Vertical Fix

Thomas started aerial in the fall of 2012.  He was an avid rock climber, trail runner, and gardener prior to starting aerial at the young age of 36.  Thomas took over as owner of Vertical Fix in June of 2018.  He has been in just about every position possible since Vertical Fix opened in 2015.  He has worked his way through the organization starting as a student, becoming a volunteer, assisting other instructors, becoming an instructor, and ultimately owning the business.   He's passionate about aerial, especially dance trapeze. He shares that joy through random performances and teaching at the studio.  Thomas also owns a landscape company that keeps him busy during the day.  He specializes in desert landscapes and botanical collections.

I have found in the Competition world not only my place but also the inspiration for improvement and for a greater development on these disciplines I am passionate for. That is why I keep focused in fulfilling my goals and in learning as much as I can in every competition. 

On 2016, I became Training Shoes Director, leading and coordinating all the activities related to Pole Sport, Aerial Silks and Aerial Hoop. Today, I feel extremely proud to work along with high quality instructors on each discipline, great professionals and human beings.

I also enjoy sharing all the knowledge acquired through all these years.
My classes aim to identify clear goals in the participants and select the strategic training to reach a deeper comprehension of them.

Dakoa grew up in the world of competitive dance focusing on jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. She began her circus journey after taking her first aerial class in 2013 and falling in love. Since then she began performing and teaching at Vertical Fix before moving on to work for Creactive by Cirque du Soleil in Punta Cana, DR, and lastly Seattle, WA where she performed across the PNW and made contortion training her focus under the guidance of Gunnar Field. Specializing in lyra and contortion, she is excited to be back at her home gym, Vertical Fix to share what she has learned and continue her training.

Brent and Alisha are a circus artist duo named “Edge Acrobatics” who specialize in dynamic partner acrobatics. Since establishing their partnership in 2014, they have trained with and learned from some of the best acrobats in the world. They currently reside in Phoenix but escape the heat training at the San Diego Circus Center under renown teacher Jean-Luc Martin. Dabbling in anything they can from tramp wall to duo trapeze, their primary focus is in hand balancing and hand-to-hand.

Alisha’s love for acrobatics started at a young age as a competitive gymnast and eventually a collegiate cheerleader on her University’s all-girl and co-ed team. After graduating with a degree in Commercial Recreation and Event Management, Alisha kept her movement background up with rock climbing, yoga, and acro. It wasn’t until she met Brent that she decided to escape the 80-hour work week to train, perform, and teach full time. She currently is a USAG certified gymnastics coach and co-owns Edge Acrobatics teaching tumbling, handstands, and acro.

Brent has been teaching and sharing his passion for movement for the majority of his life. Starting his love for movement with countless hours spent at his martial arts studio and even teaching martial arts at a very young age. He moved his focus to rock climbing and began to coach the Rock Phenoms, a competitive youth team, for the past 5 years. Alongside coaching, Brent runs Edge Acrobatics teaching and performing acro around the valley.

Edge Acrobatics currently teaches and performs around the valley and loves sharing the discipline of acro and hand balancing through workshops, events, and private lessons.

Nichole is an aerial artist and coach, professional mermaid performer, certified group fitness instructor, and yoga instructor. She found her love of the movement arts when she entered the world of aerial arts in 2016. She specializes in aerial silks but has experience with a variety of aerial apparatuses including aerial hoop, dance trapeze, and straps. Over the years, Nichole began to find her own unique style and developed a particular fondness for storytelling through her art.

In 2018, Nichole was introduced to the world of professional mermaid performance through the Arizona Renaissance Festival and has returned each year to bring mermaid magic and smiles to families. In 2019, she took home first place in All-Stars Silks at Aerialympics Nationals in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

As a coach, Nichole focuses on helping her students find their unique style and personality whether it's through movement in yoga or through performance in aerial arts. Her greatest joy in teaching is watching her students surprise themselves when they see what their bodies can do.

Laura began her aerial training in 2015 and at a studio in Southern California, where she focused primarily on sling and silks. She then transferred to learning skills on lyra and most recently on trapeze after relocating to Phoenix, Arizona and joining the crew here at Vertical Fix. She is also currently a doctoral student at the Hugh Downs School of Communication in Arizona State University.

Laura has been teaching aerial since 2016, where she taught youth and adults at Urban Aerial Fitness and McCoy Rigby Arts in California. She looks forward to continuing to grow as an aerialist and is excited to share her passion of aerial arts with her students.

Scott discovered partner acrobatics in 2016, and since then has spent over a thousand hours practicing the discipline. He has extensive experience with L-based acro, with an emphasis on basing. He began formally teaching partner acrobatics in 2018, and joined the Vertical Fix teaching staff in 2019.