Natalie Keller
Aerial Coach/Dance Captain/Choreographer
A Colorado native Natalie first discovered the world of aerial at age 11 at the Aerial Dance Festival in Boulder, Co. From there she was hooked on anything in the air. At age 14 she went to Montreal to train at Ecole National du Cirque's summer session, in high school it wasn't uncommon for her to practice 4-5 hours a day on top of school, marching band, dance class and performing. She was a principal aerialist for The Thorn on their national tour for three years, starting at the age of 16! The day after she graduated she toured with The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps as part of the color guard and a featured dancer. After that she worked for a year working with the Millibo Art Theatre as a performer and instructor, Dragonfly Aerial Company as a program developer all in Colorado Springs as well as a free lance aerial performer for corporate events.
Natalie then went to the Nation Centre for Circus Arts in London, U.K. to get a degree in Circus Arts. She majored in aerial loop, an apparatus of her own invention featuring a fabric sling attached to a custom made spreader bar from Aerial Animals. She quickly secured work teaching for several companies in London as well as directing a charity event for tearfund.org through the Anglican Church. Some of her instructors included Leo Hedman, Will Davies, Rita Van Opzeeland and Clare Anderson.
Since completing her degree, Natalie has returned to Colorado to dance with Iluminar and build her own business, which focuses on circus outreach and youth ministry. She has also contributed to Rebekah Leach's upcoming sling manual, as well as choreographed for her youth class, Natalie is also working as a National Program Director for Dragonfly Aerial Company. In her free-time she loves to explore nature with her dog, bake and ski.