Meet Our Talented Aerial Dance
Performers and Instructors
Sophie Baur
Sophie was introduced to aerial in 2021 and immediately fell in love! She started teaching for ACOD in 2023 after shadowing and learning extensively from Kara Moder and completing the ACOD Teacher Training. Sophie is also ACOD’s full-time Operations Manager! In addition to her passion for aerial, Sophie is an avid piano player, reader, and skier.
Katie Brunner
Katie became immersed in the aerial world in 2009 when she began taking classes at S-Connection Aerial Arts in Gainesville, Florida. She completed her teacher training under the guidance of the Brazilian-trained circus artist Corey David deSouza and relocated to Denver in 2012. Her performance highlights include the 2014 Irish Aerial Dance Festival, 2015 Decadence NYE, and 2016 Colorado Pole Championship. Katie is a passionate teacher, performer, and student of the wide world of circus.
Kimberly Liska
Kimberly is a Denver-born circus artist with a deep love for movement and performance. She began her aerial journey with five years of training in lyra and silks before diving into formal contortion training in 2021. Her dedication led her to study under renowned Mongolian contortionists in Las Vegas, where she elevated her skills and set her sights on a career in both performance and coaching.
Committed to understanding the body beyond the stage, Kimberly is also a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). She actively continues her education in wellness, recovery, and sports medicine to support her students and her own practice.
Kimberly’s greatest passions include flexibility training, holistic wellness, and—of course—cats!
Nicole Londraville
Nicole was working as a scientist in the Boston area when she took her first aerial class in 2012. She was instantly hooked and began dreaming of running away and joining the circus. For the next five years, Nicole worked in Biotech by day and trained circus nightly. In 2017, she was accepted into the New England Center for Circus Art’s (NECCA) Protrack Program. Without hesitation, she moved to Vermont with her husband, dog, and two cats. There she spent two years training circus full time under NECCA’s world-class coaches. Nicole graduated in June 2019 with a major in aerial rope and minor in cyr wheel. She then moved to Denver and teaches both aerial and cyr wheel!
Tess Lozensky
Tess discovered aerial arts in 2012 and quickly fell in love with the discipline, dedicating herself to building strong technique across silks, lyra, trapeze, sling, and partner acro. Her commitment paid off in June 2023 when she earned first place in Advanced Silks at Aerialympics Nationals. With over 17 years of dance training and experience competing at the collegiate level with UDA, Tess brings a deep understanding of choreography, musicality, and stage presence. She knows how to guide students in creating performances that are not only technically sound but artistically captivating. Tess is thrilled to share her competitive experience, movement knowledge, and love for performance with the ACOD Competition Team!
Katherine Mechler
Katherine embarked on her aerial journey in 2022 as a student at Aerial Cirque Over Denver, where she quickly fell in love with the art form. By 2024, she had completed ACOD’s ACE-certified Level 1/2 teacher training, driven by a desire to share her passion for aerial dance with others. In addition to teaching, Katherine is dedicated to her growth as an aerial artist, using her dance background to explore musicality in the air. Beyond the studio, she works in media technology and enjoys reading, kayaking, and immersing herself in role-playing games.
Kara Moder
Kara is an aerialist by day and night who teaches dance trapeze, silks, sling, rope, and double point lyra. Her passion for aerial innovation was honed over Level 1 and 2 teacher trainings with Paper Doll Militia, Alex Allan, and Vault Aerial Arts. As a performer, Kara specializes in dazzling blindfolded aerial acts. Kara first found her love for aerial arts in 2011 while taking community classes in Cardiff, Wales. After finishing her Masters degree in Neuroimaging Methods and Applications in 2014, she decided to return to the USA and pursue her dream career as an aerialist. When she isn’t in the air, Kara can be found gaming, playing piano, and hiking.
Nadja Tizer
Nadja is an independent artist and cosmetologist by day and a circus artist by night. Her aerial career began as one of the first students at Aerial Cirque Over Denver, where she went on to become a senior instructor. In 2009, she became a certified aerial yoga instructor. Later, Nadja completed her level one teacher training with Rain Anya/Born to Fly. Nadja’s teaching style is informed and complimented by years as a primary school teacher.