About Us
The dynamic aerial dance duo Nicole "Nic" Mermans & Fareedah "Free" Aleem, AKA Tiny Twerk and the Salt Shaker, are self-proclaimed opposite twins! Separated at birth, these kindred spirits found each other in 2012 and have been inseparable, tossing each other around in the air ever since!
Together, Nic and Free draw in audiences with electrifying charisma, lighthearted playfulness and heart-stopping acrobatic feats of skill and strength! Careful, blink your eye and you might not be able to tell them apart, but here’s a hint.... its in the cheekbones!
But in all seriousness, beneath the playful overtone, the two can’t separate their art from activism. Whether intentional or not, how they interact as interracial aerial dance partners often makes a statement, as does their feminine strength or being a Black artist breaking stereotypes.
Nic and Free strive to be an example of how our differences make us stronger, uplifting each other while celebrating their individual strengths. The two are role models for how to be super humans, beyond stereotypes of gender or race.
Beyond working together as a duo act, the two have performed and produced shows as part of an ensemble called D’AIR aerial dance company. Off the stage they love to share their knowledge and have a knack for working with teens. They strive to make aerial dance accessible to all body types and seek to uplift those in underserved communities with opportunities to shine on stage.
Available for performances or workshop instruction. For information on their individual endeavors and offerings visit the more… tab.