Nellie's Very Busy Summer all started with the preparations for our CircoBello show on 3rd August. During the final week before the performance, our all circus company was rehearsing every day — but there was one little problem...
Our current Aerial Art House isn't high enough for us to rehearse some of the aerial acts we were preparing for the big top.
So every day we had to go somewhere else.
And that meant Nellie had a job to do.

Now, we're not entirely sure whether an elephant is supposed to pack its own back... so luckily Nellie had Hania and Filip! Every day they loaded her up with heavy circus equipment, rigging and everything else we needed, and Nellie carried it all to wherever that day's rehearsal was happening.

Some days we found another venue. Some days we rehearsed outside. And every day Nellie helped us get there.
​It was quite an adventure before the adventure had even properly begun!

While Nellie had been enjoying a little rest during our long rehearsals, once we returned to Aerial Art House everything had to come out again — all the circus equipment, the whole portable rig, everything!Because Nellie had another adventure ahead of her. A much bigger one.
Very soon she would be heading across Europe, travelling through seven countries in the roasting summer heat. If Nellie was going to look after her passengers on such a long journey, first we needed to look after Nellie.
​So while we were rehearsing every day, Filip was also working incredibly hard every evening to get her ready for the road.
Ventilation was installed to help keep everyone comfortable during those hot European days. A bed was added so that if we were travelling a long distance and suddenly needed to stop and rest, there would be somewhere inside Nellie to sleep. Slowly, everything was being prepared for the comfort and safety of her passengers.
Nellie seemed very happy with all the attention. After carrying our circus equipment around all day, she would sit patiently in her parking space while Filip worked away, getting her ready for what was coming next.
But don't worry — Nellie isn't turning into a camper van!
She is, and always will be, our circus crew and adventure van — made for carrying people, circus equipment and everything we need to reach new places, new performances and new adventures.
And this time, a very big adventure was waiting for her...

One Week, Many Rehearsals… and a Very Busy NellieDay after day, Nellie was on the move — carrying artists to rehearsals, transporting our circus equipment and portable rig, and then returning to her parking space where Filip continued working on her interior upgrade.
And we were running out of time!
There was only one week left until the show, so everything was happening at once. We were rehearsing every day while, in between rehearsals, Nellie was being prepared for the much bigger European adventure waiting for her after the performance.Of course, we didn't rehearse only outside at Leith Links, although we used the park as often as the Scottish weather allowed us! We loved meeting the local people who stopped to say hello, watched our rehearsals and encouraged our performers. Some later came to our classes, and some even travelled to North Berwick to watch our CircoBello performance at Fringe by the Sea.

A huge thank you to all the amazing venues that helped us find rehearsal space during this incredibly busy week: Out of the Blue, Craigentinny Castle Community Centre, Access Parkour and The Pitt. We are incredibly grateful for your support — we couldn't have done it without you! ❤️🎪 And then came our dress rehearsal.
A huge thank you goes to Access Parkour, who helped us at the very last moment by giving us somewhere to run our dress rehearsal.
There was just one small problem...
By the time we finished, the gate had been closed — and Nellie couldn't get back in to collect all of our circus equipment and portable rig!
But we are circus people.
​Circus people always find a way.
So somehow, piece by piece, we managed to get our portable rig and equipment through a small gap in the fence and back to Nellie on the other side.
It probably wasn't quite the elegant ending to a dress rehearsal anyone had imagined, but it worked!
Nellie got her circus gear back, everything was packed once again, and we were one step closer to the big day.
CircoBello was almost here. 🎪🚐❤️

The Big Day – CircoBello at Fringe by the SeaOn Monday, 3rd August, Nellie knew that something special was coming.
Her bed was already installed, but there simply hadn't been enough time to finish everything we had planned for her interior. So perhaps Nellie's interior wasn't quite ready for the big adventure yet...
But Nellie herself? Nellie is ALWAYS ready for an adventure!
​She is, after all, a beautiful circus van (or should we say circus elephant? 🐘🚐), made for working hard, travelling to new places, carrying circus people and equipment, and taking adventurous humans along with her.
That morning, Nellie was definitely ready to go.
By 9am we were already in North Berwick for Fringe by the Sea, getting ready for our 1pm CircoBello performance.
And we have to admit, we were wondering...
Who is going to come and watch a circus show at 1pm on a Monday?
Well, it turned out — quite a lot of people!
Almost 1,500 people came to see CircoBello!
Walking into that enormous Big Top and seeing it filled with so many people was an incredible moment.
And what a wonderful festival Fringe by the Sea was! It felt incredibly welcoming and community-minded while also being wonderfully professional.
As we arrived, Nellie could see the enormous Big Top where CircoBello would be performing. We could almost feel her engine getting excited. After all those days of carrying performers, equipment and our portable rig from rehearsal to rehearsal, we had finally made it!
Our circus artists had their own lovely little changing tents waiting for them, and the festival team looked after us beautifully. The lighting and sound were fantastic, everything worked exactly as it should, and our show ran smoothly from beginning to end.
After such an intense week of rehearsals, packing, unpacking, travelling and preparing, seeing everything finally come together in front of such a huge audience was very special.
A massive thank you to the entire Fringe by the Sea team for taking such wonderful care of us, and to every single person who came to see CircoBello. You made this day unforgettable. ❤️
And Nellie?
She had successfully completed her first big mission.
But there wasn't much time to rest...
Europe was waiting. 🐘🚐🎪❤️

And Just Like That… the Bigger Adventure BeganWhile the show was happening and our happy artists were enjoying every moment backstage, Nellie was having a well-deserved rest in the parking area next to the Big Top.
Oh, how Nellie loves a Big Top! She is a circus elephant, after all. 🐘🎪
We can only imagine what she was thinking while she sat there proudly:
“It was ME who brought all those artists here! Thanks to me they can perform! And how exactly would they have brought that enormous circus rig to the Big Top without me? Clearly, I am the most important member of this circus company.”
Yes, Nellie. Of course you are.
Nellie the circus elephant… we mean van! 🚐❤️
She waited and waited, and when the show finished at around 2pm, she could finally see everyone coming back.
“Here they come! Here they come!”
The crew cleared the stage incredibly quickly. Within about 20 minutes, our circus equipment was out of the Big Top and ready to be packed back into Nellie.
But this time, packing Nellie meant something completely different.
For part of our crew, the bigger adventure was about to begin.
We said goodbye to the rest of the CircoBello team, and five adventurous humans climbed aboard: Kaya, Luna, Mari, Filip and Hania — our wonderful circus granny.
The necessary circus gear was packed in too, and almost straight from the stage — still wearing traces of show makeup and full of adrenaline after such a successful performance — we set off.
There wasn't even time to properly come down from the excitement of the show.
Ahead of us was around eight hours on the road towards the Channel Tunnel, followed by the crossing to Calais and our first short overnight stop in France.
CircoBello was finished.
The Big Top was disappearing behind us.
And Nellie's first great European adventure had officially begun. 🐘🚐🌍🎪

​Nellie’s First Night in France 🇫🇷🚐After our long journey and the Channel Tunnel, we finally arrived at our first overnight stop — hotelF1 Calais Coquelles, conveniently located just after the tunnel.
We arrived very late at night, but luckily the hotel had a great self check-in system. You simply entered your code and could get into your room. Perfect for a circus crew arriving in the middle of the night!
There was, however, one little problem.
We discovered that Nellie might be perfectly suited to Big Tops, circus equipment and enormous adventures... but tiny, packed hotel car parks are definitely not her favourite thing!
We sent Mari, Kaya and Luna inside to their room while Hania and Filip attempted the challenge of finding somewhere to squeeze our enormous circus elephant. It took almost another hour, but eventually Nellie was safely parked and everyone could finally get some sleep.
Unfortunately, the sleep didn't last very long.
About two hours later, we woke up to noise and complete chaos outside.
Another traveller in a camper van had apparently experienced the same parking problem as Nellie — but had found a rather different solution. The camper had been left directly in front of other vehicles, completely blocking them in, while its occupant slept inside.
People desperately needed to leave to catch their booked Channel Tunnel crossings, so the car park quickly became very lively. There was knocking, shouting and people running around trying to wake the person inside. Hotel staff were trying to sort everything out in French, while sleepy travellers worried about missing their crossings.
Filip got up after barely two hours of sleep and tried to help, although his lack of French made things rather interesting. Mari was the only one in our crew who could speak a little French, so between everyone, somehow the situation was eventually resolved and the road was cleared.
Filip looked at the breakfast... and chose sleep. 😴
Some of our crew managed to have breakfast, but the rest of us decided that after the previous day's CircoBello performance, eight hours of driving, the Channel Tunnel, the great Nellie parking challenge and only a couple of hours of sleep, we desperately needed some rest.
So we slept until almost midday.
Our original plan was to continue all the way to Strasbourg, where we were hoping to visit Marika. She had also been part of CircoBello, but had to leave before us because she was due back at work the very next day. She was working in a Big Top in Strasbourg, so we thought it would be lovely to meet her there and see another Big Top on our journey.We looked at each other.
We looked at Nellie.
And we decided:
Nope. Not at this price! 😅
After the previous day's performance, eight hours of driving, the Channel Tunnel, our parking adventure and almost no sleep, Strasbourg was simply too far.
One of the most important rules of an adventure is knowing when to change the plan.
Sorry, Marika — Strasbourg would have to wait!
​Next stop: Metz. 🇫🇷🐘🚐

​Don’t worry, Nellie — Metz has circus too!
Nellie might have been slightly disappointed about missing Strasbourg.
“But why? I can go to Strasbourg! I can go anywhere! I’m a strong, healthy circus van and I love adventures. Just take me somewhere where there is circus!”
Well, don’t worry, Nellie. Metz has circus too!
Metz and the surrounding area have their own circus scene, including Cirk’Éole, a circus school in Montigny-lès-Metz, as well as contemporary circus events. Unfortunately, there was no circus festival waiting for Nellie during our visit — and we couldn’t stay long anyway. We were on our way to the European Juggling Convention, so Metz was only going to be our home for one night.
But there was something else happening that summer: Constellations de Metz, a festival of digital art and light installations around the city. So perhaps missing Strasbourg wasn’t such a disaster after all.
Finding a bed for the night… again!
After our rather eventful night in Calais, we had a new idea.
“This time we won’t book anything in advance. We’ll arrive in Metz and find somewhere to stay. Surely it will be cheaper and easier!”
Well… that was the theory. 😂
Our first challenge was simply driving around Metz. There seemed to be tunnels and height restrictions everywhere, and some were definitely not made with Nellie in mind. Nellie had just had her new roof ventilation installed and was probably thinking:
“WATCH MY ROOF! Filip has only just put that there!”
Then came the car parks. Again and again, they were simply too low for our very tall circus elephant — sorry, van.
Eventually we found a lovely, secure place where Nellie could park comfortably. Excellent! Now all we needed was somewhere for the humans to sleep.
Easy?
Not really.
We needed two rooms, there were five of us, and place after place seemed to be completely booked. Sleeping inside Nellie wasn't really an option either — it was around 36°C, and even a circus elephant needs a break from that kind of heat!
This was also when we became extremely grateful that Mari could speak French. From finding rooms to sorting breakfasts and asking for directions, suddenly having someone in the crew who could actually communicate properly made everything much easier.
Eventually, we found somewhere to stay.
A beautiful night in Metz
After hours in Nellie, we desperately needed to stretch our legs.
Kaya was exhausted and decided to stay at the accommodation, while Hania, Filip, Mari and Luna headed out to explore Metz.
And what a surprise it was.
The city looked absolutely beautiful at night. Buildings and streets were illuminated, people were everywhere enjoying the warm summer evening, and the whole centre had an almost festival-like atmosphere.
And then there was the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne. Lit up at night, it was absolutely spectacular — one of those buildings that photographs never quite manage to explain properly.
We walked around, explored, talked and simply enjoyed being outside. After spending another six hours sitting inside Nellie, that warm evening walk through Metz was exactly what we needed.
What had started as:
“We’re too tired. Forget Strasbourg. Let’s just stop in Metz…”
turned into a beautiful little adventure of its own.
Nellie had brought us somewhere unexpected again. 🐘🚐✨
And after one night in Metz, there was really only one question left:
What will tomorrow bring?

​Back on the Road – Metz to Bavaria
The next morning we woke up to another scorching hot day — around 40°C. Before facing another long journey in Nellie, we went for a proper French breakfast at #FOX Coffee Shop & Torréfacteur in Metz.
Oh, French breakfasts! Fresh pastries, good coffee and that wonderful feeling of sitting in a little café before another day on the road. After the previous night's adventures, it was exactly what we needed.
Nellie was delighted when she finally saw everyone coming back.
“Yes! Yes! Another adventure! Come on, everyone — get in! Where are we going today?”
And off we went.
This time at least we knew where we were going to sleep. We had learned our lesson in Metz and had already booked our accommodation in Bavaria. No driving around late at night looking for two available rooms while trying to find somewhere big enough to park a circus elephant!
There was just one little problem: 40-degree heat.
 Proper air conditioning has now made it onto the Nellie wish list.
Nellie herself seemed perfectly happy. Her passengers... slightly less so.
But we had a plan. We would drive for several hours through beautiful Germany and then stop at Altmühlsee in Bavaria. A swim in a cool lake sounded like the perfect cure for hours spent travelling in the heat.
Hania even persuaded Filip to carry Luna's paddleboard all the way to the lake. After about a 30-minute walk in the scorching heat, we finally saw it — beautiful, clear water and a lovely sandy beach.
Paradise!
Except... nobody was swimming.
That should probably have been our first clue.
We asked someone what was happening and discovered that signs had been put up because bacteria had been found in the water only a couple of days earlier.
No swimming.
After carrying a paddleboard for half an hour in 40°C heat. 😂
Poor Filip.
So there we were, standing beside the beautiful cool water we'd been dreaming about for hours — unable to put even a toe in it.
We rested on the beach for a while, found ourselves some food, packed ourselves back into Nellie and continued towards our already-booked accommodation in Bavaria.
At least tonight, we thought, finding a bed should be easy...

​A Home Away From Home in Bavaria
By the time we finally arrived at our accommodation in Essingen, Bavaria, it was already dark. We were exhausted, hot and thinking only one thing: Please, please let this be a nice place to sleep.
Oh dear… it wasn't just nice. It was absolutely perfect.
Our hosts, Uli and Josef, were wonderful. Before arriving, we had told Uli that we were a circus group travelling across Europe in a big van. Apparently she wasn't entirely sure what to expect! 😂 But when Nellie arrived and five very tired circus travellers climbed out — including our teenagers — everyone quickly relaxed.
And from that moment, we felt incredibly welcome.
The accommodation itself was beautiful: spacious, comfortable, full of character and decorated with such care. Uli clearly has an amazing eye for interiors. After days of travelling, rehearsing, performing and sitting in a very hot Nellie, having proper rooms and comfortable beds felt like absolute luxury.
But what made this stop really special was Uli herself. She was energetic, funny, welcoming and had such a brilliant sense of humour that very quickly it didn't feel like staying in someone's holiday accommodation. It felt more like visiting family.
When Mari, Kaya and Luna eventually disappeared to their beds, Uli took Hania and Filip to see something rather special — their treehouse!
Yes. A proper house in a tree! 😂
It was brilliant. There was also a lovely little bar area, and the whole place had so much personality. If you ever happen to travel through this part of Bavaria, this is exactly the sort of unexpected place that makes a road trip memorable.
And Nellie? She was happy too. Finally, somewhere with a comfortable place for a big circus elephant to spend the night!
After a wonderful sleep, we woke up to another surprise. Uli brought us fresh croissants and coffee for breakfast. Sitting there in the morning, it genuinely felt as though we had become part of the family for a little while.
There is only one thing we are very sorry about.
With our journey continuing, constantly moving from one place to another, we somehow missed the Airbnb deadline to leave Uli a review.
Uli, if you ever find and read Nellie's blog — we are so sorry! ❤️
We absolutely loved staying with you. If we could still leave that review, it wouldn't just be five stars — we'd happily give you more. Thank you for your hospitality, your humour, the croissants, the coffee, the treehouse and for making five tired circus travellers feel completely at home.
It became one of our favourite stays of the whole adventure.
And after breakfast, Nellie was waiting outside once again...
“Come on, everyone. Enough sleeping. Where's the circus?” 🎪🚐❤️

​Finally… EJC! 🎪🇸🇮And then the big day finally arrived.
Slovenia!
We made it to Ptuj, the oldest city in Slovenia, with its beautiful castle sitting high above the town and looking over the red rooftops and surrounding countryside.
But Nellie wasn't particularly interested in the history just yet.
She had spotted something much more exciting.
Circus people. Everywhere.
“YES! Finally! My people!” 😂
There were colours everywhere, juggling clubs flying through the air, hula hoops spinning, acrobats training in the park and circus people from all over Europe filling the city.
And Nellie wasn't only surrounded by circus people — she had plenty of four-wheeled circus friends too! 🚐🎪
There were amazing circus camper vans everywhere, all shapes and sizes, carrying performers and equipment from across Europe.
Nellie looked very happy indeed.
“Finally! Circus people AND circus vans! These really are my people.” 😂
After travelling all the way from Scotland, our big circus elephant had finally found her herd. 🐘❤️
Hania and Kaya, however, were perhaps a little less impressed with one thing — the aerial training opportunities weren't quite what we'd hoped for this year. And there was no Chinese pole!
Poor Hania had carried her Chinese pole training gloves all the way across Europe for nothing. 😂
But that's the wonderful thing about EJC — there is always something new to learn.
Mari and Kaya spent lots of time training acrobatics and got some fantastic tips and advice from professional circus artists and other experienced performers. During the days we trained, explored, watched people practising and met circus people from all over Europe.
And then came the evenings.
Shows, shows and more shows!
Every night we watched performances, and every day we were back training again. We were surrounded by circus from morning until night.
For Nellie, sitting happily among all those circus vans and circus people in Slovenia, life really couldn't get much better. 🐘🎪❤️
And for us?
It was exactly the kind of place we'd driven across Europe to find.

​One More Day in Slovenia 💚🇸🇮When EJC finally came to an end, we weren't quite ready to leave Slovenia.
Like many other jugglers and circus people from EJC, we decided to stay for one more day and headed to the beautiful Green Lake.
And finally — a lake we could actually swim in! 😂
After our rather unsuccessful attempt at swimming in Bavaria, this was exactly what we needed. Beautiful water, sunshine and a chance to relax after several very busy days at EJC.
Of course, circus people don't really know how to simply lie on a beach and do nothing.
So there was still plenty of training and acro happening beside the lake. We swam, relaxed, practised together and enjoyed one last beautiful day with some of the people we'd met at EJC.
It was the perfect way to finish our Slovenian circus adventure. 💚
But the following morning, it was time for another change.
We needed to take Mari to Pula Airport in Croatia, where she would leave us and continue her journey home.
After travelling together from Scotland, performing at Circo Bello, crossing France and Germany, surviving the heat, carrying paddleboards to lakes we couldn't swim in, discovering Slovenia and spending our days and nights surrounded by circus at EJC, Mari's adventure with Nellie was coming to an end. ❤️
And with Mari leaving, this chapter of our journey — our EJC adventure — was ending too.
But Nellie wasn't going home just yet.
There was still a lot more Europe waiting for her… 🐘🚐✨

Goodbye for Now, Nellie ❤️🐘🚐When Mari flew back to Scotland, Nellie's adventures were far from over.
She still had plenty of circus work to do! Nellie continued her journey through Croatia and Poland, where she stayed for a while, helping with more creative circus projects and carrying circus people and equipment wherever they needed to go.
But for Hania, Kaya, Luna and Mari, this part of Nellie's adventure was over — at least for a little while.
We went back to Scotland, while Nellie continued her travels and her circus work in Europe.
And we missed her!
After everything we'd experienced together — Circo Bello, France, scorching Germany, beautiful Bavaria, Slovenia, EJC, swimming, acro, endless kilometres, circus vans, unexpected adventures and lots and lots of laughter — it felt strange to continue without our big white circus elephant.
But this isn't the end of Nellie's Adventures.
It's only the end of this chapter.
We can't wait for Nellie to come home to Scotland, park outside Aerial Art House again and reunite with her circus family.
Because there are always more places to discover, more circus projects to create and more adventures waiting somewhere down the road.
Come home soon, Nellie. We have more adventures to do! 🐘🚐🎪❤️
To be continued…

​Would You Like to Join Nellie’s Next Adventure? 🐘🚐✨Maybe you've been dreaming about an adventure of your own, but you're looking for brave people to share it with and transport to help make that dream come true.
Or perhaps you'd simply love to join one of Nellie's Adventures and discover somewhere new with us.
Whether it's exploring beautiful places around Scotland or heading further afield into Europe, Nellie is always ready for another adventure!
Get in touch with us at [email protected] and tell us about your idea.
We can't wait to see where Nellie takes us next — and perhaps you'll be coming with us! 🐘🚐🎪❤️

For many years, whenever we performed at festivals, community events, outdoor circus jams, and youth projects, transport was always a challenge. We needed a way to move not only our circus equipment but also our crew, young people, and volunteers.As our work grew, so did the need for a dedicated vehicle that could support our adventures and community projects. After years of dreaming, planning, and saving, we finally welcomed Nellie into our family.

​Nellie is more than just a van. She helps us bring circus arts to communities, transport equipment to shows and festivals, support youth development projects, and make new adventures possible.
We are excited to begin this new chapter and would love to share our journeys with you. From performances and festivals to hidden beaches, forests, mountains, and community events, Nellie will help us create unforgettable experiences and lasting memories along the way.

Many people ask us where the name Nellie came from.If you know the famous song "Nellie the Elephant" by The Toy Dolls, you'll already know part of the story. The song tells the tale of a circus elephant called Nellie, and as soon as we bought our van, the connection felt perfect.
Our van is big, strong, reliable, and built to carry circus equipment, performers, and adventures — just like a circus elephant. But unlike the Nellie in the song, our Nellie doesn't want to run away from the circus. She loves the circus and is always ready for the next adventure!
The name was truly decided after one of our bonfire performances at Sandy's Community Centre. As we travelled home, the van was packed with performers, costumes, and equipment. Someone started singing "Nellie the Elephant", and before long everyone in the van was singing along.
From that moment on, the name stuck.
Today, Nellie is much more than a vehicle. She's part of our circus family, and we love our Nellie with all our hearts.

This is only the beginning of Nellie's adventures.Over the coming months, Nellie will be travelling across Scotland carrying performers, circus equipment, young people, and plenty of excitement. We have plans for performances, festivals, community events, outdoor circus jams, workshops, and organised day trips to some of Scotland's most beautiful and inspiring locations.

We hope Nellie will help us bring people together, discover new places, learn new skills, and create unforgettable memories along the way.
Keep an eye on our website and blog as we share photos, stories, adventures, and updates from the road. We can't wait to take you along for the journey!
See you on the road,
Nellie and the Aerial Art House team 🚐🎪❤️

​With 2021 now well under way, we at Aerial Art House are looking forward to the day when we can open our doors once again. We really miss hosting our classes and events, and seeing friendly faces each week to share in the joy of circus training. Following government safety guidelines, our usual Christmas fundraiser show, Jazz Before Christmas, sadly had to be cancelled. For the first time since 2017 our studio was silent in December, and we all missed seeing the centre transformed into a space of amazing artistry and magic. The capturing sounds of brilliant live music, the chance to see spectacular performances and watch awe-inspiring visual art filling the studio has made it a truly remarkable event for many years. It is an event that started with only eight artists performing, and has since grown year upon year to become a full-length show for both students and professionals. Aerial Art House’s founder Hania Chwiałkowska would like to thank everyone who has attended or performed in previous Jazz Before Christmas events and hopes that this year brings more opportunity to connect and keep creating. Hania and the team are not giving up and have been working on new projects behind the scenes. We look forward to sharing more circus art opportunities with you and continue to help the community improve their mental and physical health as soon as possible.
 
Our circus family is a global community spread across the world, brought together by a love of circus art and entertaining. Experienced performer Lauren Jamieson, who appeared on the Jazz Before Christmas stage in both 2018 and 2019, describes the last year as ‘an overwhelming emotional rollercoaster full of discovery’ and now finds herself unexpectedly living in New Zealand after travelling there pre-lockdown in March 2020. Despite this change in direction, Lauren continues to create and work within unusual styles of performance by getting involved in the New Zealand creative scene. Not only this but Lauren is still remotely running Scotland’s Sonder Circus alongside the company’s other co-founders back in the UK. Sonder Circus have ambitions to pave the way in showcasing art in this new world, and are currently developing their new show Cailleach. Even more excitingly, Lauren has recently begun to create and sell her own jewellery and is available for online lessons in straps and ropes.
 
Long time abstract juggler and performer Liam Wilson took to our stage in 2019 to showcase his talents and has found the last year to be a good time to appreciate his personal relationship with movement and juggling more closely. He tells us how he began only as a hobbyist ‘with no intention of becoming a performer’ which has helped him to realise that even without an audience, his passion has ‘a strong core which is not threatened by these difficult circumstances’. Time outside of the studio has given him time to improvise and explore new material to integrate into his solo performances.

Our director Hania sends out a heartfelt message to all the performers and students who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions. She says, ‘As a founder of AAH as well as mum, circus coach and performer I need to tell everyone not to lose hope and motivation. I know that it is not easy, but one day we will have the power to explain to our future audiences how we survived the lockdown on not just material level, but also emotional and physical levels. We artists have the power to get through it and we cannot give up because in the future the world will need art to heal from the effects of the pandemic. I truly want to help everyone, but I need to follow government guidelines. My personal message to all of you is to not give up, and to remind you that we will have another chance to play, climb and fly again. One day we will enjoy training and laughing together again!’
 
Online classes hosted by AAH instructors, including Hania and her daughter Kaya, are available for adults, parents and children. All classes can be booked here. Kaya, alongside her sister Luna, are also previous Jazz Before Christmas performers as well as Aerial Art House students and teaching assistants. They encourage younger performers and friends to not give up and keep training. Currently, Hania and Kaya are working on an acro-contortion act and look forward to sharing it with an audience.
 
If you have any queries for Aerial Art House please contact [email protected] or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram. If you’re interested in following up on any of the different performers, organisations or groups mentioned here, check out the links below. 

Sonder Circus:
Sonder Circus on Facebook
@sondercircus on Instagram
 
Lauren Jamieson Jewellery:
@laurenjamiesonjewellery on Instagram
 
#ResurrectLiveEvents
Read more about it here
 
Rosella Elphinstone:
@theaerialangel on Instagram
 
Cascade Juggling:
@cascadejuggling on Instagram
 
PyroCeltica:
@PyroCeltica on Instagram
 
Chris Lyons:
@chrismusicplanet on Instagram
 
​                                                                                                                                                         Victoria Roberts

Following the latest government announcement (19th December) , we are sad to inform you that Aerial Art House as a non-essential business must close its premises until further notice. We are shocked about the sad news and we really hope this lockdown won’t last more than a month. Thanks to all of you who kept supporting us and attended classes and activities at Aerial Art House throughout this difficult time. For those of you who have booked kids classes for the January term, your payment will be on hold until classes can resume. We wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy new year when it comes! Stay strong, stay safe!

​The Aerial Art House Team

​It goes without saying that this year has been a test of endurance, patience and strength. We have all experienced some form of hardship and faced the difficulty of navigating through a changing world. Work and home life have been turned upside down, and it can appear as though normality is further away from us than ever before. It is easy to become lost in daily news, as well as conflicting opinions and attitudes. This year has shown us, more than ever before, the importance of building mental and physical strength in order to become resilient and continue on in the face of adversity. But it is not just during a global pandemic that this mentality is so important. In this modern world we are constantly faced with new challenges and changes, and to be able to find ways of handling the stress and strain of daily life is so vital to our individual well-being.

​Aerial Art House continues to help the local community with their physical and mental health in Edinburgh. When Amanda first came to the city from her hometown in Illinois, she found herself in a totally new environment and drastically different culture. Just as with many other university students like her, adapting to a new routine was difficult and making connections was a tricky process. In talking about her experiences from this time Amanda describes how during her first semester of study she was ‘restless and anxious’ as she tried to figure out her new life, ‘It became clear that I needed something to take my mind off being in my room, where I was doing nothing,’ she says. It is a familiar story to us all now, but back then this did not feel like the norm. Amanda, who suffers from ADHD and anxiety and depression, decided to take the leap and find herself a new hobby, which she hoped would bring some distraction from her worries and studies. Her objectives were simple: to get in shape and to get stronger.

Amanda, like many of us who find the conventional gym environment to be intimidating or uninviting, was interested in seeking out an opportunity to do something a bit different, community-based and fun. She describes how she came across Aerial Art House online, ‘I was researching alternative ways of working out and I came across a YouTube video that showcased aerial arts. I thought that it looked interesting and Googled “aerial arts in Edinburgh” and Aerial Art House popped up.’ The rest is history.

​​Edinburgh’s Aerial Art House is just one of a global network of organisations that provide circus-based workshops in order to improve on people’s physical and mental health. Research shows that participating in these classes improves patience, self-confidence and encourages socialising. These qualities all lead to an improved mental state, and make us far more likely to be able to handle new challenges and difficulties. This is particularly true in children and young people, with an American survey uncovering that children who partook in circus classes for six months demonstrated significant improvements in ‘stress relief; self-esteem; confidence; and socialisation’.1 When Amanda first began classes at Aerial Art House, she felt defeated by her lack of strength, ‘At first, I actually couldn’t do it at all, because I was so weak’, but with the encouragement of Hania Chwialkowska, the Director and Founder of Aerial Art House, she began to fall in love with circus and all it had to offer. Over time Amanda began to feel strong, powerful and in the best shape of her life.

​Classes begin with stretching and friendly chit-chat, with all of the members of the group catching up with one another again. This then leads into conditioning, giving attendees time to go through exercises to improve their flexibility and build muscle. After this, the real fun begins with the mats and apparatus being brought out for the group to practice and learn skills. Amanda describes the environment of each class as very supportive, ‘We cheer each other on all the time, if one person is trying a new move we will stop and encourage them. It’s very uplifting to know that people actually care, and it helps to build confidence because it shows that even if I do fail, it’s okay as the class won’t think of me differently. They will still be there to support me.’ This newfound confidence extended outside of the studio and into Amanda’s daily life, as through these classes she found a friendship base with whom she could socialize with. In her own words, ‘It’s nice knowing that you have someone to talk to, someone that you have a real connection with and that shares the same interests as you, and so have the same vibe. As I came to Edinburgh from a different country, that has been really important to find.’ Each class is made up of people from all ages and abilities, with everyone being very invested and enthusiastic in circus art. ‘It really makes me happy and you can tell that it really does something for the attendees. It puts so much value into people’s lives’.

​The introduction of lockdown restrictions across Scotland has temporarily halted the classes that Aerial Art House are able to provide. In this new and unfamiliar way of life Amanda, and many others like her, have gained a new perspective. They have come to realise the importance of social interaction and regular exercise, and look forward to reconnecting in the studio once again. Amanda reflects on her experience of lockdown, ‘Spending too much time alone leads to me getting inside my own head, if I am around people who are uplifting me at the art house then it helps a lot.’ In simply seeking out a new hobby, Amanda ended up discovering her own talent and a community she can rely on.

​​For Amanda the evidence is obvious, ‘If you look at a person when they walk into the Art House studio and you look at the same person when they walk out, there’s a clear difference. That really inspires me, because the classes are doing so much good for people.’ Amanda’s advice for someone who has never tried aerial or circus classes before is to just give it a go. ‘If you stick with it and work for it, you will be able to do so many incredible things and be so proud of yourself. Don’t be disheartened. I never thought I could do all the things the professionals do but the more I have worked towards it, the less it feels like work and the more fun I’ve had.’ When asked to sum up Aerial Art House in one word, Amanda chooses: Magical.

​If you are interested in taking part in one of Aerial Art House’s classes please contact [email protected] or find us on Facebook or Instagram.

​Victoria Roberts

​Sources:
1. https://www.aninews.in/news/lifestyle/quirky/circus-activity-can-improve-mental-health-in-children20190511232618/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33277907
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28681373
https://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/article-details/national-centre-for-circus-arts-teambuilding-day
https://cirquescape.com/circus-is-good-for-your-health/
​https://www.theworkshopcompany.co.uk/circus-skills/how-circus-skills-can-improve-childrens-mental-health/

Aerial Art House will suspend all group classes for adults until further notice. Kids classes and training sessions will continue as usual, as well as studio hire (when this is not used for group classes for adults). Private aerial classes are available. Please email [email protected]​
Thanks for your patience and fingers crossed for a brighter future!

The Aerial Art House Team

​Following yesterday’s announcement (7th October 2020), Aerial Art House will suspend all group classes for adults from the 9th of October until the 25th of October 2020. Kids classes and training sessions will continue as normal as well as studio hire (when this is not used for group classes for adults). If you have already paid for classes/courses that take place before the 25th your bookings will be shifted for when the same classes/courses can resume (unless asked otherwise). We will be offering online strenght and flex and flexibility for these two weeks and set open training sessions (for a max of 4 people per hour) which can be booked through our calendar on Team Up.

Thanks for your attention.

Best regards,
The Aerial Art House Team

REQUIREMENTS DURING PHASE 3
• Waiver must be signed for entry (Available on Team Up when signing up for any class)
• Masks must be worn when entering and leaving the venue
• Social distancing required
• Cleaning and disinfecting equipment after use
• Professionals are advised to use their own equipment if possible or use Aerial Art House equipment for additional charge (after the disinfection AAH equipment need to be quarantined for a minimum of 3 days)
• Physical contact is allowed within training bubbles
• New ventilation has been installed
• More time in between classes to allow for cleaning and disinfection
• Class sizes will be reduced
• Floor marks need to be strictly followed for entering and exiting the building as well as for use of the toilet
• All persons must have a normal temperature and no symptoms of COVID-19
• Hands need to be washed and disinfected when entering and leaving the building
• The kitchen is not for use in this phase 

Aerial Art House has officially launched registration for the “Reconnecting Families” activities. The project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, will take place from 29th August to 21st November in the Restalrig area, at Aerial Art House (respecting the social distancing measures), or online/outdoor if the restrictions won’t be eased. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic crisis families with young children at home and parents-to-be are struggling more than ever due to increased stress and reduced support.
The “Reconnecting Families” project aims to protect those people’s mental health and wellbeing by encouraging post-lockdown community bonding and exercise. 

“We believe that circus can help our neighbourhood come out strong from this crises” said Emanuela Orti, Company Director at Aerial Art House.
“We want people to experience the joy of circus and the magic of being together,” added Hania Chwialkowska, Founder and Director at Aerial Art House. 

Local families will be able to attend free of charge: 
• Community support sessions 
• Circus-based fitness classes for kids 
• Family entertainment 
100 activity packages will be distributed to local who won’t be able to take part in the activities for any reason. 
Midwife advice sessions will follow pregnant women and new mums aerial yoga sessions to provide support and help families strengthen social connections in their neighbourhood.
Circus classes of various types will keep the kids active and entertained, to benefit their physical and mental health. Family entertainment will improve people’s mood during this difficult time.

Book here: https://aerial-art-house.class4kids.co.uk/ or here for pregnancy sessions: https://goteamup.com/p/2618907-aerial-art-house/