ELEVATE: Aerial Silks Intensive
Daily Aerial Training · Intermediate Level · Mexico
Silks & Straps
with Hannah Nissen
October 24 – 31, 2026
Casa Chango Mexico, Puerto Escondido
Scholarship Available for a person identifying as BIPOC and/or Mexican.
Apply here by July 1
Spend a WEEK in PARADISE with new friends, the beach, delicious, fresh, local food, and learn loads and loads of new aerial skills!
ELEVATE: Aerial Silks Intensive is a one week training retreat designed for intermediate aerialists who want to refine their technique, expand their vocabulary, and build stronger, more confident and more fluid movement in the air.
This intensive is for aerialists who can already invert in the air on silks and are ready to go deeper into structured, daily training. Throughout the week, we will focus on technical precision, clean lines, efficient pathways, and developing flow between skills so that your movement feels both powerful and seamless.
Daily classes are centered around aerial silks and include a balance of technical breakdowns and flow-based sequence work. In our technical sessions, we will focus on correct engagement, body positioning, wraps, transitions, and energy efficiency. These classes are designed to help you understand not just how to execute a trick, but why it works, so you can troubleshoot and progress independently.
In our flow and choreography-based sessions, you will learn short sequences that connect skills into cohesive phrases. We will work on timing, musicality, breath, pacing, and the subtle details that elevate your movements. The goal is not only to build new material, but to help you move with clarity, control, and intention.
In addition to silks training, the retreat includes introductory aerial straps sessions. No prior straps experience is required. Straps will be used as a cross-training tool to build strength, shoulder stability, and body awareness with reduced grip demand. We will also explore simple combinations, shapes, and transitions on straps as a refreshing and fun complement to silks training.
Morning Class:
Mornings are dedicated to focused, physically demanding training while the body and mind are fresh. Each day begins with a thorough group warm-up tailored to the technical focus of the session, with emphasis on shoulder preparation, active flexibility, and core engagement. The morning classes center on technical work, sequencing, and conditioning. We will refine inversions, transitions, wraps, and movement efficiency through structured drills and progressions. Conditioning on both silks and straps will support strength, stability, and long-term progression. This is where we build precision, power, and endurance.
Afternoon Class:
Evening sessions focus on flexibility, mobility, integration, and flow. We begin with flexibility and mobility training to support recovery and increase usable range of motion for aerial work. On selected evenings, we will introduce aerial straps in an accessible way, focusing on basic shapes, simple combinations, and cross-training benefits. No prior straps experience is required. We will also work on lighter silks choreography, connecting skills into short sequences with emphasis on smooth transitions, timing, and movement quality. There will also be time to take beautiful photos and videos of today’s work and sequences. Evenings are about refining control, fluidity, and expression in the air.
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.
Daily Schedule Sample:
- 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. – Tea, Coffee and Breakfast
- 9:45 a.m.-12:45pm – Warm Up, Silks & Rope Skills, Technique, Sequences
- 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
- 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. – Free time (pool, hammocks, massages, naps)
- 3:30 p.m. – Afternoon snack and beverage
- 4:30 – 6:30p.m. – Creative Exploration & Development
- 6-7pm – Sunset photos (in the gym and by the infinity pool)
- 7:00 p.m. – Dinner
- 8:00 p.m. – Free time, jacuzzi, 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:
The retreat is intended for people who feel comfortable with inverting in the air. If you are in doubt about your level, contact Hannah at aerial@hannahnissen.dk with some videos of you in the air, and she will tell you if your level is enough for the retreat.
Your coach:
Hannah Nissen is a Danish aerial silks artist and circus student currently completing a four-year bachelor’s degree in Circus and Performance Art in the Netherlands. Her work is rooted in a strong technical foundation combined with a refined sense of flow, musicality, and movement quality. Hannah’s training focuses on developing efficient technique, clean lines, and seamless transitions in the air. She is particularly interested in the balance between strength and softness, cultivating powerful sequences and dynamic pathways while maintaining fluidity and clarity in movement. Alongside her formal education, Hannah teaches workshops and leads international aerial retreats. Her teaching approach emphasizes body awareness, intelligent conditioning, and the small details that elevate your movement and creates flow. As a performer, Hannah has created and performed both solo and collaborative aerial works within both contemporary and traditional circus settings. Her artistic practice continues to evolve through performance projects and research within the field of contemporary circus.
You can find Hannah on Instagram here.
During Hannah’s class I FINALLY managed to roll up in the hip key roll up. I still can’t do it consistently yet, however I’ve done it sooner than expected – I thought it would take MONTHS! My brain couldn’t believe it. This has been a quantum leap in my aerial practice. Thank you Hannah.
Hannah is very professional, creative and precise about every detail of the movement. I had the opportunity to grow artistically, and I highly recommend her workshops to anyone interested in improving their aerial skills.
I took Hannah’s hip key roll up workshop, and this was exactly what I was needing. The way she breaks it down into small parts that I can work on individually is brilliant. I have also really benefited from her warm up. Thanks Hannah!
Retreat pricing:
| Your choice of accommodations: | Early Bird Price | Full Price |
| Shared Dorm (mixed gender) | $2000 | $2300 |
| Shared Private Room (2 friends sharing a room) 1 king size bed or 2 individual beds | $2200 | $2500 |
| Shared Private Room (2 friends sharing a room) 1 king size bed or 2 individual beds | $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 price ends 90 days before the retreat begins.
Full tuition is due by one month before the first day of the retreat.
Rates refer to cost of one person’s tuition.
Payment plans are available if paying with credit card.
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 on Oct 24. Depart on Oct 31, 2026.
- 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.
Questions? Email us at SweetRetreatsMexico@gmail.com
*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.
Cancellation Policy:
- No Refunds.
- Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
- Cancel more than 60 days before 1st day of retreat: 50% of your tuition paid can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.
- Cancel 30-60 days before the 1st day of retreat: 25% of your tuition paid can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.
- Cancellations up to 30 days before the 1st day of the retreat will not be credited or refunded for any reason.
- At the time of payment for your retreat, we strongly advise purchasing a travel insurance policy. Make sure your policy covers the full cost of the retreat fee, as well as unexpected cancellation, trip delay, losses and other risks. Also, consider protection for canceled or delayed flights, lost luggage, medical needs while traveling. Please bring the policy with you in case of emergency. Click here for IM Global Insurance. Click here for WanderWell Insurance.