Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Thornton
Hi Kayla, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up I had always been involved in the performing arts. I studied theatre after high school at Elon University and then in my early 20’s, I took my first aerial class. It was love at first flight and I haven’t looked back since. Six months after my first class I did my first studio showcase and I knew that this was something I wanted to do more of. I started training more apparatuses, working with coaches from all over the world, and eventually started putting acts together. My first big moment was getting to perform aerial hoop onstage with Nina West! Since then I’ve been on stages across the country from circus festivals in Vegas to resorts here in Florida. Any time I get in the air is euphoric and now I get to live my dream weekly as an aerialist and mermaid with Pirates Dinner Adventure here in Orlando!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To paraphrase Tina Turner, I never do nothing nice and easy. My road has been anything but smooth. It’s been plagued with illness, injury, and personal setbacks. Early on in my professional career I ended up with injury so bad it took over a month to be able to sit up on my own. The physical recovery was the easy part though. Pushing the past the mental barriers and the struggle of not being able to do things I used to do with ease, that was a different story. I also had to refocus my career goals after my relationship and duo partnership of five years ended. If anything, though, the road I’ve ended up on has taught me to be adaptable, resourceful, and resilient. I firmly believe that every time you rise from the ashes, you come back stronger. It’s also something that influences the type of work I like to create and who I am as an artist. There’s grit there.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to think that I bring a bit of rock n’ roll edge to the circus that I do. I love choreographing to punk and metal and find myself most drawn to acts that have some darkness to them. There’s something about art that asks us to acknowledge our shadow selves that really appeals to me.
As an aerial artist, I’ve trained various disciplines like silks, aerial hoop, and trapeze. I spent several years focusing on duo work but recently I’ve been gravitating to straps as an apparatus. I love showcasing strength and dynamic movement and straps does that exceptionally well. I’m incredibly proud of the work I’ve done at Pirates Dinner Adventure, where I had not only pushed myself as an aerialist but have picked up new skills in stunts and stage combat.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Grit, without a doubt. There’s a lot of literal blood, sweat, and tears that goes into circus and you have to truly want it to make it through. Hanging by your ankles from a metal hoop is not for the faint of heart! But honestly, grit and an ability to find a new path no matter what gets thrown at me have been huge factors. I also wouldn’t be here without all the coaches, trainers, and castmates who have pushed me and saw things in me when I couldn’t see them in myself yet.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylasansgravity
Image Credits
Photo 3: Motley Joey
Photo 4: Small Bee Photography
Photo 5: Right Angle Photography
Photo 6: Nina Reed
