Pole and Aerial Retreat

Pole and Aerial Retreat 

Join us for an extended weekend of training, photography, and fun with fellow flyers! We will be high in the sky and down on the ground with specialized classes and unique workshops. Featuring a range of aerial apparatuses, movement arts, and opportunities to grow your portfolio with some sweet professional photoshoots.

Come hang with your community, learn from passionate experts, and make new friends. Spots are limited so sign up today!

What’s going on? 

This exclusive 3-night event aims to build your skills and knowledge as well as our Central Texas aerial community. Throughout the weekend you’ll be working with expert coaches with extensive teaching and performance experience. Courses offered will include training with rare apparatuses, building performance skillsets, and concentration on self-care when you’re out of the air.

To ensure focused time and attention to each attendee, courses have limited space. We want you to get the most out of this experience!

For this 3-night event, sleeping accommodations are available in the main lodge. Each bed is designated for two attendees. If you have a preferred bedmate or if you are unable to share a bed, please provide that information when you are signing up. If you have any questions, please contact the organizers directly.

When and where is this? 

April 16-19 2021 in Cedar Creek, Texas - about 45 minutes outside of Austin. Lodging is a barn house on a 400-acre ranch.

Should I sign up? 

This retreat is designed for aerial enthusiasts and practicing polers so we recommend prior experience in at least one apparatus. We want to help each attendee grow their skills as well as overall grow our community. Come ready to learn, explore, hang out with fellow polers and aerialists, and make new friends along the way!

What courses will be offered?

Please view the following link for current course offerings and descriptions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RS4H9afJVjXIzjuNuhjrQtYG6st-SM7Ey3vQNXMnEC0/edit?usp=sharing

Courses will vary in level, however, some are geared towards more intermediate or advanced students and will have pre-reqs. All prerequisites will be listed per course description. Have a question about pre-reqs? Contact the organizers to learn more.

Instructors 

• Devin Alfather: Devin performs and teaches many flavors of belly-dance and dance fusion, and is widely recognized for her wiggly skillz 
• Allison “Sonnie” Boyson: Sonnie is a tenured pole instructor and instructor trainer and performs on every apparatus she can get her hands-on 
• Shelby Cunningham: Shelby has an MS in Exercise Physiology and focuses on strength and exercise conditioning. She conveniently fits in your pocket 
• Chelsea Lu: Chelsea is experienced in both teaching and performing on all sorts of horizontal and vertical apparatuses 
• Briana Mazzio: Briana is an Austin based aerialist and contortionist with extensive teaching experience across a wide variety of apparatuses 
• Eve Reeves: Eve is both an instructor and performer, whose specialty is graceful magic with fabric 
• Zoja Exotica: Zoja Exotica is a pole instructor at Minx + Muse and Black Box Creative in Austin, TX. She's the co-founder and producer of the eccentric variety show BONER BIZARRE as well as a member of the Black Widow Burlesque troupe. She's been pole dancing for 10 years but chair is her favorite apparatus as of late! When she's not slinking around stage, Zoja is in the studio helping students reach their own personal dance and fitness goals. She gets an enormous amount of gratification from helping students achieve things they never thought possible. 

All instructors and workshops are subject to change. If any changes are made to a workshop that you have purchased, we will contact you to coordinate.

Workshops and Classes 

We will be offering a variety of workshops and classes throughout the weekend. All classes are included in the cost of the retreat as well as 3 other items! When you register for the retreat, you can select either 2 workshops and a photoshoot OR 3 workshops :)

Additional workshops and photoshoots may also be purchased; full retreat participants receive a discount on all additional workshops.

View our event schedule with the workshop names, descriptions, and pre-requisites here!

Photography 

Don’t miss the chance to showcase your new skills and expertise on your chosen apparatus by an Austin local aerial photographer, Mya from M. Miller Photography! Basic package options include one photo session with photography options including pole and aerial photoshoots featuring the country landscape as well as the option for light painting photography after it gets dark.

M. Miller Photography specializes in movement arts with an extensive portfolio creatively capturing movement arts such as lyra, pole, dance, silks, and more. Explore her work here.

Pricing Package Info 

Come join us! For only $500 you get the full retreat which includes:

• 3 nights
• Daily meals and snacks
• 3 activities (You choose: 3 workshops, or 2 workshops and a photo session)
• Classes
• Additional workshops and photoshoots at a reduced rate

If you are unable to join us for the full retreat you are still, of course, welcome to come participate in just workshops and photoshoots!

Individual Activity Pricing

Apparatus Photoshoot: General Cost: $100 Retreat Participant Cost: $75

Apparatus Light Painting Photoshoot: General Cost: $125 Retreat Participant Cost:  $95

Workshop: General Cost: $75 Retreat Participant Cost $60 

Payment Plans 

You don't have to pay the full price at the time of your reservation! Payments can be broken up as follows:

• Deposit (nonrefundable) of $100 due at the time of reservation
• $200 taken a month after (or by February 20th, whichever is first), remainder taken a month after (or by March 20th, whichever is first)
• By February 20th: $200 payment due up to one month after reservation, or no later than February 20th
• By March 20th: Remaining balance due second month after reservation, or no later than March 20th

Please contact us if additional financial assistance is required <3

FAQ! 

Q: Should I sign up?

Yes! This retreat is designed for you, aerial enthusiasts and practicing polers. We recommend prior experience in at least one apparatus, but all are welcome.

Workshops offered will vary in level; however, some are geared towards more intermediate or advanced students and will have skill requirements. All prerequisites will be listed in the workshop’s description. Classes will be open to all skill levels. Have questions? Contact the organizers to learn more.

Q: Is the retreat for all genders?

A: Yes - everyone is welcome!

Q: How old must I be to sign up?

A: This retreat is for people ages 18 and older!

Q: May I bring my friend/family member?

A: We ask that only retreat participants and staff be on the property - as much as we love friends and family, our venue is unable to accomodate them at this time.

Q: Can I bring my pet?

A: At this time, we are not able to accomodate pets on the property (even though we love them!)

Q: What workshops will I be in?

A: Great question! You will have the opportunity to select your workshops! You may view our event schedule here :)

Q: How do I sign up for workshops and photoshoots?

A: We will contact people in order that they signed up to select their workshops. Each person will have a 24hr period to respond in order to maintain their position in line. If someone needs more than 24 hrs to respond that's still okay, but we will have opened up the workshops to the next person in line so the workshops may fill.

Q: How do I keep in touch?

A: If you are on Facebook, we will add you to a private group exclusive for attendees! If you do not have Facebook, we will send you an email. Reminders for major details such as payment updates and check-in information will be sent both in the Facebook group and be made available on a shared Google doc. The Google doc will be shared with registered participants and updated periodically.

Q: May I bring alcohol?

A: You are welcome to bring alcohol however we ask that you please drink responsibly! This means no drinking and flying! <3

About Fly Unfeathered

Fly Unfeathered Events was created to offer opportunities for community, creation, and collaboration to the pole, aerial, and movement arts communities. Fly Unfeathered aims to help individuals grow as performers and athletes by fostering environments encouraging the exploration of oneself through movement. Fly Unfeathered is the collaboration between Sonnie, a pole and aerial instructor with 12 years of teaching experience, and Mya, an experienced pole dancer, aerialist, producer, and photographer. Both are performers, awarded competitors, and producers. Their passion and dedication to this community in Austin and beyond has led to the creation of Fly Unfeathered Events and welcomes all to participate.