Inverted: Circus & Pole Fitness Ltd was founded in May 2015 by Ritti Soncco, Elsie Liontou and Theo Robertson. We are an award-winning company based in Aberdeen, Scotland, specialising in aerial arts, pole dance and pole fitness, and many other circus skills for adults, teens, and children.

We are proud to have won the Young Innovators Challenge Award 2015 by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise, which helped make Inverted a reality.

Inverted is comprised of 3 directors and 15 instructors. Our staff have won multiple awards and we hold qualifications in pole, aerial, circus pedagogy, and First Aid. We are also proud to run internal teacher trainings for our students. Our team is always growing and we’re always learning.

---

Our Directors

Our Team

Our Directors

Elsie

fell in love with silks and partner acrobatics while training with her best friend Ritti. As a child, she had trained as a professional ballerina: she began dancing at age 3 and competing at age 10. Her classical ballet group was twice awarded the First Position in  Greek ballet. Her passion for dance is leading her to explore forms of fusion between ballet and aerial dance.

Elsie is qualied as a Hoop Instructor with Spin City (2016), Advanced Aerial Hoop with Spin City (2018), PaperDoll Militia Level 1 Silks (2022), and PaperDoll Militia Intermediate Silks (2023). At Inverted, she primarily taught aerial silks, partner acrobatics and aerial hoop but had to slow down as her family grew.

Today, Elsie is a mother of 3 aerial monkeys, a full time dentist with an MSc in Advanced Restorative Dentistry, and an honorary tutor in Manchester University. At Inverted, she in charge of Management, Finances, and day to day Administration.

---

Ritti

comes from a large theater family and has been training in the circus world for over 15 years. She received her qualification in Circus Pedagogy from the JOJO School for Arts and Theater in Germany (2013). In 2015, she won the Young Innovators Challenge (YIC) with the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) and co-founded Inverted with her two friends. From 2015-2017 she ran the company administration, taught aerial silks and partner acrobatics at all levels to adults and children, and initiated the Inverted teacher training programme.

Since 2018, Ritti develops and teaches her signature choreographies based on weaving and flowing between the splits silks. She has taught her signature choreographies at Manchester Aerial and Acrobatics Convention (England), Hong Kong Circus (Hong Kong), Cirqueon (Czech Republic), Decadance (Czech Republic), Aerial Silks Vienna (Austria), HangArounds Salzburg (Austria), NordZirkus (Sweden), FreeBird Studio (Scotland), Moray Flying Circus (Scotland), All Or Nothing Aerial Dance (Scotland), Aerial Sicilian Convention (Sicily).

Ritti holds a PhD in Medical Anthropology with the University of Edinburgh. She currently works remotely as a Director for Inverted, teaches aerial silks at Spazio Euphoria (Sicily), and offers online silks classes once a month.

---

Theo

was introduced to pole dancing in 2011, began competing in 2012 and teaching in 2013. He has since taught internationally at pole camps, alongside multiple UK and EU conventions and independent studios. Since 2014, Theo has been invited to judge many pole dance, pole sport and floorwork competitions at national and international level.

Theo graduated from The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance in 2020 with a first-class Bachelor’s (Hons) degree in Contemporary Dance Performance. He was the recipient of the SSCD Associate Artists Award for outstanding progress made and upon graduation was asked to become a member of the Dance Advisory board. Theo then graduated from the University of Salford with a Master’s degree with distinction in Dance Choreography & Professional Practices in 2022. He was a member of Fly Zone Dance Company for the length of his time at SSCD. Theo has since worked as an R&D dancer for Paper Doll Militia as well as dancing for Company Chameleon on their 2022 tour of The Shadow.

Throughout his competitive career, Theo has achieved the following accolades:

Pole Performer on the TV show Game of Talents

Finalist at the World Pole Dance Championships 2019

Mr Pole Fitness UK

Multiple-time Mr Pole Scotland

Elite Male Finalist – Pole Art Greece 2016

Theo has additionally trained as a Flex Academy certified flexibility coach; completed diplomas in both Swedish and Sports & Remedial massage; as well as having become an OMT certified Advanced Medical Acupuncturist. Currently, Theo works remotely as a Director for Inverted.

---

Our Instructors

Grace

is a dedicated aerial and pole instructor with over a decade of experience in the circus arts. Since beginning her training in 2008, Grace has honed her skills across various disciplines including trapeze, silks, and hoop. She is known for her versatility and passion for aerial performance, having trained extensively on trapeze and silks, and having a broad skill set in other aerial and pole techniques.
Grace teaches a range of classes including, trapeze, silks, pole, aerial fundamentals, and children’s classes, with a focus on nurturing her students’ growth and helping them navigate their own aerial/pole journeys.

---

Dave

started Circus in 2014. Originally Training on Flying Trapeze, then Doubles Trapeze and partner Acro. Later he took up Trapeze, Hoop and occasionally trains Pole Dance. He has been active in the performance side of circus over a variety of disciplines and both with performances inside of our studio and externally for a number of events!

After joining Inverted as a student in 2016, he has continued to train, specialising in Trapeze, partner Acro and Doubles Trapeze. He then joined Inverted’s team, teaching first Partner Acro and then later Trapeze. With continued involvement in the running and organisation of Inverted he was made Manager in 2022. With a strong eye on technique his encouragment is for students to work on skill, strength and technique in order to perform safely and competently. His secondary focus is on performance, working on transitions and movement in order to enable students to create their own routines. Having Studied Sports Therapy at Glasgow’s Central College of Commerce, he is also able to offer private sessions of personal training for Aerials, diet and nutrition and reflexology.

---

Susan

discovered aerials in her late thirties in 2017 and immediately fell in love with aerial hoop. She started teaching beginners in 2019 and then gained her qualification to teach intermediates in 2022. She loves to focus on guiding her students through some fun and twisty flow sequences with interesting variations and helping students achieve their aerial goals.

---

Natalie

started teaching adults pole dancing in 2010 and has been a part of Inverted since it first opened its doors, Natalie has expanded her knowledge and teaching qualifications in various areas and loves learning and exploring new ways to move and go upside down.

Natalie is certified in Active IQ – Xpert Pole and Fitness 1,2,3 & 4, Children’s Pole and Aerial Instructor, Level 2 – Exercise to Music Instructor, Level 2 – Gym Instructor, Mental Health Awareness, Safeguarding children, Emergency First Aid, Paediatric first aid, BGU Cheerleading qualifications.

---

Kris

didn’t find aerials till her mid thirties. Dance Trapeze fast became her favourite discipline and is now a full blown passion. As an instructor her main objective, other than keeping people safe, is advocating aerials is for everyone, there is a way everyone can move and feel freedom. This has helped her on her neurodivergent journey and she hopes to pass this joy on to others.

2017 – Nimble Arts intensive teacher training course
2019 – Paper Doll Militia week long aerial retreat
2021 – Unearthed 6 week Dance Trapeze creative course with Kalina Souter
2021 – Bare 3 month mentorship with Kalina Souter
2023 – Dance Trapeze week long retreat with Kalina Souter
2024 – Audacity Project creative course with Rachel Strickland
2024 – Creative Movement course with Rachel Strickland
2023/2024 – Workshops with Black Trapeze (Enya White)

---

Megan

started aerial hoop in late 2015 and it didn’t take long before she fell in love with being upside down and she qualified as an instructor in 2019. Megan enjoys creating interesting conditioning exercises, drops and rolls and anything that includes a back bend. She can also be found occasionally playing around on the lollipop lyra or a tippy hoop!

---

Natalie R

started aerial hoop in August 2016. Within a few months she knew she wanted to become an instructor. She is qualified as an advanced aerial hoop, intermediate aerial hammock and foundation aerial silks instructor. She loves to come up with exciting transitions and teaching them to students.  

Aside from teaching and training, she is a keen performer and competitor. She has performed in several live & online showcases, and has taken part in a number of competitions, including the UKAPC 2023 Finals. 

---

Cathy

has a background in Yoga and became a certified CYS Yoga teacher in 2009, with experience in Hatha, Vinyasa + Ashtanga Yoga. She became an Aerial Yoga instructor in 2012 and has taught for Inverted since their opening in 2015. Cathy has since trained and become qualified in Level 1 Silks and Rope, as well passing the Born to Fly certification process with Paper Doll Militia and further teachings with Rebekah Leach. In 2023 she went through a recertification for Level 1 Silks and Rope with Paper Doll Militia.

---

Rachel’s

aerial circus journey began in Glasgow in 2014 where she focused on training and performing in silks, corde lisse and duo trapeze. In 2019 she became part of the Inverted Instructor family and has strengthened her skills through completing PaperDoll Militia’s Silks Teacher Training programme. In 2024, she completed the PaperDoll Militia Rope Reacher Training programme.

---

Cherie

started pole dancing for a bit of fun in 2010. She became hooked straight away & began instructing in 2013. She hasn’t performed or competed in a few years now but was the previous Miss Pole Scotland Instructor Winner 2013, she placed 2nd at MMPS 2016 in the Semi Pro Category & placed 1st (in her regional heat) & 2nd (overall at the national finals) at the Authentics 2019, with the hopes of entering more shows or comps in the future. For now she is happy to see her students grow in strength, skills & confidence and helping them find their own style & passion for pole.

---

Helen

joined Inverted in 2016 after a life-long dream to try aerials. After taking beginner silks and trapeze for six months she chose to focus on silks. In 2022 she joined the Inverted Team and began teaching Aerial Fundamentals.

---

Idin

started aerials at Inverted in June 2016. Since then, he has tried different apparatuses, but you will likely find him playing on a rope, trapeze, pole or hoop. Idin teaches Aerial Fundamentals and Aerial Rope. He enjoys exploring different ways to move between familiar shapes and sharing this with others.

---

Ember

has been pole dancing since 2009, and has been an instructor since 2012. She has since taught hundreds of people in pole, from Beginner through to Advanced level and continues to be passionate about helping people find their strength, creativity, love of movement or all of the above! She holds qualifications with PDC and Spin City, as well as extensive experience within the pole industry. This includes winning multiple trophies at competition, including Miss Pole Instructor Scotland, and working as a Competition Judge. She is also a certified Pilates instructor and is currently undertaking her Strength & Conditioning certification. Her wider interests are that of Sports & Exercise medicine with particular interest in emergency/injury care and the female athlete, and she loves combining all of these with her experience in the world of Pole and dance.

---

Hayley

has danced from a young age and performed with dance and theatre groups around the city. She was lucky enough to compete in Florida in 2011 before going on to train professionally. Whilst training, she secured her first film contact dancing in “Sunshine on Leith”. She has gone on to dance in several films, including “The Traitors” (UK and USA), commercials and also body doubling for Vanessa Hudgens. After graduating, she taught and performed in Aberdeen and abroad, and has now returned to Aberdeen where she continues to teach a wide range of styles and ages.Hayley still performs at corporate events across the city and can be found on film and television sets when she has the time to squeeze it in.

---

Lisa

discovered pole in 2021 and immediately fell in love with the sport and its challenges! As a qualified personal trainer, she trained pole throughout her pregnancy and decided to turn her passion for pole into something she wanted to share, so the natural progression was to teach pole too!

Using her specific knowledge for cross-training with weights in the gym, Lisa applies this to her methods of pole training in the studio. Lisa is energetic and cannot wait to share her love for pole, strength training and the studio with you all.

---

Jodie

started her pole journey three years ago and quickly developed a deep passion for the sport. Beyond its physical demands, pole became her sanctuary, offering a focused escape from daily stresses and ultimately inspiring her to teach. She particularly enjoys the strength-based and gymnastic elements of pole fitness and is always striving to expand her capabilities.

With a dance background, Jodie excelled in her pole fitness journey. After two years of dedicated training, skill development, and teaching as a qualified Spin City beginner pole fitness instructor, she transitioned into the specialized area of pole heels. This led to her current role as a pole heels instructor, where she shares her knowledge and passion for her distinct style, ‘Fierce in Heels’. Jodie appreciates the diverse range of styles and creative expressions within pole dance. Demonstrating her commitment and skill, she recently competed in Shadow Bound 2025 and aspires to participate in future competitions.

---

Ash

stumbled across pole dancing back in 2009 and still loves it as much today as she did all those years ago! She also trained for a few years in Aerial Silks and Partner Acro. In 2022 she fell pregnant with her daughter, and she continued to train in Pole all the way through to the day she gave birth! It was also during this time she decided to gain her Pre and Post natal Aerial instructor qualification. She is passionate about helping her students feel strong & confident in their bodies, no matter what season they are in!