Meet the SanctuAerial Team

CALLIE MCKENZIE

Callie McKenzie’s training is primarily in classic forms of dance performing for dance companies such as Turner Ballet Company, Mendocino Dance Project, Polaris Dance Company, as well as directing her own dance companies, Fort Bragg Repertory Dance Company and The Carmel Delights. Callie’s passion for dance and acrobatic movement were a natural predecessor of circus arts.

Callie was introduced to aerial arts in Mendocino, CA in 2011 where she began training with Circus Mecca. She has performed acrobatic routines with Flynn Creek Circus and Mendocino Dance Project. Callie continued her training with Aerial Arts of Santa Cruz under the direction of Erin Jane Carey leading to partnership and the creation of Cirque Florale. Cirque Florale has been featured at many events throughout California as well as events in Chicago, IL and Seven Springs Resort, PA. Callie began teaching Lyra with Monterey Aerial Arts in 2018 and is incredibly excited to be a part of the development of an aerial program at Sanctuary Climbing and Fitness. Most recent aerial accomplishments include performing aerial for the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival, affiliation with Circopshere a San Francisco based Circus organization, performances at The Speakeasy San Francisco, and at the Ferrari Event in Carmel, CA.

Ramona Hutchinson

Ramona started her aerial journey in 2016 at a small local aerial studio and then continued taking classes at Radical Movement Factory under Emily Knoblauch. She quickly fell in love being upside down and spinning in the air on silks and lyra, and she enjoys spending her free time on both moving to music and occasionally performing. She loves to share the joy and freedom of being up in the air and the sense of accomplishment from circus arts.

Ramona is delighted to be part of the community at Sanctuary Climbing & fitness supporting her fellow aerialists and those new to the art!

Ramona teaches in the Aerial Youth program at SC&F.

20200330-sanctuary-climbing-and-fitness-aerial-instructors-callie-mckenzie.jpg — Callie McKenzie

Melissa RObbins-Eugene

Melissa also started her aerial journey at Sanctuary Climbing & Fitness and fell in love with the combination of strength and creativity it provides. She grew up taking just about any dance class she could, so it felt like a very natural transition from climbing and setting at the gym (Melissa is also one of our managers that you'll see most days!)

She started with a silks class, but quickly jumped into the bar apparatuses, such as lyra and trapeze. Trapeze is her absolute favorite to play on! She's also extended her training with local workshops in Santa Cruz, eager for knowledge, experience, and community. You'll most likely see Melissa enjoying dynamic movement, such as drops and rolls, and is very excited to take on a larger role in our SanctuAerials program.

It is Melissa's aerial dream to have an act that incorporates her cat someday : )

Samantha Clark

Sam started her aerial journey about 10 years ago at Sanctuary Rock Gym in Sand City. Wanting to learn how to climb a rope more efficiently, she joined a silks class and the rest is history. She was a climber converted to the aerial arts. After a few years of intermittent climbing and aerial, Sam returned full-force in late 2022 at Sanctuary Climbing and Fitness.

Sam enjoys the mental and physical challenge of the aerial arts; it's the perfect blend of creativity and strength. She loves to play and explore movement, and brings a playful, enthusiastic attitude to the program. Sam has dabbled in multiple apparatuses and enjoys them all, but favors aerial silks and lyra.

Always one to cheer her fellow aerialists (and people) on, Sam won't usually let you say "I can't do that", but instead "I can't do that...yet!" Sam is thrilled to be a part of the SanctuAerial Team and is excited to spread her love of the aerial arts!

Mikaela Rose Bianchi. Photo by Dylan Silver

Jenna Mann

Jenna was introduced to aerial arts right here at Sanctuary Climbing & Fitness in 2022, and was hooked after her first class. She particularly appreciates how aerial arts allows for the integration of exercise and fitness with graceful aerial performance, while still maintaining the fun! She specializes in aerial silks and dance trapeze, but continues to grow her own skills in other apparatuses such as lyra and aerial hammock. Having grown up playing violin since she was five years old, Jenna also enjoys the opportunity to combine her love of music with aerial arts in both her performance and practice.

Jenna is delighted to now teach at Sanctuary Climbing & Fitness and introduce new artists to the technique, just as previous teachers did for her. Her goal is to provide a fun and enthusiastic learning environment for people of all backgrounds. Whether students are coming to develop a lifelong skill, or to have fun trying something new, she hopes all will enjoy their time with Sanctuaerials at Sanctuary Climbing & Fitness.

Emily Garber

Emily Garber is an aerial artist and instructor. She has an extensive background in theater and dance and started her aerial arts journey in 2016 at Radical Movement Factory in Santa Cruz.
She has trained under esteemed coaches, Allie Cooper, Emily Knoblauch, Terry Crane, Alex Allan, PJ Perry, and Enya White. Emily specializes in vertical apparatuses - primarily aerial fabric, rope, and dance trapeze and in aerial partnering/doubles work. She has been teaching aerial arts since 2020.

In addition to teaching, she is passionate about performing and has had the pleasurer of performing with Circosphere, Circus of the Moon, BiG SuRCuS, Carmel Delights Dance Company, the Speakeasy San Francisco, and for the annual Greenpeace Gala in Oakland. Emily is thrilled to share her love of aerial arts with students at Sanctuary! Her hope is to foster a supportive and welcoming community to anyone interested in learning this beautiful art/sport and to create a safe and fun place for creative exploration in movement.

Mikaela Rose Bianchi

Mikaela Rose Bianchi is a professional aerialist in Northern California. Born and raised in Northern California, Mikaela started aerial training at Circus Center San Francisco in 2009 with circus acclaimed Russian trapeze artist Elena Panova. In her fourteen years of training, studying, teaching and performing aerial arts she has had the pleasure to work with Circosphere, Entire Productions, Cirque Dahlias, BLV Productions, Zenith Artistry and more in private settings, corporate parties and specially procured theater productions. She and her former aerial partner, Krista Smithers, have performed their lyra duet as far as New York City and were requested to perform at the Moisture Festival 2020 in Seattle, Washington, a great honor and accomplishment for them both. Mikaela has a knack for directing, managing and developing aerial arts programs for youth and adults including recreational classes and summer camps with Inversion Gym in South Lake Tahoe, and Kinetic Arts Center in Oakland. Currently Mikaela works remotely from her home in the Sierra Mountains with Sanctuary Climbing & Fitness as the Aerial Arts program director.

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