Heather Bentley is a multifaceted musician and performance artist who combines music and aerial arts to create original works. Heather is a classically trained musician who began piano lessons at the age of eight and clarinet at the age of ten. She received a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Northwestern State University of Louisiana where she studied under Malena McLaren. Heather also studied with Keith Lemons at the University of New Mexico, where she received a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance. In addition to accompanying students throughout college and graduate school on piano for solo and ensemble festivals, Heather also accompanied for her private clarinet studio.
For seven years, Heather had a successful career as a private clarinet instructor and was also the Adjunct Professor of Clarinet at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for two years. Several years after having her youngest daughter, she found aerial arts. From the moment she touched an aerial hammock she knew this was her future. Soon after, she found aerial fabric and has been training exclusively on aerial fabric and aerial hoop since 2016. Heather has three aerial fabric teaching certifications: Introduction to Teaching Aerial Arts from Nimble Arts, Level 1 Teacher Certification from Aerial Physique, and Level 1 Aerial Fabric Teacher Training from Born To Fly which was completed 1:1 virtually with Rebekah Leach. At present, she is enrolled in Cardinal, Jessica John's 200-hour teacher training and mentorship program.
Heather can be found coaching aerial fabric and aerial hoop at Refuge Aerial Fitness and Performance in Baton Rouge and at Heather Bentley Aerial in Lafayette. She has trained extensively with some of the top coaches around the globe and considers herself a forever student. Heather continually seeks out a variety of coaches in the industry that align with her values and allow her to further develop as both an artist and coach.
Heather lives in Lafayette, Louisiana with her husband, two daughters, and two aerial obsessed dogs. She enjoys traveling abroad and around the country as often as possible, and is an avid baker of all things gluten free.
