If you gaze at the stars and see an elegant figure in effortless suspension, holding onto the full moon’s edges with pointed toes, you are probably seeing a Gem State Flyer. These floating artists form the only aerial troupe in the Palouse, which has performed at venues like Kenworthy Theatre, Moscow’s Farmer’s Market and the Renaissance Fair. They are made up of one WSU student and many University of Idaho students and alumni. 

Amber Replogle, WSU student and Gem State Flyers member, said most people understand the circus side of aerial arts, like Cirque du Soleil. That is part of it, but not all. 

“It is the art of expression, strength, beauty,” she said. “It’s a lot easier on your body than some other sports, and it’s just a really good release and a really good way to get active.”

Born from the UI aerial arts club, the Gem State Flyers began their journey through the sky in 2023. Coaches from the club, including Replogle, and select members from it form the Gem State Flyers, focusing more on performance and production rather than instruction. 

They do both structured routines and “flows,” more improv-based performances in which a member will go up on one “apparatus” — typically a lyra (aerial hoop), silks or sling — and perform for 15 minutes each. 

Cameron Nielsen, president of the aerial arts club and a Gem State Flyers member, said many members have been experimenting with their routines. 

“A lot of us have been starting to incorporate more floor work and other circus acts in our pieces, so we have silk fans and dance and a variety of things,” she said. 

Holding, dropping, spinning and flipping in the air requires an impressive amount of strength, and aerial arts combines that training with performance. For Replogle, it provides an outlet for both exercise and artistry after being injured.

“I was told I would never be able to be active again,” she said. “But then I decided like, hey, I’m gonna try, and aerial arts was what my body was missing — what I was missing — and it has really connected me back with my body.”

Nielsen has a similar relationship with the art. She used to dance competitively, but stopped when she got to UI. 

“I got more into strength training,” she said. “So this is the best of both worlds with the strength training and the beautiful, artistic athleticism of dance.”

The Gem State Flyers do more than perform pre-existing programs. They have to both create their own routines and handle the technical side of performance, with lights, staging and music, weaving personal stories they want to tell from scratch. 

“We kind of do stage managing,” Replogle said. “We’ll do rigging, and so there’s a whole other aspect to it when you join the performance troupe.” 

Last summer, they used their expertise to teach a camp on aerial arts in collaboration with the UI theater department, where youth from ages 7-18 learned routines on the three main apparatuses. At the end of the week-long period, they held a showcase for their friends and family. They plan to do another youth camp this summer. 

Since its founding, the Gem State Flyers has become a pillar in the community of performing arts in the Palouse. First-year Gem State Flyer Cale Wilponen emphasized the importance of supporting aerial arts. 

“It is especially important now, in a time when everyone needs to be able to sit and enjoy art for a while to remember the amazing and beautiful things that are happening around us,” Wilponen said. 

Another first-year Gem State Flyer, Jasmine Jones, described the art as “awe-inspiring” and “exhilarating.” She said it takes her out of her comfort zone, and she could not do any of it without the supportive environment the Gem State Flyers create. 

“If you haven’t been to an aerial arts show, you’re missing out,” Jones said. 

Nielsen is often struck by the reactions from the audience, who will make remarks of shock and awe upon seeing Gem State Flyers’ aerial performances. 

“I hear, ‘oh my God’ [and] ‘holy crap,’ and it’s like, the things that these aerialists can do is insane,” she said. “Every week when I’m sitting and watching them in practice, I am constantly blown away and so impressed by the strength and the beauty and the grace of all of these folks.”

Their upcoming performance Friday and Saturday, “Vandals Take Flight,” is the Gem State Flyers’ third annual spring showcase, featuring their biggest routines of the year, which have been in the works since November. Members will show off months of hard work and experimentation, aiming to dazzle and wow the crowds. 

The showcase will have three total performances, with one at 7 p.m. on April 3 and two performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, on April 4 at Hartung Theater in Moscow. Tickets, purchasable via cash or Venmo, are $5 for students and $10 for the community. All proceeds go right back into the club and troupe budget to support its continuation.

“When you pay to go to Cirque du Soleil, it is quite the price tag. Here you get Cirque du Soleil at a very reasonable price,” Replogle said.