Kerri Kresinski 

Head Coach at Sweet Retreats

View Kerri’s Instagram page here.

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

Kerri’s Upcoming Workshops in the US

About Kerri

Kerri Kresinski, founder, director, and head coach at Sweet Retreats, is an aerialist, dancer, choreographer, and coach. She has been performing and teaching acrobatics, dance, and aerial arts for over 25 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 is truly a unique performer, coach and mentor and her students’ biggest cheerleader.

Kerri has always been the most passionate about movement.  She has dedicated her life (since age 3) to studying movement arts including dance, theater, acting, music, circus acrobatics, flexibility, fitness science, personal training, and of course aerial arts.  She has studied extensively and now teaches functional anatomy for aerialists and movers, and is passionate about helping people understand how their bodies work. She has also studied holistic health, herbalism, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, massage, and nutrition. Her professional career as a multi-disciplinary performer has brought her to shows and festivals all over the world.

Technique and physical strength never came naturally to Kerri’s body, but her insatiable appetite for understanding the body helped her to figure it out.   She believes this is why she has such a passionate gift for teaching.   Kerri’s technical expertise comes from working with students of all kinds to figure out the best training for each individual.   She has learned that anything is possible with patience, discipline, self-awareness, and a positive attitude.. Kerri’s is one of the most masterful coaches of her time.

Kerri teaches her students how to own their practice going beyond teaching skills and sequences. Through encouraging a strong and committed movement Practice, she teaches how to identify, alter, and create skills and sequences, and how to fully embody the movement of each skill in a satisfying way.

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
Watch this video about Kerri’s life work as a teacher and artist.

Training with Kerri

Kerri is the head coach at several Sweet Retreats programs. Training with her will change your aerial practice forever. She will demystify theory, connect you to your body in new ways, help you understand the physics of aerial and acrobatics, give you a sustainable well-rounded practice, be your best cheerleader, customize your training, fill in all the gaps, teach you about anatomy, inspire you, encourage you to be YOURSELF, help you bring out your creativity, and work your ass (best core workouts for aerialists)!

Here are some of the programs Kerri teaches at Sweet Retreats

Here is a list of Kerri’s specialty classes. 

  • Aerial Silks skills and technique (beginning through advanced levels)
  • Lyra or Trapeze (beginning to intermediate levels)
  • Vertical apparatus theory
  • Sequencing
  • Choreography
  • Inversion technique for aerialists
  • Core work for aerialists
  • Functional Anatomy
  • Flexibility & Stretching
  • Cross training and injury prevention for aerialists 
  • Creating your own movement practice
  • Aerial Conditioning
  • Circus Fit workout
  • Aerial Artistry
  • Act Creation
  • Musicality
  • Performance skills
  • Dance/Movement for aerialists
  • Cardio dance workouts
  • Floor work / Acrobatic dance
  • Handstands for all levels
  • Basic floor acrobatics (cartwheels, walkovers, etc.)

Credentials: Kerri Kresinski

  • Massage Therapist / Holistic Health Practitioner since 1998
  • Dance training since age 3 – ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, African, & butoh
  • Certified Personal Trainer since 2010 (NASM)
  • Certified Sports Nutrition Specialist since 2013 (NASM)
  • Certified Yoga Instructor since 2013. 200 hours w Flying Studios & 200 hours w Yoga Veda.
  • Acrobatics training with Master LuYi and other master coaches in San Francisco and Montreal 2003-2009
  • Aerial training – self taught and with master coaches since 2000.
  • Career Aerialist Performer since 2004
  • Aerial/Acrobatics instructor in San Francisco, Oakland and international workshops 2004-2016
  • Co-founder of Sweet Can Circus – 2007
  • Creator/Director of Sweet Retreats intensive retreats since 2009
  • Other skills and interests include percussion, strengthening and liberating the body, choreography, ritual, organization, dogs, radical inclusion, loving kindness, crafts, healthy food and lifestyle, and gettin’ down on the dance floor!  Mostly I LOVE to share all of this with people!

Kerri’s Performance Videos & Teaching Tutorials

Student Testimonials

Kerri is the best aerial teacher I have ever had!

Julia Glünkin, 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’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 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

Kerri is a master coach. She has so many years of experience coaching that her eye for detail always helps me find technique nuances that might take me years to discover. She is a technique driven instructor who keeps the vibe light and makes it all feel so attainable.

Dakota Rooney, New York City, 2022

Kerri creates a safe, sacred space in which you as an aerialist can create. She has a fun, warm spirit, with a playful master of her craft. I literally feel that this workshop changed my life and released some artistic blocks.
Kerri’s personality and teaching expertise made it all very natural, and enjoyable. There are teachers that stick with you all your life and that you hope to cross paths with again. Kerri Kresinski is one of these people.

Sarah Webb Boston, Massachusetts 2017

Kerri Kresinski is such a wonderful person and teacher. Her passion and joy for aerial arts is contagious. Her depth of knowledge is deep and thoughtful. Her respect and reverence for the work is commendable and such a good example for ALL levels of aerial explorers, from beginner to professional.

Melissa Allen – August 2021

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

I recently completed the Aerial Silks Teacher Training with Coach Kerri this past July. Kerri always offers greater insight and understanding into technique and pathways in all of her classes, but the ATT really helped me break down and practice the fundamentals of teaching and gain deeper knowledge of aerial arts. Sweet Retreats’ ATT program not only helped me level up my personal practice, it gave me the confidence to immediately put what I learned to use and am now teaching teaching aerial basics and fitness in a class setting.

Erin Bratkovich – August 2021

Kerri’s workshop was soooooo rewarding! Kerri creates a welcoming, encouraging environment just by being herself, and in turn I was able to let myself be more free, more silly, more open, more EVERYTHING.  Just MORE.  

Angela Jackson – Halifax, NS.  2017

Kerri has a vast knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics and a keen eye to spot that piece of movement your body is missing. She’s great at finding the drill for you to get you unstuck and to the next skill in the progression. The Circus Fit retreat is great for anyone- beginners wanting to get off to a great start, coaches needing a recharge, students who’s training has been more trick focused than technique focused, aerialists feeling plateaued, or friend of aerialist wanting to come along!

Dakota Rooney, NYC 2019

“Kerri’s Aerial Artistry Retreat gave me more than I could’ve imagined.  We challenged our bodies, mind, and our spirit…allowing you to enter a deeper part of yourself, one that you usually avoid facing. It taught me how to connect with the audience, how to express myself in my movements and how to tell a story through my work.
Such an adventure, an awakening experience I will hold close to me forever.
Kerri, you have a huge heart and a beautifully creative mind. Your process was genius.

Josephine Reyes, Miami, FL 2016

Kerri is an amazing teacher and leader. Her classes were so much fun and energizing and she was so supportive to all of us on the retreat. She made sure that we all got what we needed out of the classes and the retreat as a whole. She’s amazing and created a magical retreat!!! I can’t wait to go back!

Cindy Abramson, NYC, 2019

Kerri genuinely loves to teach.  You can learn so much just by taking her class and observing how she positions herself, how she talks, how she demonstrates and how she represents her art.  I would highly recommend taking her classes and doing the teacher training with her to get a new understanding of your art.

Sonya Dessureault – August 2021

Kerri provides a safe space for you to grow and heal mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Wendy Rager, 2022

My first retreat with Kerri was an artistic creation for aerialists. It transformed my future. After a week of her carefully researched exercises and expressive classes, I felt empowered to create my own work. Three years later, I still go back through my notes for inspiration! Because of the confidence I built during that week, I went on to produce and star in my own one-woman show for the St. Louis Fringe Festival.

Melissa Allen, St. Louis 2019

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 an amazing silks teacher that really helped me to understand silks in a way that never made sense to me before, and I feel so fortunate to have completed the month-long aerial teacher training program under her. She has such a wealth of knowledge to share from silks theory, progressions, etc. I really appreciated how much time she devoted to making sure we could practice teaching so that we left confident in our abilities. One of the most valuable parts of the residency for me has been the artistry and act creation classes. I’m so grateful for the community Kerri has created and the space she holds for us to explore and nurture our ideas.

Deborah Oh, 2021

Kerri creates a fun and welcoming environment, where you can explore your creativity and dive into aerial theory, all at the same week. She has a rare combination of deep understanding of silks/fabric, body awareness, performing experience and natural teaching ability. Highly recommended for any aerial student who’s looking to recharge and move their aerial practice to the next level!

Adi Rose, 2021

Kerri lead us through morning and evening classes and her instruction was top notch. She was able to personalize the class for each person at their level, which is no easy task! She also created a safe, positive and judgement-free environment where I felt incredibly welcome

JenJen, 2021

I’ve been doing aerial for 7 years, and with Kerri I mastered tricks that id never been able to do, improved my technique, and got the strongest I’ve ever been (and that’s after a year of lockdown!)

Nora McFarland, 2021

The quality of coaching we received was next level. Kerri is such a kind soul and her silly approach to things makes everyone feel comfortable to be themselves and to be kind to ourselves in our practice. On top of that she is very knowledgeable and gave us so many tools to work with when we went home

Jasmine Bentley, 2022