement and skill building—and having fun—in a supportive, safe environment. Some alumni have gone on to study at Ecole Nationale de Cirque in Montreal and become professional circus artists; others now work as writers, actors, artists, and in the film industry.
“When I started 7SC I had hoped to build on our vibrant circus community here in the Valley,” she says. “We’ve been really fortunate to share our artistic vision and continue to grow.”
