@ Nimble Arts LakeSide Studio

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When; Oct 15-19, 2025

Where: LakeSide Studio, Tinmouth, VT

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Treat yourself to a special aerial train-cation retreat in the beauty of Vermont in the Fall. This Nimble Arts workshop at their LakeSide Studio features group and one-on-one instruction with world-renowned aerial instructors Elsie Smith and Serenity Forchion. With lodging on site and a custom-built aerial studio, the workshop includes home-cooked meals and a beautiful lakeside location.

 

You’ll experience guidedstretching sessions, private skill building lessons on your apparatus of choice, and group creative

sessions to bring flow and purpose to your aerial work. Guided hikes, lively conversations, video sharing, bonfires, canoeing, rest and relaxation round out the experience. On the final day of the workshop participants will have a chance to present their creative work in an optional and casual public performance.

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This retreat is a collaboration between Nimble Arts and Cirque Du Gold Standard, specifically for aerialists age 45+ and will be guided by the theme of storytelling. As we move through the program this will become different things to different people, either through direct acts of telling stories, or in using storymaking concepts to develop aerial sequences and performances.

 

To start us off, please bring

●a song you would like to move to

●a story (written or more casual) to share the first day based on the prompt “when I faced a

crossroad/why I ran away and joined the circus”​​

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Cost: $1250 all inclusive (all meals, double occupancy lodging, instruction, train or airport pickup from Rutland, VT)

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Apparatus: static / dance trapeze, fabric, rope, sling/hammock, lyra/hoop, straps. Please inquire about other apparatus including duo.

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Size: 6 participants

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Pre-requisites: Participants should have current aerial practice, the stamina to be in

the air for periods of time, and be capable of executing a variety of skills without spotting or prompts from a coach.

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Add on: Sunday photo / video shoot: $100 per person

About LakeSide Studio: nimblearts.org

 

SAMPLE SCHEDULE (subject to change)

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Wednesday Oct 15

1:00 pm Arrival

1:30 pm Welcome & aerial activities

6 pm Dinner

Evening Creative Session

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Thurs Oct 16

8 am Breakfast

9 am Warm up

1030 am Group Aerial session

12:15 pm Lunch

2 - 5 pm One-on-one lessons & open training

5 pm cool down

6 pm Dinner

Evening Group Activity

 

Fri Oct 17

8 am Breakfast

9 am Warm up

10:30 am-12 pm Group Aerial Session

12:15 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Fall foliage hike, waterfall or free time

6 pm Dinner

Evening Group Activity

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Sat Oct 18

8 am Breakfast

9 am Warm up

1030 am Group Aerial session

12:15 pm Lunch

2 - 5 pm One-on-one lessons & open training

5 pm cool down

6 pm Dinner

Evening Group Activity

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Sun Oct 19

8 am Breakfast

9 am warm up

11 am Casual performance

12:15 pm Lunch: wrap up discussion & departures

1:30 - 4 pm Photo / video shoots if desired (cost not included)

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QUESTIONS

How do I reserve my spot and pay?

Email nimblearts@gmail.com and we’ll send you a link to pay $250. Two additional payments of $500 will be due on Sept 1 and Oct 1.

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What is the aerial studio like?

Nimble Arts’ LakeSide Studio is a custom built circus and movement space. It is located on land historic

to the Sokoki - Abenaki tribe, midway between the modern day towns of Manchester and Rutland, in an

area known for historic marble quarries. Hand built with wood sourced on the property and milled on site,

it features an 18' ceiling with adjustable rigging points, open floor plan, acrobatic mats, and natural light.

With a mini-split for heating and cooling, a wood stove and radiant heat floors, a lake alongside and

housing nearby, it is designed to support artists at work and at play through all seasons.

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What is lodging like?

Our home has a dining area for 16+

, a large rec room with a ping pong table, and a screened in porch

overlooking the lake. Year round activities include swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, biking, skating and more.

 

There are three double occupancy rooms. Each room has a queen bed plus a twin mattress on the floor, next to a bathroom. One room is on the main floor with one step up to the house for those with accessibility needs. All bedding & towels are provided. Not - we do have two cats who spend most of their time out-of-doors and are not allowed in the bedrooms.How do I get there? We are appx. 3 ½ hrs from Boston, and 4 ½ hrs from NYC by car. The Amtrak train comes to Rutland

and Manchester, and there are flights from Boston to Rutland Regional Airport.

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About Elsie & Serenity

Elsie Smith and Serenty Forchion are the founders of the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA)

and Nimble Arts. Together they performed for Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco for 4 years as duo trapezist.

Their performances have garnered the bronze medal at the Internat’l Festival de Circo and the Special

Award at the China Wuqiau Internat’l Circus Festival. They have taught and choreographed for many

companies including Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cirque du Soleil, Circus Smirkus, Frequent

Flyers’ Aerial Dance Festival, Pilobolus, VivaFest and Sea World San Antonio. Together they developed a

unique curriculum and teaching methodology for aerial circus arts. Between them they have been

founding members of the American Circus Educators Association’s Safety Committee and the American

Circus Alliance, have served as grant review panelists for the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2016

the sisters won the American Circus Educators’ Award for Excellence in Education and the Walter Cerf

Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts from the Vermont Arts Council.

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