Meet Our Talented Aerial Dance
Performers and Instructors
Sophie Atkinson
Sophie fell in love with aerial arts in 2021 and quickly found herself wanting to make it a bigger part of her life. She began coaching at Aerial Cirque Over Denver in 2023 after completing her teacher training through ACOD, and now serves as the studio’s full-time Director of Operations. She loves exploring the unique challenges of each apparatus and has recently become especially interested in contortion.
Whether she’s helping keep the studio running or sharing her love of movement with students, Sophie is passionate about being part of ACOD’s aerial community. Outside the studio, you can usually find her with a crochet project, getting lost in a good book, or spending time with friends and family.
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.
Gabbie Gibson
Gabbie began her aerial journey in 2018 on lyra, and quickly expanded her training to include sling and fabric—three apparatuses she continues to love and explore. Since then, she has continued to grow her skills and artistry, and began teaching in 2024.
Outside of the studio, Gabbie enjoys LARPing and writing fantasy stories, bringing the same creativity and imagination from her storytelling into her aerial work.
Mishka Hudela
Mishka is aerialist with years of dedicated training across all apartuses in the art, with a focus on fabric. She immediately fell in love with the circus community and the aerial artform. As a graduate of ACOD’s teacher training program, she works with students of all ages, with a strong focus on safety, proper technique, and supportive guidance. Passionate about helping others grow, she creates a positive, serene environment in every class. When she’s not in the studio, she enjoys reading, spending time with her cats, and going on adventures.
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, falling in love with silks before exploring other apparatuses, including straps. She balances coaching, performing, and competing, most recently earning the title of 2026 Aerialympics All Star Silks Champion.
With over 18 years of dance training, including collegiate-level competition and performance, Tess emphasizes clean technique, intentional transitions, musicality, and artistry to help students create expressive, compelling performances.
Outside the studio, Tess is passionate about cross-training through weightlifting, calisthenics, and endurance sports. She enjoys challenging herself through ultra-endurance water sports, tactical fitness, and long-distance races.
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.
Andria Rabenold-Seaver
Andria Rabenold-Seaver is an aerial artist and instructor with a background in dance, theatre, and gymnastics. She specializes in dynamic aerial choreography that blends technical precision with expressive movement, and she is particularly passionate about helping students develop strength, confidence, and artistic voice in the air. In addition to coaching at Aerial Cirque Over Denver, Andria performs and choreographs aerial work across a variety of apparatuses, including lyra, duo trapeze, silks, and chains. She brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to her teaching, creating a supportive environment where students can challenge themselves, refine their technique, and discover new possibilities in their movement.
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.
