Meet The Team
Meaghan McCready
Meaghan is certified in aerial silks, hammock, and hoop. She has been performing aerial for 8 years and has been teaching aerial for about 7 years. She is one of the founders of Aerial AF, and is the production director for the company. Her favorite thing to do on silks is to spin as fast as possible, and she has a propensity for aerialing in a unicorn onesie.
If you come to Meaghan’s class, you can expect: funny pronunciations of words, loud and unrelenting encouragement, funky dance breaks, and a playlist that oscillates between David Bowie and some weird dark moody music. A common motto in her class is, “It’s not a good day unless someone’s on the ground”. She believes strongly that aerial should be just as fun as it is productive. In her class, you can expect to work your body, challenge your creativity, and have a really great time.
Marisa Sanchez-Bennett
As a seasoned Professional Figure Skating Coach and musical theater performer, Marisa began her Aerial journey looking to build upper body strength. She quickly fell in love with the Aerial Arts and began training anywhere she could; from San Diego to Las Vegas to Kaanapali Hawaii. In January 2021, Marisa traveled to Castle Rock, Colorado to obtain her education from Rebekah Leach and the Born to Fly Teacher Training curriculum; and in Spring 2021 she earned her teaching certification in Aerial Sling/Hammock.
Marisa takes pride in combining the discipline of figure skating with the emphasis on performance quality from musical theatre; creating a dynamic approach to aerial that is all her own.
Marisa also holds an AA Degree in Liberal Arts, and enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and spoiled little fur babies.
Then in spring of 2024, Marisa began her teacher training journey with Paper Doll militia, and earned her level one Dance Trapeze teaching certification the following year; becoming the first aerialist in the central valley to do so.
Brittany Kitchen
Brittany is a 27 year old cat mom from Shaver Lake. She co-founded Aerial Arts Fresno and used to be a performer and artistic director for Fresno Dance Collective (NOCO). She has background in dance, cheer and gymnastics. During college Brittany discovered aerial and yoga from a teacher and quickly realized the perfect balance these forms of movement held when used complimentary to one another. Aerial and yoga became the perfect balance of yin & yang in her life.
Brittany or BK as we sometimes call her has now been teaching and performing aerial for 6 years and guiding yoga for 4. Receiving certifications from Aerial Physique in LA, Cirq Fit in SF, and School of Yoga Institute in Guatemala BK now holds 5 teaching certifications in silks, lyra, and yoga. Fun fact: she is self taught on sling! Come flow and grow your skills with her while jamming to some soulful tunes.
Kelly Karkoska
Kelly’s passion for community and inclusivity drives her aerial practice and instruction. She received her teacher training from Jill Franklin of Aerial Physique in the summer of 2016 and jumped right into teaching for Fresno Dance Collective where she helped build and run the aerial arts program. In 2018 she became a co-founder of Aerial Arts Fresno, a non-profit aerial performance company where she has helped to provide high quality aerial performance opportunities for local professional aerialists.
Kylie Carrigan
Kylie is a visual and performing artist, aerial instructor, and dancer who recently moved back to Fresno from Los Angeles. She was trained at the Severance Conservatory, now owned by Cal Arts, and performed with the Fresno Ballet from ages 8 to 18. Kylie was the first student certified through the Aerial Physique teacher training program in Los Angeles and went on to become the first additional instructor hired at Aerial Physique from 2014-2018. Kylie earned her Master’s Degree in Fine Art in 2017 from the School of the Art Institute Chicago with presenting a thesis on aerial practice. She then went on to serve as Aerial Curriculum Director for Wildman Athletica from 2018-2020 before moving back to Fresno. Kylie brings the ease of movement and beautiful lines of ballet to her aerial practice and aims to impart upon her students a deep understanding of the skills she teaches.
‘Phie Mura
Emily Flores