Meet Mel Stevens
CircusWorks Board Member. Independent aerial performer and producer with Aim to Fly.
Mel aka, Aerial Mel, is a deaf, disabled, BIPOC artist.
They began their performing career in the early 80’s as a dancer and later a singer. They believed this was what they were always going to do until shockingly they broke their back giving birth to their 3rd child almost 20 years ago. This first, meant mourning their old life. A decade later they were fortunate enough to be invited by Graeae to perform aerially for the GIDF in 2012 and then as part of the Paralympic aerial troupe and now legacy.
In 2014 they gained their aerial silk, trapeze and lyra teacher training qualifications as well as rigging certification and founded Aim to Fly UK.
Later that year they realised that a career in performing was not totally redundant and trained full time at Circomedia in circus arts and a year later began teaching accessible aerials with Circomedia’s ICAN classes.
Their favourite food is Caribbean, and their chocolate is their weakness.
Surprising fact: In 2009 They won ‘National Family of the Year’
Their pronouns are They/Them, although they are also know as ‘Circus Mummy’ and the ‘Queer Crip’ by their peers.
Mel will be presenting the ‘Ideas of Inclusion’ training, and the ‘Inclusive Aerial’ workshop.
