STUDIO UPDATES & SPECIAL EVENTS

Welcome to the Circus – FREE Class for Brand New Students
July 11th from 4:30-6:00pm

Welcome to the circus is the perfect introduction to the exciting world of aerial arts! This 90 minute aerial arts class is for complete beginners and offers the opportunity to explore a variety of aerial apparatuses, including Silks, Sling, Lyra, and Trapeze. Class begins with a gentle warm-up, followed by an introduction to each apparatus. Students will learn foundational skills and beginner-friendly tricks that provide a glimpse into what the aerial arts world is all about. The class concludes with a guided cool-down. Students are welcome to focus on a single apparatus, but are encouraged to try them all! This class is specifically designed for individuals who have never experienced aerial arts and are ready to take the leap. Only first-time students at Empyrean Arts and those with no prior aerial experience are eligible to enroll. Participants should wear leggings or full-length pants without zippers or buttons, along with a shirt that fully covers the torso. No previous strength, fitness, or athletic experience is required. All bodies, backgrounds, and humans are welcome.

How to sign up: first create your student account on empyreanarts.org, then email us at empyreanartsinfo@gmail.com and be sure to include your full name as it is listed on your student account. If you’re unable to attend class for any reason, please cancel your reservation on your student account so that those on the waitlist have the opportunity to sign up!

Empyrean Arts Kids Circus Camp July 2026 Ages 6-11, $250 per Kiddo

Join us for our Empyrean Arts Kids Circus Summer Camp July 27 – 31  2026! Our Circus Kiddos will learn tricks and skills and have ample playtime on Aerial Hoop (aka Lyra), Aerial Sling, Aerial Silks, Trapeze. Students will be introduced to Flow Arts like hula hoop dancing and other Circus disciplines like Hand Balancing and Flexibility, and will also learn how to do face painting and fun sparkly circus style makeup. This half day circus camp week will conclude with a student showcase on Friday July 31st where family and friends are welcome to see what we’ve been working on all week!

Schedule Overview for Monday-Thursday 10am-1pm Half Day Camp

  • 10:00-10:30am Group Warm-Up
  • 10:30-11:30am Aerial Arts (Monday-Silks&Sling, Tuesday-Trapeze&Lyra, Wednesday-Silks&Sling, Thursday-Trapeze&Lyra)
  • 11:30-11:45am Break-Time/Snack-Time
  • 11:45am-12:15pm Circus Explorations (Monday-Flow Arts, Tuesday-Hand Balancing and Flexibility, Wednesday-Flow Arts, Thursday-Hand Balancing and Flexibility)
  • 12:15-12:30pm Act Creation & Rehearsal Time
  • 12:30-12:45pm Freestyle Play Time
  • 12:45-1:00pm Group Cool Down

Friday Schedule Overview

  • 10:30-11:00am Group Warm-Up
  • 11:00-12:00pm Circus Make-Up and Show Prep
  • 12:00-12:30pm Showtime!
Baywatch Bungee 4 Week Series for Sandcastle Dreams Show with Zoe SarvisJuly 31, August 7, August 14, and August 21 from 6:30 PM–8:30 PM. Series cost is $150 per person 

Grab your sunscreen and your best slow run, Baywatch Headquarters is buzzing with emergency calls as riptides pull, jellyfish sting, and rumors spread of a mysterious mermaid spotted near the shore. Mitch Buchannen needs YOU to bounce into action. This four-week Baywatch Bungee Series is packed with adventure, fitness, and fun. Students can expect a full-body, low-impact workout with soaring dives, dramatic slow-motion runs, and high-energy bungee movement that feels more like a day at the beach than a trip to the gym. The series will end with a performance in the 11 year Birthday Party & Show, Sandcastle Dreams, on Saturday August 29, where students will have the opportunity to show off the skills, choreography, and tan lines they’ve built.  No Bungee, Aerial, or performance experience is required—everyone is welcome to join the rescue team! There is a dress rehearsal for this show on Friday August 28th and folks in this series will need to attend the rehearsal. This series classes will run on Fridays July 31, August 7, August 14, and August 21 from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM. Series cost is $150 per person.

Drop-In Classes with Jax Spencer
Friday, August 14th – use your class credits to sign up!

BASE-IC Trix & Transitions (All Levels Welcome), 5:15pm: Join Jax for the lowest forms of trickery you can create on the pole! From knee hooks and low pirouettes to pole-assisted shoulder stands, rolls and more! Feeling stuck in your flows or tired of using repetivitve skills? Learn how to get UP and how to get DOWN and how to move all around. Utilize these fun fundamentals in your own flows or combinations!

Low Flow Baddies (All Levels Welcome), 6:30pm: Create poetry on the pole during this class! Bring your heels and one fierce attitude! Dancing WITH (not just around) the pole can turn into an art form! While you’re getting the benefits of cardio during your dancing, you’re letting your creative side do the talking. Jax will show you sassy moves with smooth transitions and slinktastic flow! Each class choreography is different! Heels, knee-high socks, leggings and knee pads welcome!
TWERK IT (Off Pole, All Levels), 7:45pm: Twerk It! is all legs, core & filled with cardio and fun! From video girl vixen moves to simple wiggles & shakes – Twerking is the new dance fad! Muscle isolations make your booty pop, clap and more! We Twerk standing, squatting, walking, on the floor, on the pole, on the wall – there is even Twerk challenges and partner work! Jax will leave you with homework for pole class or just a night out! Each workshop has a unique differences so you won’t want to miss it!

Call for Performers/Save the Date!

For Empyrean Art’s 11 Year Birthday Party & Showcase this year on Saturday August 29th we will be weaving together a special performing arts story called Sandcastle Dreams, and we are inviting interested performers to apply who are interested.

Please email Heather at empyreanartsnc@gmail.com with your ocean or beach themed story, folklore, or fairy tale and general act idea. If you are interested in performing and would like to see a list of stories to choose from to curate your piece from then send Heather an email about that as well.

Aerial Dance in Harness Workshops with Emily Stratton
September 26th and 27th, $40 each or $100 for all three!

Intro to Aerial Dance in Harness Workshop – Saturday 9/26, 3:30-5pm

Aerial Harness is a unique and minimalist apparatus that supports one’s weight at the hips to allow the artist to both connect with the ground and explore space at any height. Glide, spin, hover and swing your way into a new world of artistic possibility! In this workshop you will learn about safety practices and the varied possibilities of movement in harness through a balance of skill acquisition and prompts for exploration.

What’s included? Floor warm up and intro to body mechanics, Intro to equipment and safety checks, Warm up in Harness, Low flow, “Floating” movement, Dynamic movement, Creative exploration, Cool down

Important Student Info: Please wear high waisted pants, a leotard/unitard or any clothing that covers your waist and thighs. This is to protect your skin.

Pre-Reqs: All levels, no prior experience required. Physically active at any level. Please take note that lumbar spine or pelvis issues can be irritated by spending time with weight in a harness. Consult with your physician or physical therapist before taking this workshop. Harnesses can feel uncomfortable after a while, feel free to bring additional layers for your lower half. Avoid eating a large meal or drinking acidic beverages right before/during the workshop. This can lead to nausea. Please bring a water bottle.

Low Flow Harness Dance Workshop – Saturday 9/26 5:15-6:45pm

In this all-levels workshop you will continue your harness dance journey by connecting the dots between the floor and air. We lean into methods of finding ease of movement in our harness, learn more complex movements, and find a flow that enables you to truly dance. There will be opportunities to explore, create and find your unique voice.

What’s included? Floor warm up, Warm up in harness, Low flow group movement, Techniques to incorporate into your flow, Guided flow, Creative exploration, Cool down

Important Student Info: Please wear high waisted pants, a leotard/unitard or any clothing that covers your waist and thighs. This is to protect your skin. Harnesses can feel uncomfortable after a while, feel free to bring additional layers for your lower half. Avoid eating a large meal or drinking acidic beverages right before/during the workshop. This can lead to nausea. You can snack throughout.Please bring a water bottle.

Pre-Reqs: Intro to Aerial Dance in Harness workshop (or equivalent experience) is recommended but not required.
Please take note that lumbar spine or pelvis issues can be irritated by spending time with weight in a harness. Consult with your physician or physical therapist before taking this workshop.

Choreography for Harness Workshop – Sunday 9/27 7-8:30pm

Ready to learn some new choreography in harness? Emily’s choreography emphasizes connecting with the floor, air and apparatus in ways that have been described as “sensory”, “buttery” and “expressive”. While the choreography is largely pre-set, Emily feels that it is important that each student embraces and shares their personality. This means that the opportunity to add one’s own flavor is baked into the choreographic whole. Let’s dance!

Important Student Info: Please wear high waisted pants, a leotard/unitard or any clothing that covers your waist and thighs. This is to protect your skin. Harnesses can feel uncomfortable after a while, feel free to bring additional layers for your lower half. Avoid eating a large meal or drinking acidic beverages right before/during the workshop. This can lead to nausea. You can snack throughout. Please bring a water bottle.

Pre-Reqs: Intro to Aerial Dance in Harness workshop (or equivalent experience) is recommended but not required.Please take note that lumbar spine or pelvis issues can be irritated by spending time with weight in a harness. Consult with your physician or physical therapist before taking this workshop.