Our Roots

Art in Flexion’s story is connected to a tradition of circus arts passed from teacher to student across generations.

Vintage photograph of four acrobats performing hand balancing and contortion — A tradition passed through generations

Honoring Cheryl Lindley

Founder Hanna Denham trained with Cheryl Lindley at Sophia Isadora Academy of Circus Arts for much of her career. Cheryl’s teaching helped shape Hanna’s development as a performer and coach, forming an enduring foundation for the work she shares with her students today. Cheryl continues to teach at Art in Flexion, sharing her knowledge with students and remaining an active part of the studio’s story.

Cheryl’s own training connected her to Piero Canestrelli, a performer and teacher born into a multigenerational Italian circus family. His career spanned European and American circuses before he settled in San Diego, where he shared his knowledge with a new generation of circus artists, including students at Sophia Isadora Academy of Circus Arts.

Hanna Denham in performance costume standing with her coach Cheryl Lindley — Hanna with her coach, Cheryl Lindley

Cheryl Lindley, the blonde performer, balancing on one arm in a doubles acrobatic act with Aneta — Cheryl Lindley and Aneta in their doubles act. Cheryl is the blonde performer.

Cheryl Lindley performing in a green floral costume with musicians at Fern Street Circus — Cheryl Lindley performing with Fern Street Circus

Carrying the teaching forward

When Cheryl retired from running the academy in 2020, Hanna purchased it and brought it together with Art in Flexion. This transition carried forward the school where she had trained while creating space for her own approach to movement education.

The Canestrelli family in circus performance costumes — The Canestrelli family

Hanna Denham performing an inverted split balance on a table in a blue costume before a circus audience — Hanna Denham in performance

Today, Art in Flexion brings these circus roots together with Hanna’s background in anatomy, strength, and flexibility. We honor Cheryl’s lasting influence and the teachers who came before her by continuing to share their knowledge, while developing our practice for the students we teach today.