Aerial Intensive Retreats
Aerial Skills, Drills, Sequences, & Creativity
Aug 16-23 – Int/Adv Aerial Silks & Hoop
Oct 11-18, 2025 – Int+ Aerial Hoop
November 15-22 – Int/Adv Aerial Silks
Nov 29-Dec 5 – Beg/Int Aerial Retreat
Dec 13-20, 2025 – Int+ Aerial Silks & Hoop
with Teachers Kerri Kresinski & Guests
Casa Chango Mexico, Puerto Escondido
This Aerial Intensive Retreat is for aerial students who want to
- learn skills & sequences
- learn drills that create continuous progress
- choreography
- explore creativity, artistry and learn how to flow
- create a fresh approach to aerial training
Aerial Skills, Technique, Sequencing, Artistry
Our Aerial Intensive Retreats are focused on learning and building on skills, sequences, choreography, and theory in a way that will level up your aerial practice. Skills classes are taught in progressions that help students build on each thing they learn and find connections between skills. In creative classes, students will learn how to create artistic sequences as well as learn choreography from their coaches. Both techniques can be very useful in creating art and honing skills.
Enjoy 2-3 classes each day. You have the option to focus on one or both apparatuses.
Morning classes includes technical training for skills, sequencing, transitions and spinning to advance your training. Your teachers will also give you drills to take home to work towards continuous and efficient progress.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 explore creativity and choreography on the floor and on apparatus. Creative classes will focus on artistry, choreography, dynamic nuances, musicality, and making an act. This will directly compliment and improve your aerial practice.
Open gym is available outside of class times so students can practice and play on any apparatus.
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.
There will be plenty of time to swim, relax, and adventure!
Daily Schedule Sample: Everything is optional!
- 7:30-9:30 am: Coffee, Tea and Breakfast
- 10-10:30am: Warm up
- 10:30-11:30pm: Aerial Skills & Drills for Progress
- 11:30-12:30: Aerial Sequences
- 1pm: Lunch
- 2-4pm: Pool-time, siesta, relaxing
- 3:30pm: Afternoon Treat, Ice Coffee, Smoothie
- 4:30-6:30pm: Creativity/Flow (Floor and Apparatus)
- 7pm Dinner
- 8-10pm Evening activities
We will take you to our favorite local beaches, our local night market, and to release baby turtles into the sea.
There are evening adventures to a bioluminescent lagoon and local night market.
You can also take part in our night time photo shoot!
Prerequisites
You should have an understanding of and be able to execute the following skills (note: You do not have to do these skills perfectly, but they should be relatively easy.)
Aerial Silks, & Sling
- Bent arm hold 5 seconds
- Ability to climb silks easily
- Straddle invert in the air
- Hip key (any entrance)
- Any foot wrap
- Understanding of a few wraps
Lyra
- Bent arm hold 5 seconds
- Invert – straddle and/or tuck without jumping
- Knee hang
- Front hip hang to sit
- Sitting to front hip hang
- Easeful sit to stand on bottom bar
Half BIPOC Scholarship Available.
About our Teachers
Kerri has been performing and teaching acrobatics, dance, and aerial arts for over 25 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.
Lily was born and raised in New York City, and has always had a deep love for all forms of movement. She grew up dancing, training in modern, jazz, contemporary and creative movement. She discovered aerial in 2019 and quickly became obsessed. Lily participated in the aerial silks residency program in winter 2022, and began teaching the Casa Chango children’s program alongside Kerri Kresinski. Under Kerri’s mentorship Lily became an assistant aerial instructor in 2023 and has developed a dance curriculum to supplement the aerial residency courses. She teaches an open level aerial class for the community of Puerto Escondido, and continues to teach in the children’s program. She has a passion for empowering students to explore their bodies and movement and unlock their creativity.
Guest Teachers TBA
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
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.
- 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)
- 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.
Early Bird Retreat Pricing in USD
Early bird pricing ends Sept 20, 2025.
| Room | Early Bird Price | Full Price |
| Shared Dorm (up to 4 people) | $2000 | $2300 |
| Shared room w shared bathroom (1 king size or 2 individual beds) booking with a friend | $2200 | $2500 |
| Shared room w private bathroom (1 king size or 2 individual beds) booking with a friend | $2300 | $2600 |
| Private room with shared bathroom | $2500 | $2800 |
| Private room w private bathroom | $2800 | $3100 |
| Private room w private bathroom & air conditioning | $3100 | $3400 |
$1000 Deposit is required to secure your spot.
Early bird prices end Sept 20.
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.
Deals and Discounts
- Apply here for a partial work trade position for this program.
- Apply here for a partial scholarship if you identify as BIPOC.
- 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.
Links for more information:
- Accommodations
- Meals and Food
- Getting Here – Travel Advice
- Weather in Puerto Escondido
- Testimonials
- Excursions
- Registration FAQ’s
Email SweetRetreatsMexico@gmail.com with any questions.
Student Testimonials
I was absolutely blown away by the insane amount of love, care and expertise I experienced at Casa Chango!
Trish Lamanna Oct 2023
I signed up for the 1 week lyra intensive and it not only improved the integrity of my movements, strength and confidence, it also immersed me in a group of the best humans I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting and learning with.
Kerri is completely inspiring with the amount of care, expertise and embodied insight they share based off of decades of movement art experience. Eli, Marcel, Stu and the rest of the Casa Chango staff are incredible humans that put so much love into what they do. Also, the food is amazing!!! I’m very grateful I was able to experience this retreat with everyone involved, I miss everyone already and highly recommend it to anyone considering a retreat experience. You will not regret it!!
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, April 2019
An unbelievable experience for those who are seeking to level up. Taught by two of the most experienced aerialists and very well managed by an amazing crew. I really enjoyed my stay, learned a ton and made some great friends!
Soroush, Oct 2023
I had such a great time during my 1 week intensive Lyra focused retreat and I highly recommend it to everyone! The education and training I received were already worth the investment. They are experts in their field and even better at teaching. Casa chango felt like a 2nd home. I loved the food, staff, people, rooms, and the views!
Maleia Rose, Oct 2023
Circus camp was life changing for my practice. I used to not like going to the gym because I didn’t know how to use it to help me with circus stuff, but the retreat gave me the tools to train. I also learned to be more kind to myself about training which helped me come at it with a different strategy. Hearing about your process and how you got to where you are was a huge inspiration for me to honor my own process.”
Morgan Tarling, San Francisco, CA 2016
Sweet Retreats has encouraged me to be a better version of myself both physically in the circus arts and also personally in my interactions with friends and the community. The instructors at Sweet Retreats are not only world class performers, they are also some of the most caring, beautiful, and authentic individuals. I’m so fortunate to have discovered this paradise of athletic endeavors, delicious food, unending laughter, and all within the gorgeous surrounding.
– LIZ MAROTTE, OAKLAND, CA
I just completed Kerri’s Sweet Retreats Circus Intensive Retreat and I just can’t wait to do another one. It was an amazing and life changing experience. This was an all levels week long retreat in Puerto Escondido Mexico. I was a little nervous coming in as a beginner but Kerri and Dakota made me feel so welcome and confident. I learned so much and feel so much stronger. I have come away with so many tools to improve my practice. The whole week was planned so meticulously and Kerri is so organized. Everything ran smoothly. Kerri and her husband Stu (who is the incredible chef/photographer there) are loving professionals who are so much fun and they also really care about their community in Mexico. They support local businesses and are so respectful. Great vibes, great training and great people!! Thank you Kerri xoxo
Lily Achatz – August 2021
December Aerial Intensive December Aerial Intensive December Aerial Intensive December Aerial Intensive December Aerial Intensive December Aerial Intensive
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