About Us

Heliummm Aerial Dance and Entertainment is the brain-child of international aerialist and dancer Heather Hammond and performance artist, director and writer Diane ‘Jeep’ Ries.  With over 50 years of combined performance experience, this creative team delivers first-class professional entertainment that always hits the mark.

Heather Hammond – Chief Entertainment Officer

Heather is an accomplished and versatile international aerialist, dancer, choreographer and producer. She is known for her exquisite artistry and choreography, and her exacting organizational skills as a producer.

Heather is honored to have been recently invited by Lincoln Center to travel to China to teach existing and new choreography to  Chinese acrobats for a major production, Chen Shi-Zheng’s Monkey: Journey to the West. Heather also performed on Law & Order: SVU’s episode entitled, Strange Beauty. Heather led Heliummm to be the WINNER of  BizBash’s 2012 Entertainment Act of the Year Reader’s Choice Award.

Heather excels as an instructor.  She has developed and inspired diving teams to win regional championships, and budding professional aerialists to exceed their performance goals. Her playful, yet focused and patient teaching style produces results.   And, with a M.Sc., and a National Academy of Sports Medication personal trainer certification, it’s hard to find a more qualified instructor than Heather. Heather is also co-founder of the New York Aerial Instructors Community, with Adam Woolley and Laura Witwer.

Heather’s first performance was as ‘Happy’ in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves way back in Grade 1.  Her physical talent was also noted early on and led her to ballet and competitive springboard diving.  She danced as a soloist with Ballet Ouest de Montreal while earning a Pharmacy Degree at the Universite de Montreal.  Even with a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry after graduation, Heather felt compelled to return to her love of dance.

Heather graduated from the School or Toronto Dance Theater’s Professional Training Program, as co-recipient of the Leadership Award.  Heather was a featured soloist in works by Jose Limon, Charles Weidmann, Christopher House, and Conrad Alexandrowicz, among others.  After she stumbled upon flying trapeze lessons with Marsha Kennington of MainSpace Circus, Heather was quickly invited to join the performance troupe. And she’s been in the air ever since.

Heather has graced stages across North America and as far away as Japan, performing for prestigious people and companies such as:

In addition to producing and performing extensively with Heliummm, she has worked with:

Diane Jeep Ries – President

Jeep has decades of performance experience in the downtown NYC scene.  She has actively written, directed and acted at the WOW Café, alongside Lisa Kron, Holly Hughes, Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw.  She received an illustrious Franklin Furnace grant for her solo show ‘Six in the Side’.

Jeep and her work have appeared on stage, in television and indie films including:

For over a decade, as an International Guest Artist for a major manufacturer, Jeep produced and was the talent in hair fashion shows, workshops and seminars for stylists from New York to LA to Taiwan.

Known as the “Mother of Punk Hair” having radicalized hairstyles throughout the seventies, Jeep created and presided over Industrial Hair, in the East Village. The Japanese went wild and featured her work in both fashion and trade magazines including PUNCH and AN AN.   Now Post Industrial Hair, the vanguard for the millennium, Jeep continues to offer hip, hot, high quality styling services.

As President of Heliummm Aerial Dance & Entertainment, Jeep directs shows and stage manages.

Heliummm Performers & Team

Mmm – they’re great!

Heliummm performers are unsurpassed worldwide in talent and creativity, and include veterans of Cirque du Soleil and the Canadian Opera Company.  Whatever your entertainment needs, we’ve got the talent for you. Whether you need a solo artist or a one-hour show, we’ll make it fabulous!

Our entire team is top-notch talent and brimming with creativity.  Anything you can envision, we can deliver.

Our phenomenal riggers know all the formulas to fly our artists in ballrooms, arenas, from hot air balloons, rooftops and sides of buildings. Our tremendous costume designer can construct fanciful costumes flawlessly. Our make-up artists create marvelous effects, transforming mere mortals to otherworldly creatures. Our set designers can’t be beat!

Riggers and Performers on <em>Rapture</em> by Noemie LaFrance

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About Us