About our school
In the Dark Circus Arts
In the Dark Circus Arts is Baltimore’s home for all things circus! We love to teach people of all ages, abilities, and experiences something new. Circus provides everyone with a unique way to strengthen our bodies, express ourselves creatively, and honestly show off your really cool skills to your friends and family! Our coaches are the best in the Baltimore area. We all prioritize safety and tailor our classes to match the needs of our students.
Interested in running away to the circus? Sign up for any of our level 1 aerial classes during 6 to 8-week sessions for Fabric, Lyra, and Trapeze or any of our ground skills classes (such as) cyr wheel, german wheel, hula hooping, or juggling. If you don’t want to commit to an entire session, we frequently offer 1.5-hour intro workshops. There, you can experience a variety of disciplines! Let us show you how to fly!!
Meet Our Coaches!
Kelly Jo Chartier
Founder Kelly Jo Stull Chartier is a performer and coach in the Aerial Arts, Cyr & German Wheels and Hula Hoops - an all around cirque extraordinaire. She founded in the Dark Circus Arts in 2011 as a performance company and a circus arts training school in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a graduate of the New England Center for Circus Arts and a gold medalist for Cyr Wheel in the national championship (2013). Her passion is creating and executing productions in Baltimore that highlight all the creative talent that thrives in our fair city. Cultivating community through performance art is the driving mission behind In the Dark Circus Arts. Kelly Jo lives with her husband, two sweet children & her extensive teacup and english rose collection. When she is not doing circus, she is gardening, speaking french and sipping tea.
Thomas martin
Thomas Martin is a freelance circus artist working and training in the Washington, D.C. / Baltimore area. Specializing in fabric, dance trapeze and aerial chains, he is currently a resident performer at SAX Bar and Nightclub in Washington, D.C. His background in dance and visual art from Towson University has influence on his performances, allowing him to express himself physically and intellectually through circus. Thomas can be seen on Facebook and Instagram (@tmcirque).
Janelle jonna
Janelle Jonna was born and raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan. From a young age she has had a passion to study various forms of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, Hula/Tahitian, Afro-Haitian, and belly dance. She moved to NYC 2008 to attend Marymount Manhattan College where she received a B.S. in business management with concentrations in Arts and Media Management and Investments and Finance. She has worked for Broadway Dance Center as a Summer Intensive Counselor, teacher assistant for the Children and Teen’s Program, and as crew member for the Pulse. She has also studied with Jean Gloria Newell, president of the Cecchetti Council of America, holding her Grade VI certification. In 2018 she began her study of circus arts training with various coaches including Brenna Bradbury, Mathieu Leopold, and Summer Lacy. Credits include Sex and the City 2, International Dance Festival NYC, Peridance APAP, Ripley’s Believe it or Not New Year’s Eve Party, and NBC Upfront.
Jess Greiner
Jessica Greiner is a multi-talented performer and coach. Also known as Turtljay, this symbolically feathered yet tough creature makes her nest in Baltimore, USA. Her skills span circus arts such as hula hooping, fire dance, juggling, stilt walking, contortion, aerial fabric, hoop, loops, and sling. Don’t forget to catch your breath, audiences find themselves quickly captivated by her endless array of spunk and talent. As a coach, she thrives in helping others believe they can do amazing things too, and lives for the "aha!" moments of each and every student.
Sarah Shellem
Sarah Shellem has almost 10 years of experience teaching aerial arts and has been taking classes with In the Dark Circus Arts since 2015. She's attended multiple teacher trainings at NECCA and is a 200 hour certified yoga instructor. In her past life, she earned a degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, as well as a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. She loves spending time with her husband, toddler son and senior dog; she's obsessed with Lord of the Rings and all things Tolkien; and loves to help her students feel confident, powerful and strong!
Danya Volkov
Danya has dabbled in and tried nearly every form of dance she can get her hands on, but aerial dance was the one that stole her heart. A transplant to the DC region during the peak COVID days, she hails from the other Washington where she trained and taught at Versatile Arts in Seattle. Danya loves the combination of physicality and expression that aerial arts offer, and has a particular affinity for dynamic movement on vertical apparatuses (fabric and rope) but occasionally can also be seen noodling around on a hammock, trapeze, or lyra. You can find her on Instagram at @dvolkov6 where she promises to post content at least twice a year.
SAFFRON VAN ROSSEM
Saffron is a visionary circus artist, educator, and founder of Circus With Purpose. Teaching and performing since 2012, she specializes in weavy, creative vertical apparatus, constantly pushing the boundaries of aerial expression. She has worked closely with Paper Doll Militia as both a collaborator and student, refining her approach to aerial theory, physical theater, and artistic innovation.
In addition to her work in circus arts, Saffron has been teaching yoga since 2008. She developed the curriculum for and led Circasana Yoga Teacher Trainings for 10 years, blending movement, mindfulness, and creativity to cultivate a holistic practice. With a background in kinesiology, she integrates physical longevity and prehab into her teaching, ensuring sustainable movement practices for both aerialists and yogis.
A pioneer in aerial artistry, Saffron is known for groundbreaking acts like Aerial LED Hula Hooping and Aerial R’ilks—a fusion of rope and silks that weaves together dynamic and fluid choreography. Passionate about unlocking creativity through movement, she invites you to explore new possibilities in her workshops through curiosity and exploration.
