Meet Morgan: Roustabout Founding Member
Finding a Circus and Aerial Gym That Supports Her and Pushes Her to Achieve Her Dreams
After nearly four years as an aerialist, Morgan came to Roustabout looking for a new place to train circus and aerial in Denver. More than that, she was looking for a community where she felt supported and where her goals, both in training and performance, would be taken seriously.
Since joining Roustabout, she’s expanded her apparatus repertoire, adding straps and fly pole, hit new goals in the gym, and been cast in multiple productions.
We sat down with Morgan to talk about how she found circus, what brought her to Roustabout, and what she would tell someone who is nervous to take their first aerial class.
What’s your favorite apparatus?
My favorite apparatus is probably single-point lyra, but it’s quickly being followed up by straps.
Tell us about your circus journey so far.
I’ve been an aerialist for almost four years this September. Circus so far has been a very interesting foray into realizing that I have muscles I didn’t know I could use, and I’m using them, and they’re very painful.
I love circus. That’s why I ran away to join it. It’s probably one of my favorite things to do.
What made you join Roustabout?
I joined Roustabout for a couple of reasons, but I was mostly looking for a new home. I was looking for a family, somewhere where wins would be celebrated no matter what, and by people who truly wanted to support every step of whatever journey you wanted to be on.
Finding Roustabout and talking with Mark, I realized I like what Roustabout stood for.
Can you elaborate a little bit on how Roustabout embodies that?
I think Roustabout embodies so much more than just being a family, but one of the ways that I think Roustabout embodies a family the most is the sheer level of genuine love and support that you get for anything that you do, especially when you are taking steps forward.
Whether it is pursuing a professional circus career, whether it is doing this once a week and you manage to get your body in whatever you’re doing, it is an environment that embodies what aerial and circus should be, which is for everyone.
And when I think of Roustabout, I think of, well, I think of it as any set of stairs that you could possibly want for wherever you want to go. And they mean it when they say it’s for everyone.
What is your biggest accomplishment since you’ve been training at Roustabout?
I’ve been cast in multiple productions since starting to train at Roustabout. I’ve gained so much confidence being in a place where I’m celebrated and I’m wanted.
I’ve made so much progress on goals ranging from my favorite apparatus to discovering new apparatuses like fly pole. I mean, if we’re being honest, I’ve even hit PRs in the gym I never thought were possible. So, I know, right? It’s really cool.
Do you want to shout out any of the shows you’ve been cast in?
I just got cast in something in Fort Collins called No Saint Circus for lyra. I’m really, really excited.
If someone is nervous about taking their first circus class, what would you say?
I started aerial not being able to get in the lyra, let alone do anything else. I couldn’t do a pull-up. I, for the life of me, could not do anything.
I’ve gone through multiple intense, invasive surgeries that have required me to relearn how to use anything from my core to doing a pull-up.
You don’t need to be strong enough, quote-unquote, “strong enough” to start, and you certainly don’t need to be good at it to start.
If you’re nervous, that’s normal. If you’re like me and, when you start, you can’t touch your toes on a good day, fair. You’ve got what it takes. Just come.
What has being a founding member of Roustabout meant to you?
I have been training more at Roustabout in the months that I have been a founder than I have in the past year before finding Roustabout. I can tell it is showing up in how I dance, how I show up in other parts of my life, because of the discipline I am able to embody by being here.
Being a founder has helped me follow my dreams to a point where I’m genuinely proud of myself, and I’m so excited to see where I go.
I think Roustabout has some of the most competent and wonderful coaches and wonderful people, and I’m so proud to be here and actually get to be a founding member of this space. I’m really excited to help maybe build that into something where more people feel welcome.
Join Roustabout as a Founding Member
Morgan is one of Roustabout’s founding members, and a limited number of Founders All-Access Memberships are still available.
Founders Membership is $200/month and includes:
Unlimited classes
Unlimited open gym
Free workshops
Discounts on Roustabout merchandise
Discounts on tickets to shows produced by Haywire Productions and Mechler Entertainment
If you want to train with us, this is the most access we offer in a single membership.
