Words by Indy Rae | Photography by Sky Sirens Creative Team

This week, we decided to interview our instructor and aerials angel Indy Rae!

What is your name and your preferred pronouns?

Indy Rae, she/her

What’s your work Instagram handle?

Aerial.Indy

How long have you been dancing and how did you start in aerials?

I have been dancing consistently and practicing aerials for coming up to 4 years this year. I say “consistently” because I took dance classes as a 10-year-old however I found it incredibly hard to integrate into an age-based class with other students who had been dancing for approximately 7 years longer than me. It meant I lacked huge amounts of confidence and was always scared to try new things. I always had the dream to dance but just didn’t feel like it was accessible to me at that age. I started my aerial journey at age 20, and I was extremely attracted to the idea of adult beginner classes. I started with pole dancing (my first love), and really flourished in the friendly, non-judgemental environment that is Sky Sirens. From here it was a very organic progression over to Lyra (my deepest love), and then to flexibility and contortion, with a sprinkling of sling here and there.

How long have you been teaching at Sky Sirens and which styles do you teach?

I have been teaching for just over 3 months! I teach pole, lyra, floorwork, and sexy flexy. I am strongly passionate about proper stretching techniques and love teaching Babydoll level students especially. I love helping beginner students find their groove and grow more confident as they learn what they’re capable of.

What advice to you like to give to your students?

Believe in yourself and believe that it will get easier with consistency and time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Aerials is an incredibly strength-based activity and so it will take some time to build upper body and core strength. Your training trajectory might not be the same as other students you meet on your journey and that is okay. We all move at difference paces.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

The list is never ending, but I would especially love to travel to Italy. I’m gluten intolerant but you better believe I will sacrifice it all for multiple bowls of authentically made pasta.

What does this term hold for you?

It’s my first term teaching Sexy Flexy and my first time teaching Pearls Pole so I am extremely excited for what’s to come and forever grateful for the support and opportunities that have been presented to me while working at Sky Sirens.