Interests can change at the drop of a hat, or rather, a person. Sophomore Sarah Vollmer walked into Flipside Gymnastics on Oct. 1, 2015, on her way to her first lesson for aerial silks and came out an hour later with a new passion for silks, a form of acrobatics.

“My friend Katie was doing it and she told me about it,” Sarah said. “I thought it would be a fun thing to try. It’s something that not a lot of people do and I like my coach so that makes it fun.”

Aerial silks is a form of acrobatics where the performer is suspended from the ceiling and is wrapped up in a silk material. While it started as a circus act, the act of aerial silks has grown more and more popular. Sarah has a background in gymnastics, but she wanted to try something new.

“She used to do gymnastics before that so she’s physically fit and very coordinated and graceful,” Sarah’s mom JoAnn Vollmer said. “She takes the classes very seriously and looks forward to them. She works hard to get better.”

Starting anything new can seem daunting, especially when it involves hanging in mid-air, but Sarah worked hard to get over that fear and improve her skills. She goes to Flipside every week for an hour to practice. Another place Sarah goes is Bumpershoot Aerial Arts, a school for hopeful acrobats in St. Louis. There, she is able to practice and improve with the help of other instructors.

“When she first started, she was very hesitant and she would get very tired because it required arm strength,” JoAnn said. “She was scared for drops. Now, everything is smooth and very strong. She doesn’t hesitate and it looks very beautiful. It gives her confidence in other ways as well.”

Another thing Sarah fell in love with that first day of lessons was her coach, Ashley Mendoza. With that instant connection, their relationship has only grown. Mendoza explains everything to Sarah and helps her achieve greater heights.

“I love her,” Mendoza said. “Sarah is fantastic. She is really good at breaking the skills down. She has a good ability to break things down and understand them. She’s very repetitious, she comes in and does what she’s learned before. She has a good time with it and doesn’t get frustrated.”

When she started, tasks like climbing up the silks proved difficult. Oftentimes, this would cause her hands to cramp. Now she has noticed that she has gotten stronger and silks is becoming easier. She didn’t give up because it was hard, but rather kept working and getting stronger to perform better.

“Most girls get hesitant and think they’re not flexible or strong enough,” Mendoza said. “I would advise to just try it. Step out of your comfort zone. Everyone has a different level of progress. One of the best things about silks is the way it makes you feel. It helps you face your fears and makes you realize how much your body and mind can accomplish.