About South Dakota Aerial & Arts
Sioux Falls' Premiere Aerial Fitness Studio
South Dakota Aerial & Arts was opened in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in January 2023 by Ashley Premer and Katie Critzer. They envisioned a gym that was dedicated specifically to aerial and alternative fitness classes, that valued and welcomed students of all backgrounds, skill levels, and genders. They are passionate about bringing safe, inclusive fitness to others. They also put together Sioux Falls' first circus performance group that brings their love of circus entertainment to the masses through public and private ambient performances, try-its, and shows.
Our goal is to make South Dakota Aerial & Arts a community where you feel empowered, motivated, and supported. We strive to make fitness fun for everyone through challenging classes, open gyms, private parties, competitions and workshops.
We want YOU to love aerial arts and bungee fitness as much as we do, and to have a space to be yourself and grow as an athlete and human.
Meet Our Team
Katie Critzer (Katie in the Sky)
Co-Owner | Head Aerial Silks Instructor | Performer
Katie is the co-owner and head aerial silks coach at South Dakota Aerial & Arts. She was a lifelong gymnast and has over six years of aerial experience. She has been coaching aerial silks since 2019.
She has won multiple awards for her aerial performances, including Best Variety Act for aerial doubles at OKCBF, 1st place in Aerial Silks and Hammock at the Black Hills Aerial Cup, and one 1st place and two 2nd place awards in All-Star Aerial Silks at Aerialympics and Aerial Star. She was also named on Sioux Falls' 2023 30 Under 30, and was in the 2022 cohort of CoStarters through Start Up Sioux Falls.
She loves creating new aerial silks moves, helping beginners discover their passion for aerial fitness, and being your (tough, but kind) cheerleader.
Katie professionally performs solo/duo aerial silks, partner acrobatics, aerial hoop, lollipop lyra, trapeze, specialty apparatuses, aerial doubles and fire.
Ashley Premer (Priscilla in the Sky)
Co-Owner | Head Lyra Instructor | Silks Coach | Performer
Ashley is the co-owner of South Dakota Aerial & Arts and has been a circus and side show performer for over 15 years. She worked as a sideshow performer doing specialty freak show acts and has been performing aerial silks and hoop since 2020. She specializes in flexibility, and professionally performs aerial silks, aerial hoop, lollipop lyra, aerial doubles, human basing, specialty apparatuses and fire.
Ashley loves creating beautiful sequences and putting together challenging aerial conditioning, Currently, she is working tirelessly on Sioux Fall's first, progressive aerial hoop program.
She also owns Vibrant Salon and Vibrant Body Arts, a piercing and tattoo shop, with her husband Erik, and is a staple performer in South Dakota Aerial & Arts' performance troupe.
She is a mother of two girls, Lily and Abigail. Lily is an aspiring aerial performer herself. You may see Lily in the gym hanging upside or creating routines on any/all apparatuses.
Kassie Hemmer (The Marvelous Mae)
Silks Coach | Performer | Bungee Coach | Hammock Coach
Kassie has always had a unquenchable thirst for adventure and trying new things. Growing up, Kassie never missed a circus while it was in town. She was awed and inspired by the aerial performers and, six years ago, decided to try it out for herself. She has been in love with the sport ever since.
Kassie is currently an aerial silks, hammock, and bungee coach at South Dakota Aerial & Arts and loves to perform! She specializes in aerial silks and hammock, and has recently rekindled her love for baton.
She has been training aerial since 2017 and has been coaching since 2020.
Kassie is an Accountant by day and is also a dedicated foster parent for cats at All Cats Rescue. She is also an avid lover of theatre, a local brew and a good cup of coffee.
Chris Coughlin (Icarus in the Sky)
Strength & Stretch Instructor | Performer
Chris started aerial silks at the beginning of 2022 after teaching and doing yoga for 9 years. He has found a thrill in sharing his passion and talent with others. He’s currently working on building more daring aerial silks doubles performances on the silks. He coaches our flexibility classes and a variety of workshops, including acroyoga, hand balancing, aerial yoga and more!
In 2023, he won best variety performance for his duo aerial silks act at OKCBF. He also won 1st place in the adult advanced silks at the Black Hills Aerial Cup in 2024.
His other talents include speaking Spanish and spontaneously dropping into the splits.
Erica Mortensen
Aerial Silks Coach and Bungee Coach | Performer
Erica has been doing aerial silks since 2020, and started coaching at the beginning of 2024. She took an intro class with her daughter, Grace (also a coach here), and has been hooked ever since. She is excited to be able to share her love of aerial silks through teaching at SDAA. She loves slack drops and solving aerial puzzles. She recently started performing professionally with our aerial performance troupe, specializing in aerial silks.
Erica is also a certified teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing. She is fluent in American Sign Language. She has four children and one grandchild - Xylah, who loves flying in our Little Flyers classes.
Grace Outland
Kid/Adult Aerial Silks Coach | Performer
Grace (aka Goose) first tried aerial silks with her mom in 2020, and has been hooked ever since. What started as a spontaneous trial class has since turned into an immense passion for aerial that continues to grow each day. While silks are her primary apparatus, she is slowly learning lyra, double hammock and sling so that she can spend more time in the air. She's always willing to learn a new drop, and loves dynamic movements that challenge both strength and bodily awareness.
Grace has competed in multiple aerial competitions, taking home 1st place in Advanced Aerial Silks at the Black Hills Aerial Cup and 2nd Place at the Dakota Aerial Championship. She also recently started joining professional performances with SDAA.
Coach Grace and Coach Erica teach together on Tuesday nights, and can sometimes be seen conversing in sign language in the air and on the ground.
When she is not in the air, she is likely at home snuggling with her two kitties, Goose and Peanut, or spending time with her husband Max.
Tammy Garland
Bungee Fitness Coach
Tammy has been a group fitness instructor for many years, focusing on group strength classes and Pilates. She started coming to SDAA class in 2024 and has loved the challenge of aerial silks. She is one of our bungee instructors, and always bring a fun, upbeat style to each bungee class she teaches.
She is working towards her first aerial performance that she is excited to do alongside her granddaughter, Ember, who has been part of our performance team in Spring of 2025.
Kristen Werpy
Beginner Lyra Coach | Hoop Performer
Kristen began taking classes at SDAA when the gym first opened, and quickly developed a love for the art. Lyra is her favorite apparatus, and she began teaching classes in Fall of 2024. Aerial continues to be her favorite way to express and challenge herself!
Kim Aumsbaugh
Bungee Fitness Coach
Kim is one of our Bungee Fitness Instructors with a passion for movement, motivation, and helping others. She brings energy, precision, and positivity to every session. Kim first tried Bungee on a visit to Sioux Falls from South Georgia in 2024 and was automatically hooked. A few months later she and her family moved to Sioux Falls and she became a member of the gym and has been bouncing ever since. She joined SDAA as a Bungee instructor in 2025 to be able to share her bouncing passion with others.
Kim focuses on making fitness fun, empowering, and accessible to people of all fitness levels, ages, or body types. She creates a safe space to challenge yourself and experience a new fitness routine.
When not in the harness Kim enjoys exploring Sioux Falls with her husband and two boys or teaching at one of the local elementary schools.
Katelyn Sullivan
Gym Assistant
Katelyn has been fascinated by aerial arts for years, drawn to the strength, grace, and creativity it embodies. In 2025, she joined SDAA and shortly after began taking classes in aerial silks and lyra.
As an Aerial Gym Assistant, she supports instructors and students by helping with equipment setup, class organization, and doing marketing for the business.
She has a special place in her heart for rainy weather, oddities, and all things otherworldly. When not in the gym her hobbies include writing music, watching horror movies, and learning Norwegian.
Contact Us
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