Daily Inspiration: Meet Jen Martin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Martin

Hi Jen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been a dancer and a creator. My passion for dance took me to NYC after attending college at Washington University in St. Louis. And it was there that I discovered my true life passion – finding ways to create, perform, choreograph and educate through aerial arts. Over the course of many years in New York and now again in Arizona, I have found unique ways to provide entertainment and experiences while combining aerial, dance and theatrical elements. My company, Suspended Fluidity, provides services including event entertainment, group and corporate instruction, choreography, performance, and production of specialty shows. It is such a joy to connect with people using movement as inspiration.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s funny how obstacles in the moment sound much smoother as time passes! But truly, I have been lucky in that I had access early on to people with similar interests while living in a huge city with multiple facilities and public transportation. We all tried to help each other along the way, whether that was training, hiring, recommending, etc.

But the path has been an adventure for sure. I find that the main obstacles with an entertainment related business are value perception and (especially for aerial services) technical space requirements.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would describe my artistic performance side as an aerialist and a dancer. Adjectives routinely used to describe my style would be “graceful” “captivating” and “fluid” along with the student acknowledgement “but you make it look so easy” (and to which I answer: “good – that’s my job!”)

I’m probably known for a variety of apparatus but primarily hammock, silks and lyra. I love combining elements of dance throughout all of my aerial endeavors and I truly love creating shows that incorporate aerial and dance with other cirque and theatrical inspiration. The most recent of which is The Forbidden Garden Experience.

While in New York, I was a founding member and choreographer of AERA Dance. a past Board Member of the U.S. Aerial Championships, and I created the “Red Velvet” aerial dance class for Crunch Fitness.
I’ve authored aerial hoop and hammock instructor training programs, and I helped pioneer the inclusion of safe aerial programming and instruction into group fitness environments. I also had fabulous experiences choreographing and performing in all areas of the entertainment world including stage, film, television, music videos, web-based productions, and industrials.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
So many lessons! It’s often the cliché ones that finally click after a while…but I would say ultimately the lesson is to put in the work (practice makes better -there isn’t a perfect), believe in yourself and then commit to being proud of what you’ve achieved!

Pricing:

• Event Pricing: Customizable
• Classes: $20 (dance) -$100 (aerial private session) with package rates available
• Online Hammock Tutorial Package: $150

Contact Info:

• Website: https://suspendedfluidity.com
• Instagram: @suspendedfluidity

Image Credits
Michelle Burke Photography
Lisa Garrett Photography
Michel Leroy
Newt Lynn
Blushing Cactus Photography