Intermediate +
Aerial Silks & Hoop Retreat
Skills, Sequences, Flexibility & Creativity
Instructors: Kerri Kresinski & guests
Nov 28-Dec 5, 2026
Casa Chango Mexico, Puerto Escondido
BIPOC Half Scholarship Available. Apply here by Aug 15.
Spend a WEEK in PARADISE with new friends, the beach, delicious, fresh, local food, and learn loads and loads of new aerial skills!
Enjoy 3 classes each day.
Morning classes will be technical training on aerial silks and hoop with focus on movement efficiency, progressions, skills, theory, and sequences building each day. Learn variations and dynamic movement to give life to your aerial work.
There will be 2 classes each morning for each apparatus. Students are welcome to take one class for each apparatus or 2 classes on the same apparatus.
Afternoon classes will be focused from floor to apparatus, adding nuance and new movement pathways to our skills and sequences. We will learn exercises specifically to help us connect authentically with our body, our skills and musicality that can be immediately applied to our practice. We will compliment our aerial work with active flexibility and sustainability training.
The rest of your time will be spent eating delicious food, swimming in the pool, lounging in hammocks, and enjoying being in nature. There will be time to explore local markets and beaches as well as the local night life.
This retreat is for intermediate+ level aerialists with at least 2 years of ongoing practice. It is great for aerialists who want to advance their skills, work on sequencing, cross-training, flexibility, and floor work, and have loads of fun doing it!
Daily Schedule Sample:
- 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Tea, Coffee and Breakfast
- 10:00 a.m. – Group Warm Up
- 10:30 a.m. -11:45 a.m. – Aerial Hoop Skills & Sequences
- 11:45 a.m. -1:00 p.m. – Aerial Silks Skills & Sequences
- 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
- 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. – Free time (pool, hot tub, hammocks)
- 3:30 p.m. – Afternoon snack and beverage
- 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Flexibility, Creative Sequencing
- 7:00 p.m. – Dinner
- 8:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. – Free time and evening activities
We will take you to our favorite beaches for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, and releasing baby turtles into the sea. Optional evening adventures include a bioluminescent lagoon & local night market.
Read more about our excursions here.
Prerequisites:
Each student should arrive with a clear understanding of and be able to execute the following with ease:
(Note: Students who plan to take classes on only one apparatus (silks or hoop) only have to meet the prerequisites for that one apparatus. Students who plan to take both apparatuses must meet the prerequisites for both apparatuses.
Silks:
- Climbs
- Straddle invert from the air (doesn’t have to be perfect, but expect to work on it!)
- Catchers lock
- Foot wraps
- Hip key
- Basic star drops and saltos
- Ability stay in the air moving/doing skills for 3 minutes without a rest
Hoop/Lyra:
- Straddle invert from the air (doesn’t have to be perfect, but expect to work on it!)
- Knee hang
- Front Balance
- Back Balance
- Some experience with Spinning
- Ability stay in the air moving/doing skills for 3 minutes without a rest
If you are more suited for a beginner retreat, please sign up for our Beginner Aerial Retreat.
Your instructors:
Kerri has been performing and teaching acrobatics, dance, and aerial arts for over 20 years. Her life’s work, as an artist and teacher, has been to develop and deepen her study of the body. She has learned that anything is possible with patience, discipline and a positive attitude.
Kerri teaches her students how to own their practice. Focusing on fundamental elements of technique, anatomy, and the physics of movement, her students learn how to train. Kerri goes beyond teaching skills and sequences. She teaches how to identify, alter, and create your own skills and sequences, and best of all how to fully embody the movement of each skill in the most satisfying way for the doer and the viewer. Technique, balance, stability, mobility, movement pathways, creativity, 360 degree movement, musicality, originality, intentional movement, elements of surprise and awe, and a deep connection to humanity is what you will get if you work with Kerri.
Kerri’s technical expertise comes from working with students of all ages, shapes, sizes, and challenges.
You can find Kerri’s performance videos here and Circus Fit free online tutorial videos here. Find Kerri on Instagram @SweetCircusKerri.
Student Testimonials
“Kerri’s teaching is accessible, creative, and empowering. This retreat was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. I can’t wait to go back. Taking what I’ve learned here and applying it in my home studio has inspired me to level up my aerial game; advancing my technique, my understanding of theory, and my creativity and intentionality. I cannot say enough good things about how enriching and powerful this experience in Mexico is, including the people I met along the way.’
Kieran Stilson, 2022
“Kerri is hands-down the best aerials instructor I’ve ever had. In our retreat, we had some students with 3 months of experience and some 7 years, and somehow she gave us all personalized attention and narrowed in immediately in each of our needs. She has an unparalleled knowledge of the human body and how to create a safe, sustainable aerials practice. Whether you are just getting started, or having been practicing for years, Kerri helps take your practice to the next level and teaches wrap theory in a way that makes learning new moves at any studio more feasible. All her classes are energetic and fun, often featuring easy cardio dance routines that double as specific muscle warmups. After working with Kerri in one residency, I was so hooked I came back for a second. She is a one-in-a-million teacher, who really lives eats and breathes her craft, and it shows!”
Sophie Sandweiss, 2022
“Kerri has a gift for explaining things in ways that actually make sense – and sticks. She uses the most fun, creative imagery to break down complex moves, and it totally works… because weeks later, that image will just pop into your head and suddenly your body remembers what to do.
And then there’s the performance and expression side of Kerri’s teaching, which takes your individual skills into sequences and choreography that you can actually use for performances. Kerri has a way of showing you how a very simple move can be absolutely stunning. She shows you how to play with the little details and transitions in each movement. “
Alara Rosenberg, 2026
“Not only did I learn how to manage Ariel math and exploration, but I learned about what muscles to use and how to engage them. We also spent a significant amount of time learning how to use our bodies artistically through dance and the importance of proper strength and flexibility. Kerri is an incredible teacher. I plan on attending regular retreats.”
Elizabeth Rillera, 2022
I really liked learning theory – how the s wrap and z wrap are connected, the harness, c-shaping, how to hold my body for a windmill or for bell beats. Choreography and movement exercises were a lot of fun and made me feel really free to move in unexpected ways.
Adrienne Gispen 2025
“Kerri’s enthusiasm is infectious; she is a master teacher who generously shares all her wisdom accumulated from years of practicing her art and craft.”
Linda Huang – San Francisco, Ca 2022
Kerri imbues her classes with a really sweet combination of focused work, zany playfulness, and an earthy and body-positive sensuality. I walked away from my time as Kerri’s student more capable, skilled, and excited not just about aerial, but about the journey to reaching my goals. I typically have given myself a hard time– about a number of things in life– including my journey with aerials. Kerri is skilled and optimistic, is genuinely there for you, and 100% rooting for you to “get that thing” and if you’re not there yet, can show you what needs to be done to get you to progress. She knows the value of the hard or ugly work, but she knows how to do it in a way that is fun and full of compassion for yourself and your journey. I truly appreciate this woman and friend, and I now know that my time at Sweet Retreats was a workshop on many levels, and not just in the air.
Elizabeth Ferretti, 2019
Kerri is an amazing silks teacher that really helped me to understand silks in a way that never made sense to me before. She has such a wealth of knowledge to share from silks theory, progressions, etc.
Deborah Oh, 2021
Attending the aerial hoop retreat has reignited the flame that had been missing for so long and has given me new goals to work towards and skills to progress. This trip was definitely among the top choices I have made in my life.
Jessica Smielecki – Sebastopol, CA
Photo Shoots
Retreat pricing in USD:
| Your choice of accommodations: | Early Bird Price | Full Price |
| Shared Dorm (mixed gender) | $2000 | $2300 |
| Shared Room w Shared Bathroom (2 friends/couple sharing a room) | $2200 | $2500 |
| Shared Room w Private Bathroom (2 friends/couple sharing a room) | $2300 | $2600 |
| Private Room w Shared Bathroom | $2500 | $2800 |
| Private Room w Private Bathroom | $2800 | $3100 |
| Private Room w Private Bathroom & Air Conditioner | $3100 | $3400 |
$500 Deposit is required to secure your spot.
Early bird prices end Aug 15 for the Dec Retreat.
Full tuition is due by one month before the first day of the retreat.
Rates refer to cost of one person’s tuition.
Couples must sign up together.
Significant others and friends who are not taking classes are welcome at a special price.
Dorms are mixed gender.
Click here for room descriptions.
What’s included:
- Ground transportation from the Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) to Casa Chango if participants arrive to PXM on the specific arrival/departure dates listed.
- Arrive Nov 28. Depart Dec 6.
- Private or shared accommodations at Casa Chango eco-chic resort. Click here to take a look at your options.
- Daily cleaning service.
- 3 nourishing meals a day in our beautiful open-air kitchen. Click here to learn more about meals.
- Breakfast: 7:30-9:30am
- Lunch: 1-1:45pm
- Afternoon treat & ice coffee: 3:30pm
- Dinner & Dessert: 7-7:45pm
- Communal space for personal food storage in our kitchen.
- Use of all community areas:
- Swimming pool & hot tub
- Lounge with couches, books & a movie projector
- Kitchen & dining area
- Amazing 2000 square foot open-air Circus Gym
- Dance studio
- Hammocks for lounging
- Private hiking trail down to the Colotepec River
- 2 Daily Classes:
- Aerial photo shoot (w access to up to 15 photos)
- Beach Trips and Night Market
- High Speed Starlink Internet
- Access to our network of Spanish teachers who provide private or group classes on-site.
- Access to our on-site massage space and network of body-work practitioners for hire who come on-site.
- Recommendations and guidance to enjoy all that Puerto Escondido has to offer. Beaches, nature excursions, tours, surf lessons, networking events, dance classes, and so much more. Click here for an idea of what you have to look forward to.
Links for more information:
- Casa Chango accommodations – room descriptions
- Meals and Food*
- How to get here**. Info and advice on booking your travel
- Weather in Puerto Escondido
- Testimonials
- Excursions
Discounts:
- Book and pay early and save $300!
- Refer a friend to any of our retreats and save $100 with our referral discount.*
- Sweet Retreats Alumni discount $200.
ECO RETREAT CENTER
Casa Chango is an Eco Retreat Center. We do our best to live in harmony with the natural world. We are off grid, and use 100% solar power. We have dry composting toilets and use the humanure and food waste to create soil to feed the amazing plants and trees all around the property. We ask all of our staff and guests to come with the mindset of learning about and respecting nature. The gray water from our sinks and showers filter out to water the plants. Therefore we ask you to bring natural shampoos, conditioners, and toothpaste to your retreat. All of our buildings were designed and built to be cool and comfortable, and we hope you enjoy your stay with us.
Casa Chango is an animal friendly place. There are several friendly animals on site including dogs and cats. They will not enter your rooms, but they will be on property and in common areas during your retreat. Animal lovers will be in their happy place.
Native insects live in this area of Mexico. We fumigate regularly to keep insects away and out of your rooms. We also acknowledge that the insects are an important part of keeping nature in balance. Most of the community spaces at Casa Chango, including the gym, dining area, pool, lounge are open air which means there are no walls. You can expect to see a variety of native insects, birds, and lizards during your visit. We hope you enjoy the experience of living more connected to nature.
Questions? Email us at SweetRetreatsMexico@gmail.com
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*Food service begins with a snack and dinner on arrival day, and ends with breakfast on departure day. All meals are provided. The food is amazing! ** Your taxi to/from the PXM airport is included if you arrive/depart on designated days. Click here for info about getting to Puerto Escondido.