Aerial Haven opened its doors during the bleak early days of the pandemic, but nearly four years later, the College Point studio, known for its circus-style aerial arts, is taking off.
The center, tucked away by the waterfront on 110th Street and 15th Avenue, boasts 25-foot-high ceilings with colorful silks hanging above safety mats. While most of the students who come for the aerial classes are locals, some have traveled from Westchester, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Long Island.
Unlike aerial yoga classes, which are more commonly found across the five boroughs, the studio specializes in circus-style aerial arts. This combination of dance and gymnastics demands significant grip strength, a strong core and overall athleticism.
But Danielle Kocal, one of the owners, expressed that first-timers should not fret about not being strong enough to try out an intimate “Intro to Silks and Hammock” class, which has recently begun to sell out.
“Even if you’ve never exercised a day in your life, and you consider yourself really out of shape, I’ll get you upside down that first day,” she told QNS. “You will definitely do something cool on your first day.”
The studio offers classes for both children and adults, which are equally popular. The six highly skilled instructors also encourage progression. Whether you are returning for an aerial silk or belly dancing class, you can move up to a higher-level class.
Kocal jokes that she opened the studio for selfish reasons. At the time, she was taking classes at another aerial studio with her former teacher, Laura Haley, who is now her business partner and co-owner of Aerial Haven.
When she learned that the studio was closing, she knew she needed to find another place to continue learning the craft for her and her two daughters, who have also been practicing for almost a decade.
“I wanted to keep going for myself and for my girls. And Laura always had a long-term goal that she might want to open a studio. I just approached her, and she said, ‘Okay, yeah, let’s do it together,’” recalled Kocal.
Despite having no prior business experience, the duo developed a successful model that draws people to College Point for a one-of-a-kind experience. Remarkably, they managed to thrive even while launching a business that relied on in-person interaction during a time when social distancing was the norm.
Due to the strict restrictions caused by the pandemic, classes were limited to four people wearing masks and divided by additional silks. The instructors could not make hands-on adjustments and the students faced the additional challenge of performing strenuous physical activity in masks.
But now, classes fit more students and facilitate connections. They say the local community has been supportive since day one, and the studio’s more secluded location has not stopped them from growing the business with more offerings and students than ever.
That experience has also given the owners an endurance mindset: “If we can open a business during COVID-19, no other obstacle would probably come close.”
They were originally set to open in a space in Bayside in March 2020 and even paid the first month’s rent before everything shut down. They opened formally in the College Point space, which had even taller ceilings perfect for their work, in January 2021.
“We love being in College Point,” said Kocal, who grew up in the neighborhood. “It’s extra special for me to have a business here because it is an underserved part of Queens.”
“Many of our students come to us, and they’re like, ‘I did not even know that College Point was a place, let alone that you guys are here.’”
In addition to weekly classes, there are also a range of special programs geared towards children. Circus camps are held during short school breaks and over the summer. The space is also available to book for birthday parties.
The team recently added a workshop for those looking to break into the nightlife industry as an aerial performer. It covered important topics such as contract negotiation for fair pay, safety requirements, insurance and proper self-care to stay safe on the job. Afterward, the attendees wore costumes and “performed in a nightlife setting” devised in the studio.
“We’re different. There’s not a lot of places that do this,” said Kocal. “A lot of times, people do show up thinking that they signed up for an aerial yoga class. I have to explain that this is not yoga. We’re not posing. But it’s more fun, I think, to be learning cool circus tricks.”
Aeriel Haven’s website has a full schedule with prices and the ability to book directly online. The studio is primarily open on weekday evenings and weekend afternoons.
