We were lucky to catch up with Leah Grandstaff recently and have shared our conversation below.
Leah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I began my circus journey in 2013 when a good friend convinced me to attend an aerial silks class. From the start I was enamored with this silky vertical apparatus & thirsty for knowledge in the craft! I remember coming across an incredible comedic solo static trapeze performance on youtube which inspired me greatly. At that time, videos online were few & far between. Fast forward to today where there is a plethora of performance pieces posted across multiple platforms as well as solid & structured progressive aerial instruction all over the internet, from free content to paid subscriptions. The industry is saturated today in comparison!
I am grateful to have started my relationship with aerial silks taking in person classes & finding immense support & friendships within the aerial & circus community. While I appreciate how far coaching & curriculum in itself has come in this timespan, I recognize that having come into this art/modality a wee bit ahead of the “masses,” has granted me certain opportunities! I have also had the pleasure of learning from some of the pioneers of the art, which has given me incredible perspective.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am currently a full time circus artist & coach. I fell in love with movement in the aerial silks in 2013 & spent the next several years figuring out how to increase the presence of circus in my life! I started out taking one then several classes a week, got the performance bug pretty early on, with my focus on learning the art. It wasn’t long before I realized how much this art-form brought about my own personal healing & growth & I knew I wanted to share this gift with others, thus my path toward coaching began. In 2016 I attended my first aerial coaching training & have been coaching kiddos & adults ever since.
It took several years of piecing together several income sources to get the ends to meet, but once they did, it was a momentous occasion when I was fully transitioned to full time circus!
My entertainment services include aerial entertainment, partner acrobatics, & stilt-walking. My coaching services are focused on aerial silks & duo-trapeze, but I also offer lessons on other aerial apparatuses as well as partner acrobatics.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As a performer, it brings me great joy to hear audience appreciation & feedback. It is thrilling to hear that my performances have, for instance, had folks on the edge of their seats! I love that I can take folks out of their heads & into the moment to be dazzled & awed!
As a lover of aerial movement, my time in the air can be incredibly cathartic. It is a big part of my self-care to make time for myself to get to play in the air & with my craft.
As a coach, it fills my soul to help my students achieve their goals & unlock skills. It is 100% rewarding to witness & guide students in their individual journeys. Aerial & circus overall changed my life in such substantial ways, I just love sharing the gift & seeing what it brings for others. Whether it’s a one-time experience or years of training & repetition, I consider myself lucky to get to be a guide for other humans in this way. When my students have shared their stories with me about how aerial changed their lives specifically & often crediting me in some manner in this, it makes my heart full. I know I play such a small role, but also get why they feel the need to credit me, as I do the same with my OG coaches & aerial community!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Honesty. Open communication. Authenticity. Reliability. Accountability. Professionalism.
I often say I have been incredibly lucky in my aerial & circus career & that opportunities have come my way out of sheer luck, but in all honesty I know many of the amazing things that have come my way are because I built solid relationships with folks along the way. I have treated people around me with respect & consideration & that is not to be undervalued!
Partnering & collaborating with other folks whom I admire & respect has certainly contributed hugely to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://leahtardwedgie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahtard.wedgie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeahWinniegypsy
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-_uImTQB2y1Hd64LY1awYw3Y8cLXOOGL
- Other: https://linktr.ee/LeahTardWedgie?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=586dcaea-ff3c-4fed-8f17-4579ec6010fc
Image Credits
Martha Wirth Bill Strong Eric Brown Alvin Green, Jr Annabelle Denmark In the Wings