Vertical Theory Seminar Retreat
Unraveling Wrap Theory & Creative Sequencing
For Teachers & Vertical Nerds
Facilitator: Kerri Kresinski
March 1-6, 2025
Casa Chango Mexico, Puerto Escondido
BIPOC Scholarship Available. Apply here by December 1.
Spend a WEEK in PARADISE with new friends, the beach, delicious, fresh, local food, and nerd out on vertical theory and creative sequencing!
What is Wrap Theory?
Theory is a system of ideas intended to explain something: An idea used to account for a situation or justify a course of action. How do we apply this to silks and rope?
- Define each Wrap.
- What is it?
- How does it work?
- Is it open, closed, locked, unlocked, same side, opposite side, inside, outside?
- Does it go around multiple parts of the body or just one?
- Does it cross over itself or wind in spirals or both?
- How do we get into and out of the wrap? What is the simplest way and more complex and/or interesting ways?
- What are the differences and similarities between a Wrap and a Trick?
- Is this wrap itself a trick? Can I make this wrap a trick? Or does the trick come after the wrap?
- What tricks can I do from this wrap?
- Does each trick from this wrap change the wrap ending me in a different wrap?
- If so, what is the wrap that I end up in? (Start from the beginning again with this new wrap.)
- What doors does this open for sequencing?
- Or does the wrap stay the same within the execution of the trick?
- If so, why and how? What doors does this open for sequencing?
- What other wrap can this wrap become (with or without a trick involved) and how?
- Are there foundational Wraps? (Hint: YES, indeed, there are.)
- If so, what are they? Do they have names?
- How do they relate to each other?
- How does all of this knowledge help me make creative sequencing?
- Will this change everything about how I understand and approach my aerial practice and/or teaching? (Hint: YES, it absolutely will.)
Get ready to dork out with the biggest aerial nerds and unravel vertical wrap theory!
This is going to be a nerd-a-licious festival of vertical delight! And yes, this will indeed change EVERYTHING for you, your practice, your teaching and your students. You will never again run out of sequences and new ways to look at sequencing skills.
Enjoy 2 classes each day.
Morning class will be unraveling wrap theory foundations using drills, diagrams, and discovering the insides of skills and technique. Learn how it all comes together. These classes will be taught by Kerri and include physical execution of skills as well as studying wraps on the floor. Each day we will build on the skills taught on the previous day. The curriculum will begin with single pole wraps/skills and then open into split pole variations.
Afternoon sessions will be focused on ‘choose your own adventure’ creative sequencing implementing the new understanding from the morning classes. These sessions will be led by Kerri and co-created by everyone.
The rest of your time will be spent eating delicious food, swimming in the pool, lounging in hammocks, and enjoying being in nature. There will be time to explore local markets and beaches as well as the local night life.
Daily Schedule Sample:
- 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Tea, Coffee and Breakfast
- 10:00 a.m. – Warm up & Vertical Theory Class
- 11:45 a.m. -1:00 p.m. – Aerial Silks Skills & Sequences
- 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
- 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. – Free time (pool, hot tub, hammocks)
- 3:30 p.m. – Afternoon snack and beverage
- 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Flexibility, Creative Sequencing
- 7:00 p.m. – Dinner
- 8:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. – Free time and evening activities
We’ll also take you to our favorite beaches for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, and releasing baby turtles into the sea. There are evening adventures to a bioluminescent lagoon and local night market.
Ask about our significant other / BFF rates!
Aerial nerds can indulge in all of your aerial desires while friends and family can enjoy the retreat environment, delicious, healthy food, surfing, swimming, relaxing, and get into their bodies.
Prerequisites:
This retreat is for aerialists with a regular practice on vertical apparatus and a mental capacity to learn more about theory. Get your math brains out! Each student should arrive with an understanding of and be able to execute the following:
- Russian climb
- Hip key
- Catchers wrap
- Opposite side catchers wrap (aka Harness wrap)
- S wrap
- Z wrap
- Foot wraps
- Single star drop and/or J drop
- Saltos and/or revolutions
- Ability stay in the air moving/doing skills for 3 minutes without a rest
If you are more suited for a beginner retreat, please sign up for our Beginner Aerial Retreat.
Your coach:
Kerri is an aerialist, dancer, choreographer, and coach. She has been performing and teaching acrobatics, dance, and aerial arts for over 20 years. Her life’s work, as an artist and teacher, has been to develop and deepen her study of the body—physically, emotionally and spiritually. She has learned that anything is possible with patience, discipline and a positive attitude. She is truly a unique performer, engaging, thrilling, and moving audiences with her skills, style, and heart.
Kerri has always been the most passionate about movement. She started my dance lessons when she was 3 years old and over the next 25 years studied theater, acting, music, circus acrobatics and aerial arts. Her professional career as a multi-disciplinary performer brought her to shows and festivals all over the world. She feels that the body is the gateway to the higher powers for healing, transformation and expression.
Technique and physical strength didn’t come naturally to Kerri’s body, but her insatiable appetite for understanding the body helped her to figure it out. She has developed techniques using active flexibility, strength, and physics to work with physical movement and goals.
Kerri’s technical expertise comes from working with students of all ages, shapes, sizes, and challenges. She loves to figure out the best route for each individual, celebrating successes big and small. She has learned that anything is possible with patience, discipline, self-awareness, and a positive attitude.. Kerri’s knowledge of anatomy, physics, injury prevention, creative problem solving, and realistic goal setting makes her one of the most masterful coaches of her time.
Kerri teaches her students how to own their practice. Focusing on fundamental elements of technique, anatomy, and the physics of movement, her students learn how to train. Kerri goes beyond teaching skills and sequences. She teaches how to identify, alter, and create your own skills and sequences, and best of all how to fully embody the movement of each skill in the most satisfying way for the doer and the viewer. Technique, balance, stability, mobility, movement pathways, creativity, 360 degree movement, musicality, originality, intentional movement, elements of surprise and awe, and a deep connection to humanity is what you will get if you work with Kerri. She is truly one of a kind.
It is Kerri’s life’s purpose to support people in finding joy in their lives and make choices that serve them physically, emotionally, mentally, and energetically, to reduce stress and allow space to wake up all that is possible in this life. When we climb into our bodies with curiosity and joy, we cultivate self awareness that can open us up to creating a life that is better than we could have ever imagined.
You can find Kerri’s performance videos here and Circus Fit free online tutorial videos here. Find Kerri on Instagram @SweetCircusKerri.
Student Testimonials
“Kerri’s teaching is accessible, creative, and empowering. This retreat was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. I can’t wait to go back. Taking what I’ve learned here and applying it in my home studio has inspired me to level up my aerial game; advancing my technique, my understanding of theory, and my creativity and intentionality. I cannot say enough good things about how enriching and powerful this experience in Mexico is, including the people I met along the way.’
Kieran Stilson, 2022“Kerri is hands-down the best aerials instructor I’ve ever had. In our retreat, we had some students with 3 months of experience and some 7 years, and somehow she gave us all personalized attention and narrowed in immediately in each of our needs. She has an unparalleled knowledge of the human body and how to create a safe, sustainable aerials practice. Whether you are just getting started, or having been practicing for years, Kerri helps take your practice to the next level and teaches wrap theory in a way that makes learning new moves at any studio more feasible. All her classes are energetic and fun, often featuring easy cardio dance routines that double as specific muscle warmups. After working with Kerri in one residency, I was so hooked I came back for a second. She is a one-in-a-million teacher, who really lives eats and breathes her craft, and it shows!”
Sophie Sandweiss, 2022“Not only did I learn how to manage Ariel math and exploration, but I learned about what muscles to use and how to engage them. We also spent a significant amount of time learning how to use our bodies artistically through dance and the importance of proper strength and flexibility. Kerri is an incredible teacher. I plan on attending regular retreats.”
Elizabeth Rillera, 2022“Kerri’s enthusiasm is infectious; she is a master teacher who generously shares all her wisdom accumulated from years of practicing her art and craft.”
Linda Huang – San Francisco, Ca 2022“Kerri imbues her classes with a really sweet combination of focused work, zany playfulness, and an earthy and body-positive sensuality. I walked away from my time as Kerri’s student more capable, skilled, and excited not just about aerial, but about the journey to reaching my goals. I typically have given myself a hard time– about a number of things in life– including my journey with aerials. Kerri is skilled and optimistic, is genuinely there for you, and 100% rooting for you to “get that thing” and if you’re not there yet, can show you what needs to be done to get you to progress. She knows the value of the hard or ugly work, but she knows how to do it in a way that is fun and full of compassion for yourself and your journey. I truly appreciate this woman and friend, and I now know that my time at Sweet Retreats was a workshop on many levels, and not just in the air.“
Elizabeth Ferretti, 2019
Kerri is an amazing silks teacher that really helped me to understand silks in a way that never made sense to me before. She has such a wealth of knowledge to share from silks theory, progressions, etc. Deborah Oh, 2021
Come for 2 weeks!
Add the amazing Victorious Vertical Retreat to your package, and get the best of all aspects of vertical aerial arts.
More info here.
Retreat pricing in USD:
Prices listed are the Early Bird Price which are valid until Dec 1.
Full price tuition is due by Jan 25.
| Your choice of accommodations: | Vertical Theory – March 1-6 1 Week Only | 2 Weeks – Victorious Vertical & Vertical Theory Feb 22-March 6 |
| Shared Dorm (mixed gender) | $1500 | $2800 |
| Shared Private Room (2 friends sharing a room) 1 king size bed or 2 individual beds | $1600 | $3000 |
| Shared Private Room (2 friends sharing a room) 1 king size bed or 2 individual beds | $1800 | $3200 |
| Private Room w Shared Bathroom | $2000 | $3500 |
| Private Room w Private Bathroom | $2300 | $4000 |
| Private Room w Private Bathroom & Air Conditioner | $2600 | $4800 |
$500 Deposit is required to secure your spot.
Early bird price ends Dec 1.
Full tuition is due by one month before the first day of the retreat.
Rates refer to cost of one person’s tuition.
Couples must sign up together.
Significant others and friends who are not taking classes are welcome at a special price.
Dorms are mixed gender.
Click here for room descriptions.
What’s included:
- Ground transportation to/from the Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) to our accommodations*
- Arrive on March 1. Depart on March 6.
- Accommodations for the duration of the retreat
- Daily meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, & desserts and treats!
- 2 daily classes
- Aerial photoshoot
- Evening activities
- Optional trip to a local beach and night market
- Trip to our local night market
- 24 hour use of swimming pool and community space
- Evening Jacuzzi soaks
- Starlink Wifi Internet
BIPOC Scholarship Available.
Links for more information:
- Casa Chango accommodations – room descriptions
- Meals and Food*
- How to get here**. Info and advice on booking your travel
- Weather in Puerto Escondido
- Testimonials
- Excursions
Discounts:
- Book and pay early and save $300!
- Refer a friend to any of our retreats and save $100 with our referral discount.*
- Sweet Retreats Alumni discount $200.
Questions? Email us at SweetRetreatsMexico@gmail.com
*Food service begins with a snack and dinner on arrival day, and ends with breakfast on departure day. All meals are provided. The food is amazing! ** Your taxi to/from the PXM airport is included if you arrive/depart on designated days. Click here for info about getting to Puerto Escondido.