January 20, 2017

Meet Kimberly Sende of Inspire Aerial Arts in Midtown

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Sende.

Kimberly, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been drawn to being in the air. In 2008, while studying for my Master of Public Health at NYU, I stumbled onto a circus school that offered aerial classes. From the moment I went upside down, I was hooked.

I started teaching aerial shortly after moving back to Atlanta. I loved it so much that when the opportunity arose, I attended professional teacher training with the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) and decided to open my own studio.

Since then, I have been fortunate enough to train with countless professional aerialists and Cirque du Soleil artists from around the world.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Anyone who has ever owned a business will tell you that it is rarely smooth sailing, but you choose to go on this ride anyway because you want to create something meaningful.

Finding the right location for the studio was the most challenging part of this journey. I admit that my requirements were not simple. I was looking for a building in town, with at least 20-foot ceilings that were structurally sound and required very few renovations. Add to that the fact that people would be hanging from the ceiling…let’s just say, it made many a landlord nervous.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Inspire Aerial Arts – what should we know?
Our studio offers aerial silks, aerial fitness and performing arts classes. Our instructors are known for being passionate and dedicated to providing professional aerial instruction in a safe environment. But we are especially known for being welcoming and making aerial accessible to people from all walks of life.

We are most proud of being the little train that could. We started really small, with one staff member and eight students in a 240 sq ft room. In less than 3 years, we’ve increased the number of trainers to eight, have trained over a thousand students and are now located in a beautiful 2500 sq ft space in the heart of Midtown.

What sets our studio apart is that there are no strangers here. From the moment you walk into our doors, you will feel like part of the family. A strange, silly and fun circus family but a family nonetheless.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I would not be here were it not for the support of my incredible family. They’ve offered me so much encouragement, advice, cold hard cash and free labor, I am eternally grateful and could never repay them for their generosity…even though they keep asking.

I also could not have ventured on this path without my amazingly patient, dedicated and loyal students, who have cheered me on, given me hope and sustained my faith in humanity every step of the way. They have literally followed me everywhere and have been tireless in their support, from helping me find a new space to helping me paint, to bringing me the best gifts anyone could ask for.

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