As she flies through the air, tumbles from breathtaking heights and glides across the stage with consummate control, Summer Lacy dares her captive audiences to imagine the impossible. Her story, one of an unlikely rising star in the aerial dance world, is equally inspiring: she exists as a testament to imagination, perseverance, and determination. Specializing in Aerial Chains, Lyra, Dance Trapeze and Silks, Summer expresses her mission statement through her art: “Stand up, stand out, and create something beautiful.”
As Summer built a satisfying career in graphic design, she made time through the years to explore her love of gymnastics. With the discovery that a circus arts class was available as an elective at her university, Summer decided to take a chance on the sport and discovered she loved this newfound area of artistic expression. After graduation, Summer continued her education at regional circus schools and eventually became an instructor herself. As her talents in design took her to great heights, including stints at famed label Earache Records and the comic book institution Marvel Entertainment, her tenacity in the aerial world paid off: it was clear that Summer had the potential to take to the stage professionally. With that, the dreams she'd previously thought farfetched were within reach. She performed her debut set in 2007 and rapidly became a sensation in the aerial community. In 2012, Summer's appearances on the primetime competition show America's Got Talent went viral and earned her a national following overnight. Judge Howie Mandel, impressed by her aerial chains and lyra acts, was prompted to describe her as “both dangerous and very original.”
Since then, Summer has been seen in flight around the world, working internationally with the Dzul Dance Company, Constellation Moving Company, and Loki Circus Theater. She's made her mark in the New York City theater scene as a featured performer in Circus Abyssinia's acclaimed 2018 exhibition Ethiopian Dreams and the hit off-Broadway variety show La Soirée. Other appearances include the Economist Magazine's World in 2013 Gala, the 2018 Apollo Theater Spring Gala, and sharing the stage with Grammy Award-winning recording artists Tamela Mann and the Winans. Summer is one third of La Cage Trio, a beloved aerial cage troupe known for uniquely combining strength and grace, and has expanded her talents to include modeling, including a spectacular aerial fashion display honoring designer Rick Owens at the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards.
In addition to performing, Summer is a resident instructor at Circus Warehouse and Body & Pole in New York City, imparting her knowledge to aspiring circus stars alongside the industry's best. She is also the proprietor and creative director for Esselle Creative, a thriving design business and an extension of her mission to inspire with the power of art.
