Parkour and Performing Arts Center opens, captivates Lincoln residents

Parkour and Performing Arts Center had its soft opening on Jan. 17 and is preparing for a grand opening tentatively set for March 28. The Parkour and Performing Arts Center is at 941 Sterling Parkway at the Sterling Pointe Center in Lincoln. The center specializes in parkour, aerial arts, martial arts and tumbling. Parkour, a crossbreed between rock climbing, gymnastics and martial arts, is considered a functional fitness modality, according to co-owner Elle Beyer. A seasonal stunt academy is offered. The Parkour and Performing Arts Center is also an approved physical education, special interest and curriculum vendor for homeschool charters, according to the center owners. The Parkour and Performing Arts Center, operating since 2012, relocated last fall from Rocklin to Lincoln. Owners are Elle and Lon Beyer, Lincoln residents, and Corey Romines. Although the Lincoln space "is slightly smaller" than their former Rocklin location, Beyer said she and her team enjoy their Lincoln location. "We love being centralized and a part of Lincoln," Beyer added. "It's been a great transition and we are excited to be a part of the community. We haven't had a single complaint about the size of the building." The motivation behind opening the Parkour and Performing Arts Center came from the training Beyer and her husband received in the Shaolin Monastery in Zhengzhou, China in 2007. The couple, Beyer said, was cast to work in television as actors and stuntists with some of China's top athletes. The couple has worked on several films, including "Kung Fu Brother," "Almost Related" and "Something Inside is Broken." "I was really impressed by the students who came from the Beijing opera schools," Beyer said. "They seemed to have a real holistic approach to their movement and their artistry." A huge emphasis to the Parkour and Performing Arts Center, according to Beyer, is the idea of "movement as a performing art and not so much a competitive sport." "We want to create a safe space where people can learn progression- based movement," Beyer said. The all-ages and all-levels curriculum emphasizes parkour, kung fu, weapons and choreography, self defense, aerial skills, tumbling, and movie stunts. The Parkour and Performing Arts Center offer classes for all levels of skill in each class they hold. Families can attend classes to exercise together. "We create community, love and friendship while getting fit and active by doing something dynamic and fun," Beyer said. The Parkour and Performing Arts Center's 10th anniversary on March 28 doubles as the grand opening. Admission is free to the public. The event will consist of performances from the company's travel circuses, as well as students and teachers showcasing their martial and aerial arts talents. The Parkour and Performing Arts Center is open Mondays through Fridays. Birthday parties can be held there and the facilities can be rented for overnight stays. For more information, visit www.parkourandperformingarts.com.