UpSwing is a contemporary aerial dance company that features the repertory of Artistic Director Cherie Carson. The Company has been presented locally and nationally, performing & teaching to audiences and students in Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; Seattle, WA; Santa Barbara, Sacramento and San Francisco, CA; and San Antonio, Austin and Houston, TX.
“Cherie's productions are consistently creative and beautifully done. I am happy to witness UpSwing's contributions to the field of aerial dance, and appreciate the spiritual feeling of Cherie’s work.” Terry Sendgraff
Cherie Carson
Artistic Director / Company class/workshops
Cherie Carson, Company classes and workshops, performed her first aerial dance piece in 1990. Cherie created her first dance film in 1992 which was a finalist for the Robert Bennett Award in Los Angeles that year. She choreographs dance works that have been performed in a planetarium, on stilts, on rollerblades, in sculpture gardens, reflection pools, in a dress of 11 yards, on a bungee cord hanging from a Banyan tree, flying in a Redwood grove, on trapeze, tissu, slings, rope & harness, and invented equipment. Cherie has created more than 50 aerial pieces. Her last six dance-for-camera films (2020 – 2022) have collectively been festival selections by 95 festivals around the world and have won 21 awards.
KC Hyland
Photo credit: Deena Smith
Company Dancer/ Adjunct Teacher/workshop
KC Hyland is an actor and aerialist specializing in dance trapeze and aerial hoop who performs in a variety of live and virtual shows for audiences seeking unique storytelling experiences. Fifteen years of competitive rugby have given KC a fierceness which manifests as passionate, soulful movement. Performing on dance trapeze and her custom red Tiny Hoop around the San Francisco Bay Area, KC can also bring her humor, room-filling personality, and a grinning charisma to any stage. Her playful wit and expressive face make her one of the most charming and engaging immersive actors in the Bay Area scene
Carrie Karlovic
Photo credit: Deena Smith
Company Dancer/Adjunct Teacher
Carrie was diagnosed with a chronic illness soon after discovering aerial arts, and working on silks and rope helped her relearn her body and feel pride in what it can do with the apparatus as a dance partner. Carrie enjoys supporting students as they learn the principles behind wraps, mobility, and movement pathways. Her ambition is for her students to leave with a strong foundation on the apparatus and a deeper understanding and appreciation of their bodies.
SAM MALLOY
Adults and Youth teacher
Sam Malloy is a contemporary circus artist specializing in Fabric and Pole. Originally from the Bay, Sam spent three years studying at the New England Center for Circus Arts ProTrack Program and graduated in May of 2022. Now they are back, driven by their passion to provide a safe, challenging, and fun learning environment for their students and peers. They aspire to help their students work hard and laugh hard. As a trans non-binary performer and instructor, Sam is passionate about using circus as a means of representation and celebration of the LGBT+ community.
Chris Spiteri
photo credit: Deena Smith
education director / Company Dancer / TEENS WHO FLY & Adults teacher
Chris Spiteri has been described as a "force of nature like elegant steel". They love teaching and performing aerial arts, creating a safe learning environment where ANY BODY can achieve their aerial goals. They are a nationally touring workshop instructor and accomplished program director in aerial arts, as well as a community leader, choreographer and multifaceted performer. You can find out more about Chris at ChrisSpiteriRigged.com
Caleigh Schaad
Adults teacher
Caleigh recently relocated to the Bay Area to pursue her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. After several years of rock climbing and performing on pole, she took an aerial silks class in 2020 and fell in love with Circus. An enthusiast for creative movement, she trains Lyra, Straps, and Partner Acrobatics in addition to teaching. Caleigh enjoys working with students of all levels, and is a firm believer that aerial class is a space where everybody can and should feel safe, welcome, and accepted. Her philosophy both in her therapy practice and in her teaching is that it is essential to meet every individual where they are in order to foster growth and confidence.
Helium valentine
photo credit: Deena Smith
Rehearsal director/Company Dancer/ Teacher for Girls Who Fly
Helium Valentine began dancing in primary school with the Atlanta Ballet and continued technique even when she moved to the small town of Fresno in the 20th century. After a cold stint in Ohio to attend Oberlin college, upon graduation she she moved to LA. There she eventually found the aerial arts, completed the Protrack program in Boulder, CO, then came back to California where she joined UpSwing in 2017.