Meet the Instructors

Heather Bailey

Instructor for Silks | Lyra | Rope | Trapeze | Doubles Aerial | Founder & HoS Company Performer

Heather is the Owner and Executive/Artistic Director of Host of Sparrows. Yes, this is her Circus, and these are her monkeys! She trained as a teacher and aerialist under her mentor Robyn Berry of Artisan Athletics from 2006-2013. Before then, she studied film acting at The Actors Place in VA Beach with Sylvia Harmon, and had a career working in many facets of the film industry. Her focus was mostly acting but also worked in production, booking, casting as an agent, and in costume & makeup design. She received her BFA from VCU in Theatre, with a focus in theater performance & dance. Heather teaches classes and also books top circus talent for film and television, community & corporate events. Heather also facilitates creative public performance art exhibitions, produces shows, & creates unique commission pieces. She has a background in risk management and safety, circus rigging, and is CPR/Ad/First Aid certified.

Christina Peck Llames

Silks & Lyra Instructor & HoS Company Performer

Christina Llames is a classically trained dancer and performer with a background in ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap. She began her aerial journey in 2010 while looking for something fun to do on vacation, finding a pole & aerial studio, and taking her first of many classes. She discovered her passion for all things circus in 2015 when she started taking Lyra classes with Heather Bailey and Host of Sparrows. Christina has performed in shows and competitions in a variety of disciplines including Lyra, hoop, fire hoop, aerial sling and pole. She is currently performing with the Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus. In addition to her training at Host of Sparrows, she has worked with Paper Doll Militia, Born to Fly Productions, Butter & Filth, Soul Aerial and Performing Arts and Sora Aerial Arts. Christina attended Lyra teacher training with Born to Fly Productions and began assistant teaching with Host of Sparrows in 2018. As a teacher, her goal is to build a solid base of proper technique, coupled with an understanding of aerial movement, so that her students can safely and confidently explore their creativity. She is also CPR/AED/First Aid certified.

Aubrey Duerksen

Silks & Double Silks Instructor & HoS Company Performer

Aubrey has been practicing and performing aerial silks since 2011, and she taught aerial silks for children of varying abilities in preparation for SPARC: Live Art shows in 2016 and 2017. Aubrey was also a recreational and competitive gymnast for a combined 12 years. Following retirement from competition, Aubrey spent 8 years teaching gymnastics and power tumbling to competitive dancers, cheerleaders, and those enjoying the sport for strength and recreation. Aubrey has extensive experience teaching ages 2-64.

Joe Duerksen

Silks | Rope | Double Silks Instructor & HoS Company Performer

Joe has been an aerial performer for 14 years. From 2009-2012, he was a performer, rigger, and dancer for ‘Project in Motion’ aerial dance company in New Mexico. Joe was a dancer and aerialist performing in The Palace at Night, a production and creation from Project in Motion inspired by the artist and sculpture Alberto Giacometti, performed throughout southwest New Mexico and at the Arts Midwest Spotlight Performance in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2011.Joes began training at Host of Sparrows in 2014, and his first performance was the annual Mardi Gras in 2015 at Dogtown Dance Theater, and he became a company member in 2016, as a cast as a dancer and aerialist in The Big Top in the Little Easy with Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus. Joe has also been a ropes course instructor and rigger for various organizations and camps from 2009-2014. Joe is trained in aerial silks (solo and duo), aerial rope (corde de lisse), rigging, and a few other apparatus. He loves finding and creating new pathways of movement. Circus has become an outlet to explore the limits of the body.And he enjoys a stage and climbing just about anything!

Hannah Elvington

Parent & Baby Silk Hammock Instructor & HoS Company Performer

Hannah discovered aerial silks in 2011 in the earliest days of Host of Sparrows. She found a home for the next nine years, performing and designing makeup for shows. After taking a four year hiatus to raise babies and focus her energy on family, she has returned to the silks for the love of being upside down, building strength and growing community. Her co-instructor for her Parent & Baby silks class is Bryn, born April 2023.

Syd Leighton

Static Trapeze, Dance Trapeze, & Lyra Instructor

Sydney came back to Richmond via Charlotte, NC. She has trained silks, lyra, and trapeze beginning in 2015 and brings a lot to the table with her dance, gymnastics, and theater background. She has a special love for dance trapeze as it offers “spinny goodness and twisty rope qualities”. She strives every day to share with others the confidence and strength she found in aerial movement. Home is with her Husband, two cats, and their snake.

Travis Ross

Juggling

Travis has been studying and performing with Host of Sparrows since 2016. His repertoire includes juggling, aerial silks, interactive street performance, tech and rigging. With a background in IT and Parks and Recreation, he focuses on creating a positive environment for his community.  

Rebecca Dalby

Hula Hoop Dance

Seeing a hoop dancer for the first time in 2013, made me realize THAT was what I had to do! Starting to learn tricks, combinations and new ways of moving with the hoop ignited a passion for dance I never knew I had. In the following years I took every class, watched ALL the videos, and attended retreats and conventions for both hoop and dance across the US and Europe, performed at private events and festivals, and worked towards my teacher training. I found that though the foundational movements or tricks might have the same mechanics, they all look different on each body, driven by each unique mind and soul.

My goal as an instructor is to give my students the direction and space to develop and enjoy their personal style or movement with the hoop. So that maybe, like me, you can discover YOUR dance.

Amy Salguero

Yoga & Partner Acro

Amy Salguero is a dynamic mover and fitness enthusiast, sharing her nurturing, challenging, and fun teaching style globally for over 20 years. She has traveled to
diverse locations such as Kenya, Thailand, Australia, Europe, and the United States, always seeking new opportunities to train, teach, learn, and share her passion for movement. .
Amy's extensive experience includes 26 years of teaching movement and dance as full-time faculty at the University of Oregon. She served as the Festival Director of AcroYoga International for six years and is a co-developer of AcroFit. Amy has numerous certifications including: NASM Certified Personal Trainer, E-RYT 500 Certified Yoga Teacher, RAD Mobility & Recovery Specialist, USA Climbing Coach, CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach.

Amy has been sharing AcroYoga since 2008 and believes everyone can fly.