Jan. 7, 2022

Two friends in the aerial fitness industry have formed a company aimed at bringing their talents to special events.

Kayla Mathieu and Katie Hermann formed Cirka Performing Arts recently as a way to offer their skills to those looking for unique entertainment.

The friends are two of the head coaches at 605 Ninja, which has added an area at its Western Mall location for aerial fitness.

“You see Cirque performances in Las Vegas and it’s this marvel people look at, and we want to bring that locally to our events and showcase local talent and give them something unique,” Hermann said. “There’s nothing similar around here in terms of event entertainment … whether it’s corporate events, weddings, festivals.”

They began the business in late November and have done a handful of events so far, including a holiday party and shows at Club David.

“Right now, we’re trying to make connections with event planners,” Hermann said.

They can bring together four performers for a 30-minute to two-hour show. Silks reach about 28 feet into the air, and shows can be done inside or outdoors.

“We’re open to traveling, bringing it to different event centers, and we’re willing to do birthdays and one-off events, so it doesn’t have to be a big event,” Hermann said. “The biggest thing for us is getting out there, and we want the exposure but also want people to know we’re just average people with normal jobs and also able to fit this into our lifestyle.”

Hermann is a former gymnast who got involved in aerial fitness when she moved to Sioux Falls almost five years ago.

Mathieu “kind of fell into it randomly” while looking for a fitness outlet after giving birth to her second child.

“I stumbled upon it and fell in love with it,” she said. “It’s a fun workout. It’s something different to do versus your typical gym, which is why I fell in love with it. I have no background in dance or gymnastics, and I fell in love with being able to stay active in a different form.”

Hermann’s passion is teaching adults “and getting them from ground zero to whatever athletic ability they want,” she said. “We want to show people if they want a fun workout they can come try this or if they want to be performers it’s absolutely attainable.”