Suspended Animation Aerials Offers Instruction and Entertainment
CINEMANIA IS BACK WITH A CELEBRATION OF CLASSIC ‘80s DANCE FILMS
PUBLISHERS
MICHAEL & LINDSAY DURR michael@townepost.com (630) 853-1142
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
BRIAN BROSMER
LEXIE CARLSON
CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING
RYAN GABBERT
KALI MALIA MICHAELS
ADAM MICHAELS
MINNIE ROGERS
GABRIELLE RULON
BRIAN STIDHAM
ASHLEY WATTERS
DANIEL WOODY
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK
CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS
MANGING EDITOR
DEVON DEAN COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011 FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT FRANCHISING.TOWNEPOST.COM
CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?
ALL MONTH LONG PRESTON SINGLETARY: RAVEN AND THE BOX OF DAYLIGHT
EITELJORG MUSEUM OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND WESTERN ART, 500 W. WASHINGTON ST. 10AM - 5PM
Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight features works from internationally acclaimed artist Preston Singletary. eiteljorg.org
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INDY IGNITE VS. OMAHA SUPERNOVAS
FISHERS EVENT CENTER, 11000 STOCKDALE ST. 7PM
Children 2 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult ticket but must sit on a lap. provolleyball.co
2
INDY IGNITE VS. COLUMBUS FURY
FISHERS EVENT CENTER, 11000 STOCKDALE ST. 3PM
Children 2 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult ticket but must sit on a lap. provolleyball.com
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WEDNESDAY’S NIGHT TRIVIA
GUGGMAN HAUS BREWING CO., 1701 GENT AVE.
Join us every Wednesday for Trivia Night at 7:30PM! Hosted by Hambone’s Trivia - Free to to play! visitindiana.com
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INDY IGNITE VS SAN DIEGO MOJO
FISHERS EVENT CENTER, 11000 STOCKDALE ST. 7PM
Children 2 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult ticket but must sit on a lap. provolleyball.com
THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
CINEMANIA IS BACK WITH A CELEBRATION OF CLASSIC ‘80s DANCE
FILMS
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Michael Durr
Cinemania, Heartland Film’s signature fundraising event, is back for the second year and promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Presented by F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., Cinemania will take place on Friday, April 11 at The Crane Bay Event Center.
“Cinemania is unlike any event Indianapolis has ever had before,” says Alissa Zink, who attended last year when the theme was “A Tribute to the Beatles in Film”. “So much thought and planning go into every detail. It was fun to see how much fun every person was having.”
Heartland Film is a local nonprofit arts organization that runs the Heartland International Film Festival, the Indy Shorts International Film Festival, and other community events throughout the year centered around film. Founded in 1991, Heartland Film’s mission is to curate, promote and celebrate thoughtful and engaging films from diverse perspectives.
“Cinemania is helping to support our organization and its future film festivals, community events and education programs,” says Jessica Chapman, director of marketing of Heartland Films. “This is not something we typically do because this event isn’t showcasing any film, but rather celebrating classic films.”
This year’s theme is “A Tribute to Dance Films of the ‘80s” and will include such fan favorites as “Flashdance”, “Purple Rain”, “Fame”, “Dirty Dancing”, “Footloose” and “Xanadu.”
Jamee Gifford, who had a blast at Cinemania last year, is looking forward to returning this year.
“It was amazing to see so many people embracing the theme and having a good time together,” says Gifford.
Guests are invited to dig deep into their (or their parents’) closets and come dressed in eclectic ‘80s chic.
“That can really range depending on what
your favorite ‘80s style is,” Chapman says. “It could be ‘80s grunge, ‘80s prom styles, neon, or the flashy dance-club route. I think we’ll see a wide mix of things.”
This is not your typical fundraiser with a formal sit-down dinner. Rather, it’s an interactive evening that invites attendees to experience different dance aspects of the ‘80s. Guests enter by walking the 20foot Purple Carpet, where they will get their photo taken in their totally tubular ‘80s outfits. They then get to dive into the immersive, interactive fun via different ‘80s activations, which are themed to the particular film being showcased. The event promises lots of cool surprises, but here’s a sneak peek; they’ll have a glam squad helping guests get their hair and makeup done in a classic ‘80s style.
The night will include music from the featured films performed by several live bands, including the headlining band The Breakfast Club, who will perform on the Purple Rain Main Stage. Live dancers will also be part of the night’s entertainment. Plus, there will be photo activations in which guests can re-enact these iconic ‘80s movies.
Food and bars will be spaced throughout the venue offering different types of drinks, some of which will be themed.
Gifford calls Cinemania a one-of-a-kind event.
“The interactive stations, surprise elements and the delicious food all made for an unforgettable, entertaining and Instagramworthy night,” Gifford says of last year’s
event. “I loved that there was something for everyone, and everywhere you turned, you found something new: photo opportunities, dancing to an awesome band, art, several interactive stations, and fun opportunities to donate, all coupled with amazing food and cocktails.”
Premiere tickets are $300, or you can buy a Party 12-Pack for $3,000, essentially getting two tickets for free. In addition, they have sponsorships available at $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000 levels, with benefits that range from naming and logo opportunities to private specialty studio lounges with VIP tickets. (Party Packs also get VIP access.)
The 2024 event sold out at 650 tickets, bringing in $250,000 through sponsors, donations, ticket sales and event activations. This year’s event is likely to sell out too, so
purchase tickets today. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., although sponsorships and Party Pack purchasers get access to Cinemania starting at 6 p.m.
This year Cinemania has two couples acting as honorary co-chairs: Mike and Kyra Epps, and Brian and Gigi Wilkes. Mike Epps is a famous stand-up comedian and actor. Kyra Epps is an award-winning TV producer. The pair have an HGTV show called “Buying Back the Block”. Brian Wilkes, the chief meteorologist at Fox59 for the past three decades, acted as Cinemania’s Red Carpet host last year. Both couples are excited to be a part of the 2025 event.
If you would like to be part of the party, visit cinemaniaindy.org to buy tickets.
Cinemania will be held at The Crane Bay Event Center, located at 551 West Merrill Street in Indianapolis.
To learn more about Heartland Film, visit heartlandfilm.org.
GREAT THINGS ON THE HORIZON
HORIZON LEAGUE CONTINUES TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN BOTH ATHLETICS AND ACADEMICS
Writer / Ryan Gabbert
Photographer / Michael Durr
In Indiana, basketball is more than a game; it’s a timehonored tradition. From the classic movie “Hoosiers” to the championship banners in Assembly Hall and Butler’s unforgettable tournament runs under Brad Stevens, the sport is a source of immense pride for the state.
The Horizon League boasts a proud tradition of athletic excellence and the development of student-athletes. Founded in 1979 with six charter members, it expanded quickly, adding women’s sports in 1986. Now with 11 member institutions, the Horizon League is dedicated to promoting growth in both academics and athletics. It remains grounded in core values of student-athlete well-being, integrity, respect and stewardship.
While student-athletes are the heart of what makes this conference great, the unsung heroes working behind the scenes ensure everything runs smoothly. One such individual is JR Renbarger, who serves as the chair of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). The LOC is an organization that works closely with the Horizon League to help plan and execute events around Indianapolis such as the Barbasol Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
This tournament happens annually and is the first step for teams on the road to March Madness. It is a major event for the conference and one that takes extensive effort to prepare.
“This will be the sixth year that the Horizon League has hosted its Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships at the Corteva Coliseum,” Renbarger says. “By the time the tournament reaches Indianapolis on March 10 and 11, the final four teams on both the men’s and women’s side will compete to crown a conference champion. The conference champions automatically qualify for the
NCAA tournament so there is a lot of excitement in the building throughout the event.”
While many similar tournaments happen around the same time, the Horizon League tournament shines as a testament to local cooperation and hospitality.
Luke Bosso, current athletic director at IU Indianapolis and former chair of the LOC for this event, takes immense pride in what Indianapolis and the Horizon League have been able to accomplish together.
“Being in Indianapolis and the hospitality of our residents are what make this a major event,” Bosso says. “We treat this championship how we treat all our large-scale events that the city hosts. First, to be able to get 15 to 20 local leaders to serve on the Local Organizing Committee is unique to Indianapolis. This group consists of leaders and people who want to make a difference in Indianapolis. Second, there is a strong emphasis on ensuring student-athletes get a great experience. They stay in the heart of downtown and travel to the
games via police escort. They also get to hear from local leaders like the governor, mayor and other dignitaries. The venue itself is also part of the uniqueness. How many people can say they played basketball in the same venue that the Beatles performed in?”
The tournament is entering its sixth time being held in Indianapolis. Each successive year has brought record numbers of revenue and
RESEARCH STUDY SEEKING Women 50 or Older
Purdue University, College of Pharmacy is seeking healthy volunteers who are at least 50 years old (women) to participate in a study to determine if a hormone called progesterone can reduce the risk of a heart rhythm abnormality.
If you qualify for the study:
• You will complete one 2-hour visit and two 10- hour visits at the Indiana Clinical Research Center (ICRC) located on the IUPUI campus in downtown Indianapolis
• Prior to the 2nd and 3rd visit, you will apply progesterone or a placebo for 3 days and during the 2nd and 3rd visits, you will receive a medication called Ibutilide (Covert) by IV, have your blood taken and ECGs performed throughout the day.
• You will receive up to $500 after completing all study visits. Parking and meals during the study are included.
If you are interested in participating, please call or text 317-847-2094 or email: hwroblew@iu.edu
attendance, securing the event in place until at least 2026. While success can be measured by those metrics, other intangibles continue to make a difference in people’s lives.
Kelley Ford is currently serving as the associate commissioner for basketball and analytics for the Horizon League, having joined in 2017.
“This event is unique in the sense that it’s about more than just basketball,” Ford says. “One of our primary goals is to build this into a long-term community event in Indianapolis that engages, inspires and connects the Indianapolis community. One of the ways we are accomplishing that goal is through our amplifying events. We have the KeyBank International Women’s Day, which features a panel including some of Indy’s leading sports trailblazers regarding their continuing efforts to inspire and advance women. We have the Anthem School Day, which invites upwards of 3,000 elementary-school-aged children in the greater Indianapolis area to our women’s championship game, providing many of them with the opportunity to attend a college basketball game for the first time. We have the Valeo Fan Zone, which provides fans a fun and inclusive space to eat, drink and socialize between games. And finally we have an annual Officially Human symposium, which is designed to assist with the recruitment and retention of officials, which is critical to the long-term health of youth and collegiate sports alike.”
Women’s basketball is nothing new for Indianapolis. The Fever have been a source of pride for many years, and with the addition of phenom Caitlin Clark, there is no limit to how high it can go. The Horizon League is doing its part in advancing women’s basketball as well.
“Our board of directors recently approved our Men’s and Women’s Basketball Performance and Excellence Funds,” Ford says. “This will earmark nearly $1,000,000 to be earned and distributed to our membership for meeting certain excellence benchmarks in men’s and women’s basketball. We are the only league in the nation doing something like this for both genders.”
Shawn Sullivan serves as associate commissioner for branding, messaging and strategic initiatives for the Horizon League. He knows firsthand how much of an impact the tournament can have on Indianapolis residents and neighborhoods.
“Living only a few blocks from the Corteva Coliseum, it has been a real treat meeting basketball fans and families who circle these dates on the calendar each year,” Sullivan says. “Affordable family fun, and Division I men’s and women’s teams punching their tickets to the Big Dance on national television in our neighborhood, is a big deal.”
Overall, events like this are great for Indianapolis and for everyone who takes part.
If you would like more information about the Horizon League or the Barbasol Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, visit horizonleague.org, or follow them on social media.
HOMETOWN WINDOW AND DOOR COMPANY
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographer / Brian Brosmer
A north Indianapolis homeowner reached out to Hometown Window and Door Company when he decided to turn his screened-in porch into a year-round space.
“I was looking for someone to do the project and I know Darren Peck, one of the owners of Hometown Window,” the homeowner said. “It was a big project and we needed a new sliding door out to the deck too.”
Peck launched Hometown Window and Door Company with his business partners in 2018. The locally owned and operated
business ensures a personal touch to every project. Customers receive the personal cell number of their design consultant.
In this instance, the large project required a considerable amount of preparation, and the homeowner said the Hometown team was up for the task.
Technology has come a long way in recent years. The company uses a computer program to virtually build the door with the customer so they can pick out finishes, slabs, glass inserts, hardware and other custom features.
Sliding doors alone require special planning. Hometown Window and Door Company calls them gliding doors because when they are done, that’s what the door does – glides open and closed. No more tugging and pulling. They also come with a multiple-lock system for security.
“They were very thorough,” the homeowner added. “They came out and measured everything. They explained all of our options. We could go with custom windows or standard and make them work with the design. They covered all the bases and sent the installer out for a final look at the project before ordering.”
He ended up using a combination of custom and standard windows in addition to the gliding door, and chose the Andersen brand.
“My old house had 25-year-old Andersen windows, so I knew I was definitely happy with the product,” he said.
Andersen windows are known for durability, energy efficiency and ease of use. They can lower heating and cooling bills, they don’t rot, fade or peel, and they are coated with UV-ray protection.
This past August, the homeowner watched his project come to fruition.
“They were here for about a week,” he said. “I think what stood out the most was that they came when they said they were going to come, and they did what they said they would do. A lot of contractors don’t do that.”
In the end the project was exactly as he had envisioned, and he has a year-round room he can utilize for many years to come.
“We use the new porch every day,” he said. “I would definitely recommend Hometown Window. I know other people who have used them on restoration projects too and I’ve always heard good things. It’s always good work at a fair price.”
GOOD SPORTS
SUPPORTING LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS AT STONEWALL SPORTS
Writer / Ashley Watters
Sometimes, a vision comes together as a result of intense planning. Other times, it starts with a conversation.
For Larry Ervin, Stonewall Sports was born from the latter - a simple conversation.
“For us, it started at a coffee shop,” says Larry Ervin, president of Stonewall Sports Indianapolis. “Me and another founding member were talking about what we could bring to the community in 2020. We wanted something that was like no other. We wanted to be welcoming and promote the growth of Indianapolis while creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals.”
As the 21st chapter to be added, Stonewall Sports of Indianapolis provides a fun, low-cost place for recreation and community building, while creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals who
are encouraged to come as their true and authentic selves.
“Stonewall Sports is completely different from other organizations,” says Ervin. “The board does this for free because we are dedicated to giving back to the community and providing an outlet for the LGBTQ+ community so that they can be their authentic selves on the field.”
Stonewall Sports of Indianapolis opened its doors in 2020, a difficult time for group sports. Now the group is celebrating its five-year anniversary, and participation has rocketed from about 100 people to more than 2,800 registered individuals.
“We just keep on growing,” says Ervin. “All of us at Stonewall Sports are doing this to make sure everyone has a welcoming place to play sports and be part of a community of people who care.”
The Indianapolis chapter now offers seven leagues including kickball, pickleball, volleyball, softball, dodgeball, duckpin and the newly added trivia. Participants can choose between competitive or recreation leagues. Registration is required and can be accessed at stonewallindianapolis. leagueapps.com/leagues. Registrants receive a team uniform and ongoing communications about upcoming events.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the group relies on donations and volunteers to provide affordable access to recreation. But they also make it a priority to support other local organizations and LGBTQ+ allies within the community.
“Our mission is philanthropic,” says Ervin. “We want to give back to the communities we are playing in and support other nonprofits and ally organizations. We know it takes a village to bring folks
together. We give our participants a chance to vote on these organizations so that the funds go to places they know and support.”
Stonewall Sports has made contributions to local nonprofits including Trinity Haven, Step Up, Indiana Youth Group and others. The group’s leaders also make it their mission to unite people to foster
conversations about larger issues.
“We’re building a community,” says Ervin. “We want people to come together to talk about economical and societal issues and discuss ways we can improve together.”
Although the group is located in central Indiana, participants come from all over the state and even outside the state to
participate. The softball and kickball leagues have experienced notable success in Indianapolis.
Stonewall Sports of Indianapolis is excited to be celebrating its five-year anniversary in 2025. In recognition of that milestone, the group will be hosting its first annual fundraiser event on February 8 at The Crane Bay Event Center. Attendees are
invited to show their Stonewall pride and enjoy a night of celebration, awards and special highlights from the Stonewall journey. General admission and VIP tickets are available for purchase at stonewallindianapolis.leagueapps.com/ pages/ssifiveyearanniversary.
And the Stonewall team isn’t stopping there. Stonewall Sports will continue its celebration all year long. If you’re looking for ways to help support the group, you can volunteer to help set up, tear down, or officiate sports events, as well as serve on the board. Interested parties should contact indy.president@ stonewallsports.org.
Sponsorships are also welcome. Inquiries should be sent to the sponsorship director at indy.president@stonewallsports.org.
“It’s been quite a journey, but we’re really proud of what we’re doing for the community and I can’t wait to see where we go next,” says Ervin.
DELICIOUSLY INVITING
SANGIOVESE RISTORANTE SERVES UP AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Sangiovese Ristorante, offering authentic Italian dining, was originally opened in 1994 by Gino Pizzi in Rivers Edge Shopping Center. Chris Evans, who had worked for Pizzi’s parents at a different eating establishment in his early 20s, purchased the restaurant from Pizzi in 2007 after running the Village Kitchen in Broad Ripple.
“Village Kitchen was an ice cream and burger shop, and I was looking for fine dining, so I sold it and bought Sangiovese,” says Evans, who relocated in 2015 to the Ironworks
building, which also houses Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Verde Flavors of Mexico, and Provision. This June will mark the 10-year anniversary of being in this unique space, which patrons adore.
“The atmosphere is cozy yet refined, perfect for any occasion,” says Duane Law, who has been dining at Sangiovese for more than a decade.
Ironworks is a complete change from the original location, which had old-school Italian
decor with red drapes and white tablecloths. Here, Evans went dark with no tablecloths, with upbeat jazz music. Although the restaurant offers less seating (around 100), it was worth it to provide a more intimate dining experience.
“It’s a sexy, dark date-night place,” Evans says. “It feels like something you’d see in Chicago or New York.”
Evans has an exceptional staff, many of whom have been with him for 18 years.
“They are an extension of my family,” Evans says. “I pinch myself how lucky I am.”
Shelly Sondgerath appreciates how the staff offers direction when choosing the perfect bottle of wine.
“The Torta di Caprino is a favorite way to start the meal, followed by Scaloppini Alla Piccata or tender Osso Buco,” says Sondgerath.
The Osso Buco is a 2.5-ounce veal shank, slowly roasted in root vegetables with red wine. The Pollo Alla Parmesan, tenderized chicken breast with seasoned bread crumbs
and melted Parmesan cheese served with spaghetti pomodoro and fresh mozzarella, is also popular.
“The chicken parm is out of this world,” Evans says. “It’s one of the lightest, fluffiest chicken parms in town.”
They’ve got an in-depth wine list, including some Brunellos, Rosso di Montalcino, Super Tuscans, and Sangioveses. Their drink named Live & Let Die has won numerous drink
awards for Devour Indy.
“It’s an outstanding drink people keep coming back for,” Evans says. “Even non-bourbon drinkers like it because we infuse it with pineapple.”
Evans feels fortunate that the community’s support has never wavered, even through a recession, a construction remodel and the COVID pandemic.
“Those relationships keep us moving,” says Evans, who knows that their guests come in for a two-hour vacation from the stressors of their daily lives. That’s why he and his staff make sure to provide the right lighting, good music, delicious food and drink, and unrushed conversations.
“People put their phones down, talk to one another, and escape from their 40- to 60-hour workweeks,” Evans says.
He and his managers always stop by tables
to chat with patrons. Those special touches matter because many people like to be remembered and acknowledged.
“People want to be Norm from ‘Cheers’ who walks into the bar, and everybody knows their name,” Evans says. “That’s such an important part of our lives because we’ve all become accustomed to ordering food through DoorDash or Uber Eats. We’re supposed to be more social than we are, and when we
provide that, we see genuine smiles.” The restaurant also regularly sponsors youth activities and sports teams, doling out gift cards for school charities or cancer awareness events.
“I have 40 plaques of teams we’ve sponsored over the years because youth sports are important to the community,” Evans says. “We love being part of the fabric of the community.”
Evans and his wife, Neelam, have been married for 20 years and have two children, Christian (18) and Olivia (14), as well as an 8-year-old miniature schnauzer named Coconut.
“Everything happens at the table,” Evans says. That’s why his favorite thing to do at home is make pasta with another family, then sit down with everyone to break bread.
“We all live these lives where we’re eating food to go and looking at our phones,” Evans says. “So often we’re eating at different times, so it’s special when everyone sits down together.”
For those who are looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day at Sangiovese, they will offer a set menu and package - likely a three-course meal with a drink (similar to Devour Indy). Evans promises the restaurant won’t be overpacked on Valentine’s Day.
“That’s a pet peeve of mine when restaurants bring in small tables from rental companies and pack patrons in like sardines,” Evans says. “You shouldn’t be squished or rushed. This is a special night to come out and celebrate love.”
Running a restaurant is not without its challenges. People may assume that a restaurant owner’s day consists of coming in, high-fiving the staff and sitting down with a glass of wine, but the reality is that
the owner might be fixing a leaking toilet, troubleshooting electrical issues or changing light bulbs.
“Owning a restaurant means jumping on the wave, and whichever way the wave takes you, you pivot and problem solve,” Evans says. “It’s the hardest thing you could ever do, but it’s also the best.”
Sangiovese at Ironworks at Keystone is located at 2727 East 86th Street, Suite 110 in Indianapolis. For more information, call 317757-5913 or visit sangioveseristorante.com.
HIGH IN THE SKY
SUSPENDED ANIMATION
AERIALS OFFERS INSTRUCTION AND ENTERTAINMENT
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Brian Stidham
Heather Adams spent her youth participating in competitive gymnastics. After high school, she settled into a career in mathematics working as an actuary and statistician. After spending years sitting at work during the day and studying for professional exams at night, she got out of shape. Although she has achieved great success, earning an Associate of the Society of Actuaries designation, she missed being active and fit.
“I didn’t have any physical activity or creative outlet anymore,” says Adams, who is the statistician for the IU School of Nursing. She joined a gym but wasn’t a fan. She tried pole dancing but it didn’t click. She did, however, fall in love with aerial silks. So she became a certified coach and taught at a cheer school, then later at some circus schools. All along, Adams, who will soon earn a master’s degree in kinesiology, knew that one day she wanted to own her own space.
She set up a 20-foot-tall, portable structure in her backyard where she began teaching aerial acrobatics to individual students. In September 2024 she opened Suspended Animation Aerials, a beautiful, brightly lit space on the north side with tons of parking and the highest ceilings around.
Students try aerial acrobatics for a variety of reasons. Some come for fitness. Others come because they have a background in cheer,
dance or gymnastics. Then there are those who saw Pink do it or were mesmerized by a contestant on “America’s Got Talent”.
“It’s fun to hear people say, ‘I’ve never turned upside down my entire life, but I want to try this,’” says Adams, who notes that often people assume they need to lose weight or gain strength before they start, but that’s not the case. The first class is very basic, and she teaches a pose where you turn upside down on the sling, hook a knee, and climb above.
“It looks like it’s a lot of arm strength, so students see me demonstrate it and give me this look like, ‘You’ve lost your mind if you think I can do that!’” Adams says. “But then they do it and a giant smile crosses their face. It really shocks people what they can achieve on day one.”
Sometimes a party will come through, and everybody is nervous at first.
“You can tell it was one person’s idea and everybody else got dragged along, but before
long the whole gym is erupting in laughter because it’s fun,” Adams says. “It can be humbling, and you’re laughing at yourself and with each other, but then you succeed and there’s clapping and cheering.”
The first class everyone takes is Intro to Aerial, where students try four main apparatuses: silks, screen, lyra and trapeze. After the intro class, students progress at their own pace as they master various skills. In addition to classes, open gym time allows students to practice the things they learned in class. They offer a class called Adult Tumbling, which helps people gain awareness of where they are in the air. They also have a low-flow dance class that shows students how to dance on the ground.
“A lot of aerialists learn the tricks on the apparatus, but they don’t know what to do on the ground before they go up there because that’s a separate skill set,” Adams says.
While some people may be leery about trying aerial acrobatics for fear of falling, according to insurance companies, people are more likely to get injured in an aerial gym from tripping over a mat on the ground than from falling out of the air.
“All of our students tell us they love how much we talk about safety,” Adams says.
The gym has 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. time slots for classes during the week, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. They offer both adult and kid classes (for kids aged 7 to 18). Students can either pay a drop-in price and pay per class or they can join as a monthly member with different pay structures.
In addition to instruction, they offer aerial entertainment for parties and events. For these performances, Adams pulls from her instructors and most advanced students.
“I always try to source it locally, because I love to have performance opportunities for my students so they have something to work towards,” Adams says. “Otherwise I have the ability to hire out of town.”
In the past they have performed at events like the Indiana Wine Festival, Heartland Films’ Cinemania, and the Children’s Museum’s annual fundraiser.
Although many people take classes for fitness, very quickly they get the itch to perform. Therefore, Adams puts on two student showcases every year in addition to doing informal events where intermediate students can perform.
One of Adams’ students had been encouraging her fiancé to come try a class, but he was reluctant. Then he attended a student showcase and raved that it was the coolest thing he’d ever seen. He signed up the next day.
Suspended Animation Aerials is located at 8401 Michigan Road, Suite 1 in Indianapolis. For more information, email suspendedanimationaerials@gmail.com or visit suspendedanimationaerials.com.
PLAN AT THE SPEED OF INDY.
Photo: Finley Creek Vineyards
Youʼll have the time of your life at Cinemania!
Heartland Filmʼs signature fundraiser is back with the theme "A Tribute to Dance Films of the '80s,” celebrating classic films like “Purple Rain,” “Fame” and “Dirty Dancing.”
Cut loose with radical drinks, legit food and electric entertainment.
