Our Teachers

• Positive Coaches Alliance Certification
• Cheerleading and Tumbling Coach (USASF Cheerleading and Dance Organization)
• BarreBody Edge (Facing East LLC)
• Power BarreBody Edge (Facing East LLC)
• Cardio BarreBody Edge (Facing East LLC)
• USASF level 2/3 Cheer and Tumbling( In Progress)
• USASF Dance: Contemporary
• Yoga alliance YTT200 hr

Hali has an extensive background in cheerleading, tumbling and dance. Hali was first introduced to cheerleading in southwest Florida at age 7 and continued to compete in the sport throughout high school. Along with cheer, she spent time learning the fine arts of ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz performance. Hali attended SEMO University as a BFA (dance major), and went on to study sports management at Post University, Connecticut. In 2014 Hali was introduced to barre body fitness by a close friend and immediately feel in love. The addiction grew quickly to 5 times a week and occasionally twice a day. Hali has a true passion for fitness and performance and is proud to announce that she is now BarreBody Edge, Power BarreBody Edge and Cardio BarreBody Edge certified.

“I am so happy to be a part of the mind and body team at The Edge -Your Fitness Advantage. All my fellow instructors are such an inspiration and I look forward to this wonderful opportunity to instruct BarreBody Edge .. “ Alongside of her fitness career and passion of coaching, Hali is the proud mother of 3 wonderful children who explore a common passion for tumbling, dance and cheer.

• Aerial Fabric 1, Born to Fly Productions (in Progress)

I am an Assistant Professor of Spanish at Southeast Missouri State University and enjoy teaching all levels of language, literature, film, conversation, and culture, amongst other topics. Outside those classrooms, I have been laughing my way through the Aerial Arts for a little over two years. It is one of the most challenging and entertaining forms of fitness I’ve ever done. Working with the aerial community, which is supportive, fun, and inspiring, is the best part. The easier the skill looks, the harder it is!

Lauren K Jones started her artistic career as a company member with Longview Ballet Theatre in Longview, Texas and continued with North Carolina School of Performing Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. After graduating Southern Methodist University, she lived in Europe for three years working as a fashion model. She then moved to New York City where she was signed to Wilhelmina Models, Inc. as a fashion print and runway model and to Carol Ingber & Associates for TV and film. She was based in NYC for the next 20 years with a brief one year hiatus in Los Angeles where she opened and developed the Sophisticated Women’s division for Wilhelmina LA as recruiter and head agent for the division. She is a vested member of SAG-AFTRA.

She graduated with dual MBA degrees in 2005 from London School of Business in London, UK, and Columbia Business School, NYC and currently resides in Cape Girardeau, Missouri with her husband and she has two children. She owns, operates, and teaches at The Edge Pilates-Aerial Arts and was an adjunct professor at the Holland College of Art & Media at Southeast Missouri State University from 2017-2022 where she developed their aerial arts program. She had students that have become professional aerialists/circus artists working with companies such as Virgin Voyages, Aerial Dance Chicago, San Diego Circus Center, Actor's Gymnasium, and New England Center for Circus Arts to name a few.

She is a certified aerial apparatus instructor obtaining over 450 hours of teacher training in fabric, sling, trapeze, rope & pole. She completed her 150 hour certifications in Aerial Arts Sequence: Theatre, Dance, or Recreational Circus and also in Peak Performance Aerial Sequencing. She is also an E-RYT200. Lauren has choreographed and performed on the aerial fabric, rope and trapeze both nationally and internationally and has realigned with Wilhelmina Models, Inc NYC as an aerialist for their Fitness Division. She is a vested member of SAG/AFTRA and also maintains membership in American Circus Educators, Pilates Method Alliance, Yoga Alliance and Pole Fitness Alliance.

Recognizing that there was an abundance of specialty & contemporary cirque talent in the Southeast Missouri area, and drawing upon her experience as a former talent agent, she formed Cape Specialty Entertainment Group in April of 2020 to bring professional talent in the Midwest region all under one roof. SoulSystems Orchestra based in NYC became aware of Cape Specialty Entertainment Group through word of mouth and is affiliated with them to book aerial and contemporary cirque talent on a national level. She conceived, write, directed and choreographed CSEG’s first full length, original contemporary cirque/cabaret show which debuted in the Bedell Theater in June of 2022. She is currently collaborating with the Director of Youth Programming at The Edge Aerial & Circus Arts to develop another full length feature adapting Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” as an aerial and contemporary circus arts show with the projected date of opening in March of 2024.

• Kidding Around Yoga (OKAY)
• Aerial Yoga Level 1 (Born To Fly Productions)
• Aerial Fabric 1 (Born to Fly Productions)
• Aerial Sling 1/Fabric 0 (Born to Fly Productions)
• Trapeze Level 1 (Born to Fly Productions)
• Youth Aerial (Born to Fly Productions)
• Tots/Kids Circus Arts (Facing East LLC)
• 200 RYT (YogaEast Healing Arts RYS)

I grew up in South St Louis, from a big loving family. I grew up dancing and working with animals. I graduated in 2000 with an Associates of Science in Veterinary Technology with experience in clinical, shelter, and behavior with animals. Yoga was first introduced as a stress reducer and became a big part of my life. After moving to Southeast Missouri and then finding The Edge Your Fitness Advantage (Cape Girardeau) in 2012. The Edge, is who gave me the opportunity to start my path in yoga. I have found I truly love sharing the discovery and benefits both mental and physical with children and adults. In May 2014 I became certified through KAY (Kidding Around Yoga) to teach yoga to children ages 2-12 and the journey has continued from there. Also opening new pathways including a love for Aerial Arts! I completed my 200 RYT in May 2016 and Level 1 Aerial Yoga and Aerial Fabric Level 1 through Born to Fly Productions. Currently I am teaching... youth and adult, yoga and aerial fabric classes, and kid’s circus classes. My hope is that along with adults that children can also reap the many benefits that yoga, and aerial arts have to offer as they grow and develop in life, and hopefully develop a healthy and active lifestyle.

Certifications

• PCC, Pilates Instructor for Mat I, II, Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel /Props
• ACSM, Certified Exercise Physiologist
• YogaFit Level 1
• TRX, Qualified
• BarreBody Certified (Facing East LLC)
• Aerial Yoga Level 1 Trained (Born To Fly Productions)
• Aerial Fabric Level 1 & Level 2 Trained (Born to Fly Productions)

Sara has been teaching and practicing Pilates since 2004. She was trained through the Pilates Certification Center out of Raleigh, North Carolina in Mat I, II, the Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector and Props. Her background is in Exercise Science where she attained her Bachelor's and Master’s degree from SEMO. She now works as the Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness at SEMO’s Recreation Center but still enjoys training people to do Pilates and Aerial Yoga on the side. Her availability is limited to early mornings only.

Pilates is such a miracle because it's really for anyone - from those suffering chronic pain to the most fit athlete! She loves the diversity of people who try it and those who are patient will see the results.

Sara other main passion besides Pilates is her family. She lives in Cape with her husband and 3 beautiful children who are the light of her life!

Chloe Vance started her aerial journey in a try-it-out class in June of 2015, and she was immediately hooked. Prior to this class, she had never played a sport (or even set foot in a gym), and she is grateful to aerial for teaching her the joy of movement. She has trained on multiple apparatuses throughout the years, including lyra, sling, rope, pole, and trapeze, but spends most of her time on silks. She loves playing with split fabric theory and finding new transitions between skills. Chloe has performed in community events, fundraisers, parades,

showcases, and even on the main stage of SEMO's Bedell Theater.

For the past five years, Chloe has taught multiple apparatuses to children and adults alike. She has trained under master aerialists with Born to Fly, Paper Doll Militia, and Pole Fitness Alliance. She also has a background in education, and has taught in classrooms from preschool to middle school. This has informed her teaching practices with youth aerialists, and few things bring Chloe more joy than watching her students progress. Teaching aerial arts combines Chloe's two great passions, and she is happy to call this studio her home.

When she is not at The Edge, Chloe loves reading fantasy novels, baking sourdough bread, and struggling to keep houseplants alive. She lives in Cape Girardeau with her fabulous husband (a

budding aerialist himself) and her two perfect, beautiful cats.

Certifications/Trainings

Born to Fly Youth Aerial Multi-Apparatus

Paper Doll Militia Silks Level 1 Silks Level 2

XPERT Lyra Level 1

Pole Fitness Alliance Level 1 Pole

Level 2 Pole

Charlie Faraday Drop Mechanics 1

Drop Mechanics Lab 1 Coaching Drop Mechanics 1