About In the Wings
In the Wings aerial was created by Fallon Voorheis-Mathews in early 2018. Fallon has spent her entire life moving. Starting with ballet at 2 years old, moving on to gymnastics at 3 and returning to dance in her teenage years. She danced throughout college and found aerial in 2010. She was immediately hooked as it combines all of her passions and having roots in the circus creates a sense of inclusiveness. After spending several years creating and performing with other companies, she decided she was ready to start creating her own performances and started In the Wings.
In the Wings is a group of professional aerialists and dancers. We fuse traditional aerial arts with technical dance seamlessly. Our passion is creating work that resonates with other artists, dancers, and audiences.
The Company
Fallon Voorheis-Mathews
Founder & Artistic Director
Nicknames: Fal - but only for my close peeps, you’ll know when you know.
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? I get to do what I love with an amazing group of humans.
Ground or Air? YES!
Where did you do your training? I grew up as a competitive gymnast, attended Mesa State minoring in Dance, and started my aerial training with Frequent Flyers and spent several seasons with Iluminar before starting In the Wings.
Other jobs? I’m an RN in the GI Lab
Favorite color? Black
Favorite apparatus? Tough one…Silks was my first love but I identify as polyaerial :)
Favorite dance genre? Modern or Jazz
Cats or Dogs? YES! Give me anything with fur and I will smoosh it!
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: Below Deck is my guilty pleasure
Last song you listened to? HOT TO GO by Chappell Roan because Ashley got it stuck in my head yesterday
Last song you danced to? Lose Control By Teddy Swims
Scariest thing you've ever done? Swam with sharks both a whale shark and sweet little black tipped reef sharks
Pet peeve? When people don’t read everything before replying.
Best advice you've received? Do what makes your heart sing.
Favorite quote to live by? “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
The last bit is tattooed on my arm and helped me through nursing school, and then the fire, and now breast cancer.
What do you do in your spare time? Snuggle on the couch with my husband and doggos. Well the husband is there but the snuggling is really with the smoosh faces. Oh, all while eating any kind of snacks.
Ashley Sonnier
Asst. Artistic Director
Nicknames: Ash
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? Dancing duh
Ground or Air? Ground
Where did you do your training? All over
Other jobs? Accountant
Favorite color? Yellow
Favorite apparatus? Lyra
Favorite dance genre? Contemporary
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: Psh I don’t get embarrassed - I love nerd s***
Last song you listened to? Pink pony club
Last song you danced to? Pink pony club
Scariest thing you've ever done? Woof
Pet peeve? Woof people who lie to me haha - it’s a Taurus thing
Thing you are most proud of? Finding a little light again
Best advice you've received? Even in
Favorite quote to live by? You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.
What do you do in your spare time? Workout, loving on my pups and hanging out with the hubby!
Naomi Graff
Instructor, Core Company Member, Choreographer
Nicknames: Omi
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? The cool people I get to dance with & the ability to create so freely! 😊
Ground or Air? Air all day
Where did you do your training? Frequent flyers
Other jobs? RBT specializing in ESDM (I work with autistic toddlers via play therapy!)
Favorite color? Burgundy
Favorite apparatus? Lyra, Trapeze, Silks (sorry I can’t pick one.)
Favorite dance genre? Either break or jazz :)
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: Idk if it’s embarrassing but I love the entire romcom genre and every single romcom is basically the same in some cheesy way
Last song you listened to? One of us by Ava Max
Last song you danced to? 10:35 by Tate McRae
Scariest thing you've ever done? Paragliding
Pet peeve? I don’t know if I have one 🤔
Thing you are most proud of? My indigenous lineage 🪶✨
Best advice you've received? Don’t ever let anyone tell you you can’t do the thing, but you can’t do all the things at the same time.
Favorite quote to live by? Quit…don’t quit…Noodles, don’t noodles…you’re too concerned about what was and what will be. -Mr. Ping from Kung Fu Panda
What do you do in your spare time? I paint and do artsy things, hangout with family/friends & garden!
Julie Young
Core Company Member
Nicknames: Joulez (Jewles)
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? Collaborating with others and getting to use our love for movement together on a stage.
Ground or Air? Air <3
Where did you do your training? I started at Cirque Indy in Indiapolis, IN, but have been training in several gyms around the country
Other jobs? I teach aerial silks & a variety of aerial/circus arts at Fort Collins Circus Center, and am the Artistic Director there. I also am a mural artist, and visual artist in multiple mediums.
Favorite color? Mustard Yellow
Favorite apparatus? Aerial Silks or Loop Straps
Favorite dance genre? Contemporary
Cats or Dogs? Doggos
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: Botched
Last song you listened to? 100,000 voices by Jacob Collier
Last song you danced to? Mary Jane - Rick James (for an upcoming show)
Scariest thing you've ever done? Swam in the middle of the ocean with an Ocean White Tip shark who was about 9 ft long. Or did aerial silks about 400ft in the air over a canyon
Pet peeve? When people regularly interrupt to be heard even though someone else was already speaking
Thing you are most proud of? Moving across the country several times on my own and making a life for myself in the things that I love
Best advice you've received? Stay Hydrated.
Favorite quote to live by? Everything happens in the time that it is mean to (I have no idea who said this)
What do you do in your spare time? Paint, make rugs, watch movies, practice juggling
Christine Jackson
Core Company Member
Nicknames: Lanky, Siege, CJ
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? I love seeing an act come together and then performing it. There is nothing quite like being vulnerable and putting your art out into the world and witnessing the emotions it brings up for people. I also really love learning from people that I admire and look up to... and I admire everyone in In the Wings!
Ground or Air? Love both, but gotta go with air!
Where did you do your training? Most of my training has been with Aircat Aerial Arts in Boulder
Other jobs? I work as a Community Engagement Coordinator at CU Boulder
Favorite color? Teal
Favorite apparatus? Silks, but I love to jump on anything!
Favorite dance genre? Contemporary
Cats or Dogs? Cats
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: Face/Off
Last song you listened to? Time is Dancing by Ben Howard
Last song you danced to? Dead Man's Party by Oingo Boingo
Scariest thing you've ever done? Rode ATVs in the mountains on tiny dirt paths near cliffs... Never again!
Pet peeve? Not putting away carts in the cart return at the grocery store!
Thing you are most proud of? Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone to audition for In the Wings! :)
Best advice you've received? Life isn't a straight line. It's a big ol' squiggle that takes you in all different directions. You don't always have to have a "plan." Keep rolling with the twists and turns.
Favorite quote to live by? "I will not let fear take my life from me."
What do you do in your spare time? Aside from aerial, I enjoy playing video games, painting, watching movies, birding, playing with my cat Tofu, attempting to sew, and generally learning and trying new things!
Delaney Carter
Core Company Member
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? performing!
Ground or Air? both!
Where did you do your training? I have a broad scope of training across a long timeline: starting as young as I can remember with recreational level dance and gymnastics to most recently pre-pro dance at Artistic Fusion Dance Academy, then the intensive training program at Frequent Flyers along with several helpful instructors in CO and when visiting Montreal.
Favorite color? Purple - amethyst
Favorite apparatus? Lyra and straps
Favorite dance genre? yes -- all of it!
Cats or Dogs? both
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: Twilight
Last song you listened to? BYOB - System of a Down
Last song you danced to? Something in the Way - Nirvana
Thing you are most proud of? my work ethic
Best advice you've received? “It's time for you to look inward, and start asking yourself the big questions. Who are you? And what do you want?” - Uncle Iroh ATLA
Favorite quote to live by? "Follow your passion and life will reward you” - Uncle Iroh ATLA
What do you do in your spare time? draw and paint and play with puppies
Keegan Dunn
Company Member
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? I learn so much, and I love watching people do the things they are passionate about
Ground or Air? Both? Still figuring it out!
Where did you do your training? In the Wings and Aerial Cirque Over Denver
Other jobs? Manager at a climbing gym
Favorite color? Yellows, greens, oranges
Favorite apparatus? Sling or Cyr Wheel
Cats or Dogs? Impossible choice. Both are too perfect for words
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: Bonding on Netflix
Last song you listened to? A/C by Grant Knoche
Last song you danced to? Beverly Hills - Weezer
Scariest thing you've ever done? Spontaneously went to another country with a person I had met on Tinder less than 3 weeks before.
Pet peeve? People who don't know how to hold a conversation
What do you do in your spare time? Recently been picking up leather working, always looking for a new hobby!
Emily Monks
Company Member
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? Getting to mix my love of aerial with dance
Ground or Air? Air!
Where did you do your training? Gravity Aerial Arts, along with several other aerial studios around Denver
Other jobs? Respiratory Therapist
Favorite color? Seafoam green
Favorite apparatus? Trapeze
Favorite dance genre? Ballet and jazz
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Last song you listened to? Something Wild, Lindsey Stirling
Last song you danced to? Starships, Nicki Minaj
What do you do in your spare time? Go hiking and try to be outside
Emily Scott
Company Member
Nicknames: Em
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? Learning new skills!
Ground or Air? Ground
Where did you do your training? Lots of places, but mainly Dancentre South (Woodstock, GA) and The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Other jobs? Admin & Dance Teacher
Favorite color? Green
Favorite apparatus? Not sure yet!
Favorite dance genre? Jazz and Ballet
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: When Calls The Heart—my mom loves the Hallmark Channel, so we watched it together. Can’t say I didn’t look forward to the new episode each week.
Last song you listened to? Something from the musical, Waitress
Scariest thing you've ever done? This wild multi-pitch climb at Courtright Reservoir in CA
Thing you are most proud of? I took a gap year from college to dance on a cruise ship. I was (and am) very proud that I was selected from the audition and that I took a bit of a risk in leaving school to dance professionally.
What do you do in your spare time? Dance classes, neighborhood walks, rock climbing, and lots of cooking!
Leah Grandstaff
Company Member
Nicknames: LeahTard Wedgie
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? Getting to be a part of a moving works of art with wonderfully talented & lovely humans.
Ground or Air? air :)
Where did you do your training? I've trained under several established programs & individual badasses in the states & abroad.
Favorite apparatus? Silks if solo (DuoTrapeze otherwise)
Favorite dance genre? Hip Hop
Cats or Dogs? Cats, oddly
Last song you danced to? Lets go Crazy, Prince
Scariest thing you've ever done? Childbirth sans drugs, like as a choice, in the birth plan & all.
Pet peeve? Slow drivers in the fast lane
Thing you are most proud of? Sharing vulnerable & tender moments with other humans.
Best advice you've received? Never own a boat.
Favorite quote to live by? "Penetratin' in my Winnebago, goin' to Rome"
What do you do in your spare time? Sunset, moonset, & moonrise chasing, leaf peeping, hiking & scenic drives, playing cards, & pestering my offspring.
Bayard Wenzel
Company Member
Nicknames: Barnyard
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? The esprit de corp
Ground or Air? Air
Where did you do your training? Aircraft Aerial Arts, NECCA, SFCC
Other jobs? Software Engineering
Favorite color? cerulean blue
Favorite apparatus? Trapeze
Favorite dance genre? Joyful
Cats or Dogs? Cats
Most embarrassing TV show or movie you watched: Peep Show
Last song you listened to? Tom Waits - Big In Japn
Scariest thing you've ever done? Fell off a tennis bubble & broke my ankle
Thing you are most proud of? Founded a co-op in Cambridge, MA - Brambleberry!
Best advice you've received? "Do what you aughta, add acid to wahta"
What do you do in your spare time? If it's winter, it's skiing!
Nicole Londraville
Company Member
Favorite part about being in In the Wings? I like Performing with a group
Ground or Air? both
Where did you do your training? ESH Circus Arts in boston and NECCA is where I received the best coaching for my circus career
Other jobs? I used to be a scientist and worked in musculoskeletal disease research
Favorite apparatus? rope and cyr wheel
Favorite dance genre? modern
Cats or Dogs? both
Scariest thing you've ever done? sky dive
Pet peeve? when people born in CO call themselves natives
Thing you are most proud of? I'm proud of my work ethic
Best advice you've received? go to a state school for undergrad, the loan cost isn't worth going to a private institution
Favorite quote to live by? Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.
What do you do in your spare time? hang out with my two dogs, one cat, and husband