Meet the Team
Aerial Candy in Takoma Park and Merrifield VA
Welcome to Aerial Candy! Meet our talented instructors and dedicated team of circus professionals, each their unique backgrounds and expertise to help you achieve your aerial dreams. Explore their and find the perfect instructor to guide you on journey. We can't wait for you to join us!
Owner
Candy Cantu, VA Location
Candace Cantu is a dynamic entrepreneur and the founder of Aerial Candy and Candescent Talent. As an instructor and award-winning performer, she has captivated with her stunning performances, including a solo residency at The Ringling in Sarasota, Florida. With a diverse background that includes appearances Sax in Washington, DC, and various theaters, Candace is known for her versatility in Hair hang, acro-pole, fire, and all aerial arts. A certified trainer, she continues to inspire others through her passion for aerial arts.
Chains, Straps, Flexibility and open gym
Eddie Danger, VA Location
Eddie Danger teaches aerial chains, straps, sling, and flexibility for aerialists at our Merrifield, Virginia location. He has a background in contortion, yoga, and dance. He has been a professional entertainer since 2008, appearing on several television shows, and touring the nation as a showman throughout his young life. Since 2021, Eddie has settled in Washington DC, focusing on training aerial acrobatics. In this time, he has been awarded six gold, two silver, and one bronze medal for his achievements a variety of aerial competitions. He often takes his unique skill set and encouraging approach to coaching on the road to conduct aerial straps, chains, and flexibility workshops at studios for special events. Aerial Candy is his home, where he can be found every Wednesday and Friday, encouraging his students to dream big but work hard, to appreciate and develop what makes them special, and always shoot for the stars.
Contortion, Aerial Silks, and handstand balancing
Teresa Szasz, VA Location
Nicknamed “Technical T” by her family and friends, Teresa has a unique way of breaking down body mechanics and understanding how the body moves and operates. She is very passionate about her craft and enjoys working with people of all ages and body types. As she helps people reach their athletic goals, she learns more about the human body and how to best train them. Nothing in this world gives her greater joy than watching her students’ amazement as their bodies begin to do things they never thought possible; all with proper guidance and consistent training. Her goal is to help others build confidence and become the fullest expression of themselves.
Meet the Team
Welcome to Aerial Candy! Meet our talented instructors and dedicated team of circus professionals, each their unique backgrounds and expertise to help you achieve your aerial dreams. Explore their and find the perfect instructor to guide you on journey. We can't wait for you to join us!
Kirsten
Merrifield
Kirsten is an aerialist, specializing in hammock, straps, chains, and lyra. She has been a live performer for over six years and has earned several gold medals from pole sport and aerial acrobatic competitions.
Her first love was pole dancing, which gave her the confidence to perform choreography in a live setting. She has since taken on any aerial apparatus she can get ahold of to explore their possibilities.
Kirsten is passionate about teaching and strives to help others build their confidence and strength while maintaining a supportive environment.
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Aerial Hoop Instructor
Ava Va Location
Ava Platt is an aerial lyra and yoga instructor with a passion for intelligent, functional movement and embodied strength. With a background as a competitive gymnast and training in yoga, weightlifting, contortion, and aerial arts, she brings both discipline and mindfulness to her teaching. By trade, Ava is a neuroscientist studying dopamine circuits, which informs her view of aerial arts as a powerful driver of neuroplasticity through novel, skill-based movement. Her classes emphasize strength, grace, and nervous-system-aware pacing to support her students in building strength, confidence, coordination, and creative expression.
Aerial Silks, Teens, and Kids :)
Nicole Eubanks, Maryland
Nicole Eubanks is an aerial silks instructor at our Takoma, Maryland location. She is passionate about teaching, and delights in helping students build a strong foundation while discovering the joy of aerial dance.
Meet the Team
Takoma Park
Welcome to Aerial Candy! Meet our talented instructors and dedicated team of circus professionals, each their unique backgrounds and expertise to help you achieve your aerial dreams. Explore their and find the perfect instructor to guide you on journey. We can't wait for you to join us!
Aerial silks Speciality!
Amy Hercules
Helvetica Light Amy has been practicing aerial arts and pole fitness since 2012. Since that time, she has performed at numerous showcases and events in the Baltimore and DC area, and has won medals in aerial silks and specialty apparatus. Amy is trained on multiple aerial apparatuses including silks, lyra, straps, and cube, and specializes in routines that showcase strength and endurance. Amy has been training at Aerial Candy since its opening, first as a student, then substitute teacher, and is currently the resident instructor for Tuesday night open practice. Her coaching style focuses on building strength through lots of conditioning while having a little bit of fun!
Silks, tippy lyra, aerial hoop
Sherrie Negley
Sherrie has been with us since the very beginning! She is the best with silks and specializing in tippy lyra! Come check out her classes at Takoma park, silks and aerial hoop instructor :)
Aerial Silks
Linnea Spear
Linnea Spear is an aerial silks artist whose silks journey began in middle school and has grown into a deep, ongoing dedication to the aerial arts. She is a performer with the University of Maryland Gymkana Troupe, where she trains aerial silks extensively, but also practices on traditional gymnastics apparatuses such as beam, bars, and rings, and performs in a synchronized ladders act. While silks remains her primary focus, Linnea also actively practices lyra and continues to develop her versatility as an aerialist. Her favorite area of focus in aerial is dynamics and dramatic drops. As an instructor, she focuses on creating a supportive environment where students can build confidence and work toward their individual strength and skill goals. She is very passionate about the aerial arts and continues to refine her abilities as she works towards broader performance opportunities.