Transformational Aerial Arts Education

Empowerment Express: We bring aerial arts to Mid-Valley Elementary, Parkdale Elementary and Wy’East Middle School at no cost to the schools. This program provides low income students with access to a fun physical activity that builds body awareness, bravery and strength through professional coaching by supportive instructors.

Scholarships: We provide scholarships to kids and teens who could not afford to attend classes and camps otherwise. For our annual Circus Arts Summer Camp, we also provide transportation and food.

Classes and Camps: Our classes are heart-led and focus on kindness, collaboration and community. Of course we teach epic aerial arts skills but what we really are creating is a place where people of all ages thrive, laugh and cheer each other on. We have a high quality of aerial arts education with lead coaches having more than 13 years of experience each.

Public Performances

Students of all ages and abilities perform in low and no cost community performances exposing Hood River County to the beauty of Aerial Arts. We offer several free performances annually as well as low-cost performances (priced about half the cost of similar offerings in the area).

 

Founded in 2018 in Arwen’s front yard, Empowered Movement Aerial aims to give humans the skills to be their true, authentic, powerful selves.

Empowered Movement Aerial is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit and aerial arts training school for children ages 6 and up; teens and adults. Since its 2018 inception, the studio has expanded into its’ new home at 202 Cascade Avenue in Hood River. We have offered scholarships and reduced fees from day one and received our nonprofit status in 2020.

 

Why aerial and circus arts?

Studies have shown that trapeze and circus arts help with depression, anxiety, and those with special needs. Circus arts provides a host of benefits including physical fitness, mental stability, as well as a profound sense of accomplishment. We provide a warm and welcoming environment designed to encourage creativity and authenticity.

 Meet the Team

  • Arwen

    Founder & Instructor

    Arwen Ungar has been practicing Aerial Arts since 2011 when she was exposed to the magical powers of hanging upside down. She enjoys all the aerial apparatuses but static trapeze is her first love. Ungar has taken classes from a variety of circus schools including Night Flight Aerial and AWOL both in Portland, Oregon. She has also attended a teacher training using the Born to Fly Curriculum in Colorado.

    Aerial arts transformed her life by helping her become an empowered Queer woman who believed in herself and her abilities, something she had lacked in her former life. The skills and self esteem she learned in studios have changed her life forever. She hopes to empower young people to believe in themselves and the undeniable fact that they matter in the universe.

  • Ciara Searight

    Ciara has been coaching for 13 years. She moved from Lincoln Nebraska where she led the Big Top Circus to Extraordinary heights.

  • Sydney Endow

    Sydney Endow has been a coach with EMA for five years. Her gentle and thoughtful teaching style creates an environment where everyone feels welcome.