Performing in the 2016 Green Show on Saturday, September 10 and Thursday, September 29
This is their sixth season at the OSF Green Show.
Empowering aerial dance performance on Aerial Silks, Hammock, and Trapeze
The Curtain Climbers Aerial Dance Company is a collective of aerialists from Southern Oregon who enjoy inspiring and empowering their audiences with their passion for aerial arts through artistic performance.
The company’s current members are Susan Chester (Director) Jessica Monarch (Co-Director), Karen Bolda, Jordie Campbell, Shalako Lee, Kae Vogel, Stefani Gissel, and Teraza Doty.
Director Susan Chester first discovered aerial silks in 2006 and soon after began performing and teaching aerial silks to students in the Rogue Valley, adding it to her lifelong repertoire of varied dance and athletic experience. In 2007, she formed The Curtain Climbers Aerial Dance Company, which performs regularly at various locations in the Rogue Valley and surrounding area. In addition, Susan is proprietor of The Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant in Ashland, Oregon, which she established in 1992, and where The Curtain Climbers perform each First Friday in conjunction with the Ashland Art Walk.
Co-Director Jessica Monarch has loved dancing and performing for as long as she can remember. From a young age she became involved in Gymnastics and a variety of dance styles. Jessica continued dancing through her youth and once in high school, she joined the state champion dance team. Her love of movement and the connection with the body led her into finding Pilates and beginning a practice of core strengthening work. In 2006, Jessica became a certified Pilates Instructor. She continues to teach Pilates as well as Aerial Yoga Play, which she was certified for in January of 2015. After many years of also having a love and appreciation for the aerial arts, Jessica began to take Trapeze lessons in 2014. She quickly fell in love with trapeze and continued to take lessons until she was accepted in as an apprentice with The Curtain Climbers in January 2015! Jessica plans to continue learning and growing as an aerial artist for as long as she physically can!
Karen Bolda discovered aerial dance after being advised to seek out low impact activities after herniating a disc. Hanging on a wooden bar proved to be just the thing to help heal her back! But she also became smitten, and never went back to just dancing on the ground, preferring to fly. Karen has been working exclusively on dance trapeze for over five years, but with the encouragement and support of her fellow Curtain Climbers, has added silks to her repertoire.
Jordie Campbell has a performance background in gymnastics and dance styles ranging from jazz and contemporary to house and break dancing. Some of her highest achievements include winning 2nd in state in gymnastics, dancing for companies such as Nike, Burton, and Blackberry, as well as competing in an international female breakdancing competition. Eventually, she began training and performing aerial with AWOL dance collective in Portland, Oregon and fell in love with silks. After some time in Portland, she moved to Southern Oregon and began actively performing and training with the Curtain Climbers. Three years strong, Jordie is passionate to continue training in the aerial arts.
Shalako Lee first brought her hoop dancing skills to our company while studying aerial silks in 2013. She now performs both skills with a grace and charm that is uniquely her own, and is happy to be performing with this amazing group of friends and creative artists.
The Curtain Climbers Aerial Dance Company on Community:
The Curtain Climbers are part of the communities of dance, aerial arts, circus arts, performance art, theatre, gymnastics, athletics, yoga and fitness. We collaborate with local artists with a variety of performance skills, and work with event producers to create exciting performances for the local community.
The Curtain Climbers collaborate often with local dancers including belly dancer Emily Alrick, and join Dancing People Company in their annual Winter Solstice production.
www.thecurtainclimbers.com