Kayla McCarty, 11, a 5th-grade student at Springs’ Riverside Student Center, is an accomplished young acrobat. She lives in Riverside.
Kayla has been involved with acrobatics for more than two years, and gymnastics for six years. Her focus is on ground acrobatics and contortion, which, she said, includes extreme flexibility, balancing and theatrical elements.
She also does aerial acrobatics using hammocks, or silks held from the ceiling. She added, “I can do many different tricks, including flips, splits, and twirls.” Kayla participates in many different shows, including performing at the Burrage Mansion in Redlands for its Christmas tours. She said, “I enjoy being able to perform in a creative environment, which is why I chose artistic acrobatics.”
She also enjoys performing in theater and takes musical theater classes at the Riverside Student Center. She noted, “I enjoy performing for others and making them happy. I really appreciate River Springs for having this class as an elective choice.” She also likes cooking, balloon twisting and face painting, and sometimes paints faces to raise money for charitable causes, such as the Relay for Life which battles cancer.
After she finishes school, she’d like to be a professional acrobat or an actress on Broadway, “or maybe both!” she added.
