Ascend Aerial Arts

Ascend Aerial Arts offers aerial silks, aerial straps, and aerial rope classes, along with aerial fitness classes and handstands training. The program includes an intro to aerial silks class, ongoing aerial silks session classes, aerial drop-in classes, and a structured aerial silks program with beginner through advanced levels. Ascend Aerial Arts also offers private aerial silks parties and an aerial placement assessment for students with sufficient prior training.

• Ages: 12–18 years old
• Schedule: Session aerial classes run as a series over a specific period, typically a month

The aerial silks program teaches essential skills, silks safety, the art of performing, and silks technique and theory, and states that aerial fabrics is a progressive skill that must start with foundational basics before more advanced skills. Aerial silks, straps, and rope classes are described as designed to build strength, flexibility, and confidence and are noted as perfect for students 12 and up with good overall health. Students ages 12 and up with at least 2 years of previous experience training with a professional instructor or studio may schedule an aerial assessment, and video submissions are not accepted for this assessment.

Ascend Aerial Arts offers makeups for students enrolled in session classes when an absence form is submitted at least 48 hours before the class date and time, and students who purchase drop-ins may cancel up to 4 hours before class time to keep credit using the app or website. The program invites visiting guest instructors with expertise in aerial silks, aerial straps, aerial rope, handstands training, and circus physical therapy, and partners with Artletic Science, Paper Doll Militia, Trapeze Arts Inc., Night Owl Circus Arts, and circus physical therapists. They emphasize that aerial silks involve significant risk, promote safety education for the aerial community, advise never training alone, state that social media channels such as YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram are not appropriate for learning aerial silks, recommend training in a safe and prepared space with a minimum of 14 feet of height and 6 feet of width of unobstructed space in every direction with a crash mat, and state not to hang aerial apparatus on trees ever.

Ascend Aerial Arts describes itself as a vibrant San Carlos community passionate about recreational classes in aerial silks, aerial straps, and aerial rope in a supportive environment. The leadership team includes Program Manager Tammy Shueh and multiple instructors: Aerial Straps Instructor Ariel Tal; Aerial Silks Instructors Camille Yabut, Claire Lewis, Connie Ng, Katerina Adamos-Jardine, Laura Cornwell, Tzvetelina Tzeneva, Anouck Iyer, and Susan Nery; and Aerial Silks & Rope Instructor Colleen Richey and Aerial Rope Instructor Sommer Panage. The program began in March 2014, held its first full student showcase and scratch show in December 2014, has produced at least one showcase annually since then with a brief hiatus during pandemic-related studio closures, and resumed showcases in 2023.

Parent and student comments describe knowledgeable, talented, patient, and skilled instructors, a clean and well-kept building, a fun way to develop upper body and core strength, and memorable experiences in aerial silks classes and birthday parties. Ascend Aerial Arts notes that it serves families in Belmont, San Mateo, Foster City, Redwood City, and San Carlos.

Last updated May 16, 2026.