About Canopy: Repertory Company

Performer Bios

Mazie Bowen

Mazie Bowen has been with Canopy for over eight years now. She has a background in dance, even though she is still trying to figure out how to combine tap dance and trapeze. Mazie is a full time librarian, mom to two wild boys and wife to an incredibly understanding husband. In her spare time, of which there is little, she likes to be outside, read, watch movies and run around wildly.

Annette Byrd

Annette Byrd has loved to dance since she was a child. She began ballroom dancing ten years ago—and aerial silks have fascinated her for a long time. Thanks to Canopy, she has found a new way to express her love of dance. Back in the real world, she has been a veterinary assistant for 24 years!

Rabun Dekle

Rabun Dekle began her obsession with dancing in the air 9 years ago when Canopy first opened its doors. Rabun has served Canopy in multiple capacities since she first signed up as a student, a performer, a teacher, a board member, and board president. She has trained at Canopy as well as Nimble Arts and works on dance trapeze, circus trapeze, hula hoops, aerial fabrics, and really any other objects flown in the air. She has continued her aerial work through pregnancy and as a mother because she is entirely addicted to being upside down. Outside of Canopy Rabun is a pharmacist at Village Drug Shop, a wife to husband Drew, and a mother to 5-year-old daughter Tyus. She enjoys reading, snow skiing, swimming, running, traveling, a good game of gin rummy, and generally getting into mischief. She has an infamous vintage hat collection she dons for late night dancing and resides in Athens at the pleasure of her 5 cats and 1 dog.

Anna Gore

Originally from Radford Virginia, Anna has made Athens her home since the spring of 2002. She has been involved with Canopy Studios since 2004 as a student, teacher, and performer, and has helped with sound and lighting during many performances. Having always been somewhat athletic, but far from graceful, Anna has enjoyed developing her strength and coordination at Canopy, and loves watching her students do the same.

Outside of the studio Anna is a Graduate Student in Environmental Planning and Design at UGA, and a board member of BikeAthens. In her spare time she likes hiking, cycling, vegetarian cooking, and playing her guitar.

Mary Jessica Hammes

Mary Jessica Hammes has studied trapeze as a student, performer, and instructor for 10 years. With no background in dance or gymnastics—and with a lifelong history of being uncoordinated and clumsy—Mary Jessica was delighted to find a hidden sense of grace and strength, and loves watching her students make that same discovery about themselves. Mary Jessica is also a journalist and writes for newspapers, magazines and websites. In her spare time, she likes to knit, make comics and veganize recipes. She lives in Athens with her husband and young son.

Carlynn Corely Kenna

Carlynn Kenna an occupational therapist who found her wings at Canopy seven years ago. She enjoys teaching and choreographing as much as she likes performing. The transformation that students make as they gain strength and confidence is a privilege to witness. BUNGEE is her latest aerial frontier...the dynamic amazing! Favorite moments in the studio are spent watching her 9 year old perform on single point trapeze. She makes her very proud!

Chris Knightes

Chris Knightes started at Canopy shortly after he moved to Athens from Princeton, New Jersey. Involved in gymnastics since he was young and coaching recreational and competitive gymnastics more recently, he was looking for a physical activity upon moving to Georgia. Finding out about Canopy in the Flagpole, he decided to investigate this "aerial dance trapeze" studio, and found a wonderful haven combining the physical demands of gymnastics with the artistry of dance. Since becoming part of the Canopy family, he has instructed both trapeze and fabrics.

Outside of Canopy, Chris is a research environmental engineer with the US EPA as an environmental transport and fate mathematical process modeler, currently investigating the cycling of the element mercury in watersheds and waterbodies and the exposure of mercury to humans and wildlife. When not at Canopy or sitting in front of a computer screen at work, he's typically at the gym, but he also enjoys traveling, reading, downhill skiing, theatre, and music, which taste ranges from classical to alternative to progressive and hard NY house and likes to share these underground sounds with his fellow Canopy rep members (or subject them to it).

Carrie Kretzer

In an effort to bring more sparkle and strength into her life, Carrie Kretzer began taking classes at 16 in 2002. In 2006, in an effort to add a good dose of silly to the mix, she began teaching children’s classes and performing with the studio. Outside of the studio Carrie is working on her BA in Art History with a minor in Anthropology and is currently making plans to travel the world.

Allyson Mann

Allyson Mann moved to Athens for grad school and, like a lot of people, never left. She has always enjoyed exercising—ultimate frisbee, yoga, kickboxing—but had trouble sticking with anything for more than two years. In 2003 that changed when she discovered Canopy and the joy of flying through the air. Allyson has performed on dance trapeze, circus trapeze, fabrics, lyra, Spanish web and an assortment of metal equipment. During the day she works as a writer/editor, and at night she teaches trapeze, fabrics and conditioning classes. She shares her home with three dogs and two cats.

Lindy Pals

Lindy Pals has studied aerial dance at Canopy Studios for over a decade. She thanks some amazing teachers: Susan Murphy, Elsie and Serenity Smith, Nicole Mermans, and repertory dancers (who always eagerly share). Two years ago, Lindy was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis). After fearing the loss of trapeze, Lindy improved through medications that now allow her to fly again. She believes that aerial dance and hula-hooping are incredible therapy for those suffering chronic pain ("move it or fuse it"). By day, Lindy is a middle school librarian where she daily observes children's desperate desire for movement. She's thankful to Canopy for providing an outlet for so many community kids.

Julie Phillips

Julie Phillips teaches trapeze and fabrics classes at Canopy. In her day job, she works as arts & entertainment editor for the Athens Banner-Herald (see Marquee). She first heard about trapeze in Athens in 2000, when her friend and then-writer, Mary Jessica Hammes, wrote an article about the community class Susan Murphy was teaching at UGA's dance department. She began taking trapeze class with MJ and Allison Workman (her now-frequent trapeze partner) the next time it was offered and has been along for the ride ever since.

Lauren Puls

Lauren Puls has been delighted to consider Canopy her home away from home for 9 years. She finds the dancing to be joyous and fascinating, and also considers herself a "knot nerd," and enjoys exploring the ins and outs of rigging, as well as building equipment by hand. She is an avid collector of circus antiques and oddball costumes and props, and often performs "in cognito." When she's not in the air, she is often documenting her experiences with her beloved camera. She works in landscaping and property management/maintenance, and she's happy to get her hands dirty, but also has a degree in psychology, and has enjoyed working in the field of mental health. She is the proud mom to a cat, a dog, and an elderly snake. She loves being part of the Athens community, and is proud to connect with Athens through her work at Canopy.

April Moore Skelton

April Moore Skelton has been studying and performing aerial dance for six years, and teaching for four years. Her mantra is "play" and her life's mission is to banish fear from all corners of her existence. Aerial dance is particularly suited for both. She seeks adventure and loves to document her experiences. April hopes she can use her life to empower others to do their own epic stuff. She lives in Athens with her very favorite person and husband, Conrad, and their employers, the two gray cats. Her dream job is head counselor at a summer camp in the mountains for adults who never forgot how to be kids.

Dana Skelton

Dana Skelton is originally from Roswell, GA. She has been with Canopy since 2000 as a student, teacher and performer. Dana has taught and performed on trapeze, fabric and bungee. Her dance has evolved to include the exploration of the more grounded arts of hoopdance, poi, bellydance and hip hop. Dana is a hoopnotica certified hoopdance instructor, teaching classes and workshops at Canopy. Dana also enjoys hiking, knitting, reading & cooking. Dana is a graduate of Clemson University and works for Georgia River Network. She is married to a biology professor at Georgia College and has two cats.

Melissa Wilson

In 2003 Melissa Wilson discovered the joys of aerial dance through Canopy Studio with her first trapeze class. With nurturing and encouragement from her friend and mentor, Susan Murphy, Melissa grew in confidence and strength as a performer. She has since branched out into all aspects of aerial dance and continues to find new ways to blend art and strength through performance.

Outside the studio Melissa finds her life enriched to overflowing by her faith, her close relationships with family and friends, her precious dog Boo, days on the river, and her love and commitment to all children. She has a passion for cooking and finds inspiration for creating dishes through the sustainable foods available at our local markets. Her greatest desire is to have more time for all the things she truly loves and enjoys.

Allison Workman

Allison Workman moved to Athens, GA from the Pacific Northwest on somewhat of a whim in 1991. In 2000 she finally found what she was looking for when she swung on a trapeze for the first time. Allison has been with Canopy from its inception as a student, teacher and performer. The birth of her son in 2005 grounded her in many ways and led her to discover the joy of Hoopdance and the Zen of hoop-making as well as teaching and playing with young children and babies. She has found a way to knit together a life of teaching and play as a mostly-stay-at-home mama, Childcare Coordinator for the Athens Mothers' Center, and teacher of Hoopdance and toddler trapeze classes. Allison eventually graduated from UGA with a degree in French, and if it weren't for Canopy she'd find a way to live in France. Currently, however, she lives in Danielsville, GA, with her young son, hockey-devotee computer wizard husband and 3 cats.