We trust them to keep us safe and frequently to lift our butts. We get to see them at the studio. We often share much of our lives with them; frequently entrusting them with our secrets and life happenings. Who are these magical creatures I speak of? They are the instructors who make up Aerial Dance. And now, you get to learn a little more about them as we continue the “Meet the Instructor” series.
Today, you get to learn about the manager of the Green Bay (DePere) studio, Kim. Kim has been around almost as long as Aerial Dance has been. She joined the studio almost 12 years ago. Being a competitive dancer in high school and a college cheerleader, something in her life was missing. Kim was missing the outlet of being able to move her body for her. Something, many of us, myself included have found by being a part of the Aerial Dance community.
When asked to describe herself as an aerial move, Kim said “Lion on hoop – it’s extremely versatile, but kind of awkward and uncomfortable.” And anyone who has gotten to know Kim, knows she is indeed versatile. She is able to teach all of the classes Aerial Dance has to offer, however, her favorites to teach are Dance Cardio, Advanced 2 Pole, or Upper Level Hoop.
Continuing with favorites, Kim’s favorite move on the pole is velcro butt. (Which is a fabulous pose for pictures if you ever do a photoshoot.) And on the hoop, Kim’s favorite move is a Russian Split. On the top of the not so favorite list, or the list of moves Kim never feels the need to touch again, is Spatchcock. And even though she is a magical creature, Kim also has those moves she works at and works at and works at and then they finally click. Some, like Machine Gun, have continued to haunt her.
Kim has spent much of her aerial career following, learning from, working with, and getting to know Heidi Coker. Heidi is an amazing athlete and personality in the aerial/pole community having competed for many years and continuing her journey leading classes and workshops across the world. (Having taken one of Heidi’s workshops, I would agree, with Kim when she says “she is just an amazing athlete, teacher, and human.”)
While Kim names Heidi Coker as her inspiration. Many of us at the studio look to her, Kim, as our inspiration. The reasons for inspiration, while they vary from student to student, likely revolve around the way Kim answered a few of the questions. When asked her favorite part of being an instructor, she stated “getting to help other women on their fitness journey, teaching about how the body works and showing women how awesome this tool they get to work with is.” And she further shared how it is surprising to her, how she has come to care more about others getting the new tricks or accomplishing new things than she is getting the new tricks herself.
Regarding joining Aerial Dance and then becoming an instructor, Kim shares she was surprised with how much her body changed, and that her mental health has also been highly impacted, for the better.
If you have yet to take a Kim class, she self-described her instructor style as “organized chaos.” You can show up for a class and have fun doing all the things Kim wants to do. Preparing herself for class looks like checking the roster, eating “a little snackie so I don’t get the hangries” and ensuring she has a cold and ready beverage to keep her hydrated. PS- If you have not taken a Kim class, I highly suggest you do! And you may even hear her current favorite song to dance to, a slow and moody, Zombie by Yungblud.
