The first GravityWorks show I was a part of was called “Fenomenon.”

I was seventeen years old and I had just joined the circus. I was still fairly new at climbing the fabric and was only able to do a couple of movements, but Nisha Ferguson, GravityWorks founder and director, put me in a pink and black striped suit with a little hat strapped to my head and had me learn choreography. This particular show was cabaret meets carnival meets 1930s-bearded-lady circus. There were enthralling hoop routines that spun so fast it made the audience sick, and edge-of-your-seat doubles trapeze performances where you were sure someone was going to go flying through the air and onto the audience.

At that time I didn’t understand all that entailed putting on a circus show - the music, coming up with a storyline, the making of and rehearsing choreography, the four times a week strength training, the making of the aerial equipment and not to mention designing and making of costumes and backdrops. All I had to worry about was when to run out on stage to do my single cartwheel.

As I grew with the circus, it was apparent how much work was put into a single show. For starters, as a group we had to get along. Leaning on each other was a literal exercise we had to do on a daily basis. We were forced to conquer our greatest fears by allowing others to hold us up in the air by our feet and balance our body weight while upside down. The growth experience we all went through was like no other.

Check out this video from the show and see Nisha and Ceci hanging from the trapeze!

Soon I began to help putting on what became to be the very first aerial Nutcracker show that our young ensemble “GravityKids” performed. Under the guidance and instruction of Ana Cecilia Corona, a GravityWorks member, we managed to come up with at least twenty choreographies in the air and on the ground for kids ages five to fifteen. I painted all of the stage backdrops without previous experience in the craft, Ana Cecilia designed all of the costumes, and away we went with a sold out show in the same theater we performed “Fenomenon”. It took us almost a year to put it all together.

The bond and friendships with students we created from that very first show are still strong eleven years later. A lot of those initial students went on to continue to perform under Ana Cecilia for years to come, and her shows only became more spectacular.

Click here to read more about GravityKids shows that were presented.

When Nisha decided to put on her biggest and last show, I was older and more or less had a better understanding of the undertaking. This show took us two years to perfect before bringing it to the stage.

“Spin Out” was my last GravityWorks show before I left Mexico and moved to the US.

Training for this 60s-hippie show was a rite of passage for me.

I was forced to let go of a lot of my fears, and learn to trust and rely on people. I eventually became mentally and physically stronger for this performance along with this group of people who had become my family.

Watch this video of the show - a triple trapeze routine where I was held, swung and did something called “The Pickle” upside down.

Being a part of these shows taught me teamwork, inner growth, physical strength, movement and coordination, artistry, friendship and community that cultivated an unbreakable trust that I cherish forever.

GravityWorks in Yellow Springs, Ohio

Now that GravityWorks has expanded into the US, my new partner in circus, Kayla Graham, and I are excited to share this wealth of experience with you in the small Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio.

My job is no longer to only do a single cartwheel, but to take on the grand Odyssey that is putting on a show with lots to think about and put into motion.

Kayla, who has extensive knowledge and experience in theater and stage combat, brings even more to this table. Adding the theatrical aspect to our shows will hopefully push the boundaries of our previous circus shows and create an even bigger community amongst all artists in town.

We are currently artists in residency at Antioch College’s Foundry Theater which has recently been revived by alumni Chris Westhoff and we could not be more happy to work with him in this cozy space.

If you are interested in joining us on this journey of showmanship in aerial circus theater, Join Our Ensemble!

Read more and sign up for our ensemble here:

If you want to watch the show that our ensemble will perform in July 13th and 14th, 2024, click below to read details:

If you are living in Mexico, or want to visit and take circus classes with GravityWorks Mexico run by Ana Cecilia Corona, click here for more information: