Carmen Curtis, Part 1: Learning, Leading and Letting Go - The Evolving Journey of Carmen Curtis

Cher makes chicken nuggets with maple syrup and brings them via the car to her daughter (0:00). Carmen shares about her journey from dancer to mom, to dancer-mom at a time when there was no YouTube (3:00), how Carmen became more spontaneous and open after having Zoe resulting in becoming more of a leader (8:07), the complexities of working for a corporation (11:33).

 

Support Us via Patreon @CreativeMamasUnplugged

Hosts: Cherice Barton and Shelly Hutchinson  

Guest: Carmen Curtis

Producer: Jessica O’Keefe, Breatheasy Productions

FOLLOW CARMEN:

Instagram: @carmencurtis1 *online aerial yoga classes and trainings

Carmen’s Linktree

 

www.airealyoga.com

@airealyoga

 

www.theaerialstudio.net

@theaerialstudio

FOLLOW US: 

Instagram @creativemamasunplugged

Facebook @creativemamasunplugged

Apple Podcasts  @CreativeMamasUnplugged

Spotify  @CreativeMamasUnplugged

Amazon Music  @CreativeMamasUnplugged  

YouTube  @CreativeMamasUnplugged

iHeart Radio  @CreativeMamasUnplugged

Podbean  @CreativeMamasUnplugged

 

Extended Summary: 

Hosts Cherice Barton and Shelly Hutchinson sit down with the extraordinary Carmen Curtis—a celebrated aerialist, gymnast, and creative whose journey as a young mother in the world of elite performance redefined what it means to lead with strength, grace, and advocacy.  

 

Carmen shares how her early years as a competitive gymnast laid the foundation for a thriving career in aerial performance, ultimately leading her to a coveted role in Le Rêve in Las Vegas. She opens up about becoming a new mom at 25—navigating the early years of motherhood through trial and error as she raised her beautiful daughter, Zowie—and returning to perform just 12 weeks postpartum, supported by her incredible team at De La Guarda.  

 

Throughout her performing career, Carmen discovered the power of advocacy and self-leadership, negotiating contracts that supported both her artistry and her family’s well-being. Her forward-thinking approach set a new precedent for what it means to be both a mother and a professional artist at the highest level.  

Zowie’s childhood was filled with adventure, growing up in the wings of theaters and under the lights of some of the world’s most stunning stages. Traveling alongside her parents, she experienced a magical life shaped by creativity, community, and love—a reflection of the values Carmen lived by both on and off stage.  

 

As Carmen’s career evolved, so did her sense of purpose. She found herself stepping naturally into a leadership role as a mother, mentoring and supporting other women who were balancing motherhood with career performance. When she welcomed her second child, Carmen approached motherhood with deep readiness and wisdom, fully embracing the flow of life’s next chapter.  

 

BIO:

CARMEN CURTIS: Aerial Yoga Visionary and Elite performance coach for self awareness, self-care, and achieving one’s greatest potential Carmen Curtis began her movement journey as a UCLA gymnast before becoming a celebrated aerialist and harness specialist, performing with major productions and collaborating with icons such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Cirque du Soleil. Her artistry and innovation led her to become a world-renowned aerial choreographer, celebrity trainer, and creative collaborator. In 2012, she co-founded The Aerial Studio in Ventura, CA — a groundbreaking facility that brought together cirque, acrobatics, dance, and AIReal Yoga™ under one roof. As the founder and CEO of AIReal Yoga™, Carmen revolutionized the practice of yoga by introducing the aerial hammock as a tool for alignment, recovery, and holistic wellness. Today, AIReal Yoga™ is an internationally recognized brand, with accredited teacher