Get fit and have fun with pole dancing and other aerial arts at new Belleville studio
A new fitness venue opened last month on Belleville’s west end, and its owner, Brian Lynch, is making getting fit more fun than ever.
Valkyrie Aerial Arts is located at 3800 W. Main St., in a former auto body shop Lynch bought two years ago. Since then he renovated it to become a safe space for fun and exploration of dance.
Lynch, aka Orion, opened his business on Oct. 1, and so far, it’s been “everything I hoped it would be,” he said.
Folks can choose from a variety of classes for pole dancing (including contemporary, flying and exotic pole), aerial (hoops, also known as Lyra, and silks) and wellness (i.e., yoga, pole yoga) at different skill levels, from first-timer and beginner to more advanced.
Descriptions of class types can be found on the website at valkyrieaerialarts.com.
Lynch hopes to attract students from all walks of life.
You’ll never know who you’ll get as a student, he said. Whether it’s a cheerleader or a grandma, all are welcome.
Students have the opportunity to see what they can do as sessions evolve and flow naturally, Lynch said, without him telling them what they can do.
Classes and lessons are curated to accommodate those with limited mobility as needed. And precautions and students’ safety are prioritized over their limitations.
Goals for students will vary depending on each individual. That may include getting exercise, improving or restoring mobility or solely for the enjoyment of doing something new.
With many of the classes focused on pole work, he hopes to help students learn to connect different facets of health – stamina, flexibility. Every exercise is different, he said, and this is no exception.
A class at Valkyrie Aerial Arts will be “an hour unlike any other you spend throughout the day,” said Lynch.
A challenging transition
Lynch is a professional dancer and studied his craft for 10 years, in part at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and Sam Houston State University in Texas, where he learned more about working with silks.
He’s been pole performing as long as he’s been dancing and is passionate about it. He also competes on national and international levels.
In addition to performing, Lynch cultivated a love of teaching the art and has turned it into a business.
As a first-time business owner, Lynch feels that he’s stepping into a new phase of his life and adding business management to his already impressive repertoire.
Learning the business side of everything is challenging, he said, and there’s pressure in building something out of a passion. It feels good and scary at the same time, he said.
“It’s less hustle but a lot of work,” he said.
What he really wants is to see his business contribute to creating a sense of community while helping others and to building it as more of a collective and incorporating others’ interests too.
When he moved to Belleville, Lynch saw new blips of life each time he walked along East Main Street.
“[Belleville] is quite demonstrative of its art,” he said, mentioning Art on the Square and displays of local artists’ works at several of the businesses.
Lynch wanted to be a part of that by sharing his own art with the community.
Those who attended last month’s Downtown Belleville Witches Brew Walk may have seen Lynch and one of his artist friends performing along the 300 block of East Main Street.
Sharing and teaching the different pole activities – pole aerobics, pole yoga, pole dancing – may also help to destigmatize the art form, said Lynch.
Classes are already in session. Meanwhile, he’s planning an open house showcase event for Dec. 1, the first of what he hopes will be at least a monthly thing.
“I’m one of the best at what I do,” said Lynch.
About Valkyrie Aerial Arts
Valkyrie Aerial Arts is located at 3800 W. Main St. in Belleville. To see the schedule of available classes or to register, visit valkyrieaerialarts.com. Look for events, updates and visuals on Facebook and Instagram.
This story was originally published November 13, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
