02/27/2026
INTRODUCING OUR GUEST FACILITATORS FOR
Acro Educators Training Program 2026:
MICAH ELLINGER will be guiding us on a conversation around the topic of "Environmental and Social Impacts of being an acro educator."
DESCRIPTION: We often think about how we can hold the best container possible for our students- in other words, how do we create a positive impact within our circle of influence as a space holder? But what if we expand our circle of concern a little larger, to include the natural world and the people we impact outside of our acro bubble? Everything we do has impact, especially as we potentially gather many people in a place that's not their home and that involves lots of travel. Let's think together about how to give back to the larger community and minimize harms. Through the years of calibrating our acro skills, let's also calibrate our positive impact with our efforts & intentions.
BIO: Micah Ellinger has been immersed in the world of partner acrobatics since 2008, starting with an intensive circus program for 9 months at New England Center for Circus Arts in Vermont, and in 2016 completed 3 years training hand to hand at École Nationale de Cirque in Montreal.
Since then he has performed internationally with several companies, including Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, and Circus Monti.
Starting in 2020, he has shifted focus to coaching full time.
Micah is a coach at Progressive Partner Acrobatics, LEAP, co-founder of ATC, and founded his own acro business: Micah Ellinger Acrobatics Coaching. �When he’s not tossing someone in the air or teaching someone to do the same, he enjoys group singing and learning how to grow food. Micah has a Permaculture Design Certification and has spent the last 5 years learning about Appalachian ecology.
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JON HANDLEMAN will be guiding a conversation around the topic of "Creating meaningful and Dynamic Experiences"
DESCRIPTION: Let’s get real and dive deep into different methods of enlivening workshops and coaching the human within the acrobat.
BIO: Jon Handelman is a life coach who for over a decade has crafted creatively rich and meaningful community experiences, offerings, and events. He is the co-creator of Groove School, a musical school for adults, and one of the co-founders and inhabitants of Sun Song Community. He has started regular communal jam meet ups, men’s groups, various retreats in connection and healing, and created and directed traveling musical peace circuses that have performed throughout South America. Jon regularly hosts community events in Asheville, NC and teaches workshops at various festivals, including LEAF, Rendezvous, Floyd Yoga Jam and Compassion Camp. He is the creator and director of the Love Song gathering, a 4 day, 200 person event focusing on village building, communal singing, and musical development. Most recently, Jon organized and focalized a community written and directed interactive musical called “Before Long”. He currently runs an event company called Conscious Events which focuses on community, growth and service where all profits go to marginalized people. You can check out his web-site here: www.jonhandelman.com
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We are looking forward to the rich conversations we will have this spring at AE!
LEARN MORE ~ https://www.progressivepartneracrobatics.com/acroeducators
