Elysium Aerial Fitness

Sandra Brown, the 2019 winner of the Pole Sport Organization tournament, exemplifies the values and culture we try to promote at Elysium Aerial Fitness. Sandra was first introduced to pole in 2013 and decided to join Elysium in 2018 after moving to Columbia. Throughout her time training with Elysium she has quickly moved up the ranks demonstrating a penchant for the aerial arts and a passion for fitness and wellness. When she’s not training Sandra spends her free time bowling, spending time with family and friends, along with volunteering within the community.

Amy is a former cross country/track collegiate athlete and has a background in baton twirling. Amy fell in love with pole fitness, and her positive attitude and patience for teaching make her Intro to Pole classes a perfect fit for everyone! As she often says, “I’m just here for the cheers!” …. when she’s not at the studio, she loves being a dog mom and spending time on the lake with close friends and family.

Gina began her professional career in 2009 hoop dancing for South Carolina's premier circus ensemble Alternacirque. While attending the hoop on stage she began focusing her skills on aerial lyra, fabrics and trapeze in 2010. Study under the Wonderson's of Charleston, CC&C, The San Francisco Circus Center, Athletic Playground and Paper Doll Militia, led her to complete her formal Level 1 Aerial teacher training at NECCA in Vermont. With a resume including hoop dance, aerial arts, stilt walking, theatrical stage, acrobalance, and fire spinning, she is the owner and lead instructor of LunaTrix Arts and co-founded and performs with Soda City Cirque.

Hunter has been exploring aerial apparatuses since the age of 10 and began performing with Alternacirque in 2012. As the spawn of fellow instructor, Gina, he is a proud second-generation circus child. His own repertoire includes lyra/cerceaux, hoop dance, aerial silks, contact fire spinning, static/dance trapeze and more.

His teachers include Lunatrix Arts, The Wonderson’s of Charleston, and CC &C of Charlotte. Hunter’s students love his ability to motivate and push them during conditioning and training sessions.

When he’s not at the gym, he can be found at home gaming or jamming to music. He prides himself on being always up to try and explore new things. 

Melissa began her career in fitness during high school where she competed in gymnastics. After high school gymnastics led her to explore the field of aerial fitness. By 2015 she was training on aerial fabric regularly at schools in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Asheville. In 2017 she began a career with Soda City Cirque and LunaTrix Arts performing for crowds at venues across the Southeast. Currently, she is in Columbia pursuing a career in Physical Therapy.  She can be found hula hooping, hiking, and dancing in her free time and structures her classes around creating a positive and uplifting environment for her students.

Kitty has been a dancer since the age of thirteen. She regards herself as a “Jill-of-all-trades” as she has studied ballet, modern, contemporary, lyrical, tap, African, aand ballroom. Kitty is excited to apply her dance knowledge to her aerial arts practice & teaching

Ashiya is a former dancer with background in West African dance and hip hop; she also has three years of experience in teaching pole fitness. She teaches hip hop pole, chair dance, twerk classes as well as pole series. If she isn't inverted, Ashiya is cooking, reading, or dancing in her living room.

Eva Romero is a co-owner of Elysium Aerial Fitness and has been teaching pole dancing classes since 2009. Between 2010-2013, she competed in several local and state competitions, and won the Pole Dance America (PDA) Amateur Division in 2013. Her athletic talents range from personal training and pole fitness to competitive powerlifting and acro. When she isn't dancing or at the gym, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three dogs.

Hope is a certified yoga instructor with four years of experience teaching pole fitness. She teaches yoga for pole, chair dance, and pole dance classes. When she's not at the studio, she's a full-time student and the proud mom to two spoiled cats. 

Mia's fitness journey started in her childhood with ballet and dance and has evolved over the years to include yoga, pilates, and calesthenics. A few years ago, Mia discovered the aerial arts and has never looked back since. She completed her aerial teacher training with the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) and has been on a mission to share her love of aerial fitness and pole dancing with everyone in Columbia. When she is not training, you can find her hiking mountain tops around the world, running a Spartan race, or doting on her beloved Beagle.

Erica started her dance journey at the age of 12, performing ballet, modern dance, and Israeli folk dance. She started her pole fitness journey at Elysium as the dynamic movements of pole make it the perfect discipline to combine with her past dance experience. She loves being at the studio, second only to being home, enjoying the company of her five gorgeous cats.