Aerial Acrobatics

Aerials include silks, rope (corde lisse), hoop (lyra), trapeze (static and dance), as well as doubles trapeze, doubles silks, doubles rope, doubles hoop, cube, and contortion straps. Classes range from one to three hours depending on number of students and ability level.

Available Classes

Silks

Aerial silks (fabric) uses two pieces of fabric to find beautiful wraps and shapes. Classes are available in a multitude of levels!

Beginner: for students who are new to silks and working on foot locks and inversions.

Intermediate: for students who can invert, are learning sequences from crochet, hip lock, and S-lock, and doing wrapped drops, to students starting to work dynamic movements such as hip lock roll ups and swings.

Advanced: for students who have a thorough understanding of aerials and are progressing to unwrapped drops, dynamic movements such as dislocks, handstand drops, and release moves.

Rope (Corde Lisse)

Aerial rope (corde lisse) is a single rope that is great for students who want to focus on dynamic movements.

Beginner: for students being introduced to rope and working on inversions, front balance, and back balance.

Intermediate: for students who have a comfortable invert, are working on unwrapped drops such as cartwheels and hip lock rolls ups, and dynamic movements and swings.

Advanced: for students who are comfortable working on dynamic movements, unwrapped drops such as Moses twist, release moves, and saltos.

Hoop (Lyra/Cerceau)

Aerial hoop (lyra) uses a steel hoop with one or two tabs where aerialists can move and spin creating dynamic movements and unique shapes.

Beginner: for students learning basics of hoop, such as entrances, inversions, and sequences such as mermaid, man on the moon, and birds nest.

Intermediate: for students who are working on intermediate poses such as Russian split and toe hang, as well as introductions to basic drops, tombes, and spins such as belly rolls and elbow rolls.

Advanced: for students who are working on advanced spinning and flares, moves such as meat hook and side planche (reverse meat hook), drops, advanced balancing poses and splits, and connecting dynamic movements.

Dance Trapeze

Aerial dance trapeze includes sequences for both spin and static and focuses on dance and performance.

Beginner: for students learning basics of trapeze, such as entrances, inversions, and sequences such as mermaid and amazon.

Intermediate: for students who are working on intermediate poses such as toe hang, basic drops while spinning, as well as rolls including belly rolls and elbow rolls.

Advanced: for students who are working on advanced spinning and flares, moves such as meat hook and side planche (reverse meat hook), and connecting dynamic movements.

Static Trapeze

Static trapeze uses a double point trapeze which can be used for dynamic movement and swinging.

Beginner: for students learning basics of trapeze, such as entrances and inversions, as well as learning swinging and basic drops.

Intermediate: for students who are working on drops such as cut catches, drop to ankles, and penny (hox) drop, as well as rolls including belly rolls and elbow rolls.

Advanced: for students who are working on connecting advanced dynamic movement, such as pullover to straddle drop, penny (hox) drop half twist, and twist to ankles.

Duo Trapeze

Doubles trapeze is great for students who want an introduction to working in aerial doubles that require a base/porter and a flyer.

Beginner: for students learning the basics of porting and flying, poses, entrances, and exits. Poses include splits and sleeping beauty, in addition to learning how to tempo.

Intermediate: for students learning intermediate sequences that require porters to be in position for more than two minutes at a time. Sequences include hangle dangle, shin to shin, and ankle hang.

Advanced: for students who are working dynamic and release moves that include drop to hands, pop and swing to ankles, dislocks, and cut catches. Porters primarily work in catcher's position.

Prerequisites: students do not require experience on trapeze but should be familiar working with aerials. All students should be able to invert easily.

Note: learning how to port can be painful and it is recommended new students wear multiple layers of pants to help protect against the bar and ropes.

Duo Hoop

Doubles hoop is great for students who have mastered the basics of hoop and are keen to work with a partner. Sequences include spinning, flexibility, moving between the top and the bottom of the hoop and focus on ways to dance together as well as an introduction in how to base/port and fly.

Prerequisites: students must be familiar with aerial hoop, have a comfortable single knee hang and mermaid, and familiarity working above the hoop. Students should have the endurance to dance in the hoop for up to three minutes.

Duo Silks

Doubles silks is great for students who are looking to advanced their silk skills to work in partnerships on the fabric. Class will include working on main basing/porting wraps as well as transitions to and from various basing positions. Working with a partner requires aerial endurance to ensure that you and your partner have enough time to get safely in and out of positions.

Prerequisites: students must be familiar with aerial fabrics, have knowledge of cross back straddle, belay, and S-lock, in addition to being able to dance in the fabric for up to three minutes at a time. For intermediate and advanced students only.

Note: it is recommended for students to have familiarity with doubles or to take doubles trapeze prior to doubles silks to learn the basics of working as a porter and flyer. This will make learning doubles on silks much easier and less time-consuming learning sequences as the wraps on silk require more endurance.

Duo Rope

Doubles rope is for students who are looking to advance their rope and doubles skills working in partnerships. Class will include working on main basing/porting wraps as well as transitions to and from basing positions, flyer sequences, and how to use the rope above and below your partner. Working with a partner requires aerial endurance to ensure that you and your partner have enough time to get safely in and out of positions.

Prerequisites: students must be familiar with rope, have knowledge of S-lock and catcher positions as well as be able to invert easily. Students should also be able to dance on the rope for up to three minutes at a time. For intermediate and advanced students only.

Note: it is recommended for students to have familiarity with doubles or to take doubles trapeze prior to doubles rope to learn the basics of working as a porter and flyer. This will make learning doubles on rope much easier and less time-consuming learning sequences as they require more endurance.

Straps

Aerial straps with a loop ends to learn dynamic movement such as inlocks and dislocks, as well as contortion movement combining flexibility with deeper positions than aerial silks. Sequences can include spinning, drops, dynamics, and aerial dance.

Prerequisites: students should be familiar with aerials and have basic strength and flexibility depending on whether students want to learn dynamics or flows.

Aerial Cocoon

Aerial cocoon is a single loop silk similar to aerial silks. Aerial cocoon is great for students who are interested in learning silks but have a harder time working on the traditional two fabrics and inverting. Students will learn dance sequences, spinning or static, as well as wrapped drops such as pin drop and front saltos, and hangs such as knee and double ankle hang

Cube

Cube is an intricate square with multiple bars and holding points. Great for students interesting in learning a new apparatus!

Singles: the cube can be hung by one, two, or four points as well as small or large size, depending on what movements inspire the student. Sequences can include spinning, drops, and poses depending on the cubes orientation.

Doubles: the cube for doubles is hung from two and sometimes four points which allow students to counterbalance on the cube. Sequences can include spinning, drops, and poses. The large cube is used for doubles.

Prerequisites: students should be familiar working with aerial hoop or as an aerialist and should be able to invert easily.

Spanish Web

Spanish web uses a loop at the top of a rope which allows the aerialist to be spun around by someone spinning the rope at the bottom. This workshop will teach the basics of Spanish web including body position, sequences, hand loop postures, foot loop postures, and swiveling loop (additional swivel on the loop).

Aerial Conditioning

Hit a plateau on your aerial skills? Learn conditioning exercises that target your weak areas and increase your strong ones. From traditional exercises like pull ups and leg lifts, to swings, one arm hang preps, inversion practices, shoulder flexibility, abdominal and oblique exercises, and long arm and shoulder strengthening exercises. Great for instructors and students who want to increase their power and strength for meat hooks, side planche (reverse meat hook), dynamics, and release moves, or just trying to gain more strength to make current sequences more fluid.

Aerial Yoga

For Aerial Yoga - see Yoga

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Specialty Workshops

Dynamic Drops and Releases (Silks & Rope)

For student feeling comfortable swinging around their vertical aerial apparatus! Learn how to use swings to harness momentum for advanced and dynamic movement. Students will learn how to swing, spot, and safely land for practicing release moves, including free back and front saltos (rope), neck hang pirouettes, suspension beats, dislocks and free dislocks (silks), half inlock or front pike salto (silks), and pirouettes (rope) and elbow pirouettes (silks). Please note that working on dynamic release moves can take months of preparation, exercises, and practice and students should not expect to obtain these movements in only a few classes. Learning progressions and how to fall safely is an important part of advanced aerial practice. This class will be focusing on long arm.

Prerequisites: students should be comfortable with straddle swings and straddle inversion climbs (outside leg climb), and be familiar with dynamic swings on either rope or silks. Inversions should come easily.

Note: due to the nature of swinging, it is recommended that students use pulley systems rather than dead rigged equipment.

Open Drops and Intro to Open Drops (Silks & Rope)

Ready to take drops to the next level? Open drops are great because they don't require getting in and out of wraps which allows for fluidity of movement. Students will start with progressions, learning how to control wrapped drops by going slow and stopping in various position. From here, students will learn entrances into unwrapped drops and add-ons, such as cartwheels, front/back salto carthweels, moses/terry twist, porn star saltos, half inlock or front pike salto (silks), handstand drop (silks), and the difference between dynamic and static unwrapped drops. Great for students who want to take their practice to the next level!

Prerequisites: students should have a comfortable propeller/windmill/wheel down/helicopter.

Dislocks (Silks & Straps)

Dislocks?! Not quite sure about this skill? Take a full workshop to breakdown all the progressions and key movement patterns that make this skill happen. When done correctly, dislocks do not strain or stretch the shoulders. A common misconception is that flexible shoulders are required - not true! Starting from the ground working on the body angle and shoulder rotation, as well as swings and shoulder strength, we progress slowly to allow students to adjust to the movement pattern in order to complete the full skill. Advanced students can progress to multiple dislocks and free dislocks (no hand locks - silks only).

Prerequisites: students should have a comfortable straddle swing climb (outside leg climb) on silks and be familiar with swings and beats (silks or straps).

Slack Drops (Silks & Rope)

Love the simplicity of slack drops? Slack drops are an easy and awesome way to wow the audience and fly through the air! Learn new and fun ways to get in and out of slack drops making them short or long. Slack drops include various catchers, crochet, stag, and crucifix drops!

Prerequisites: ability to invert, familiarity with various lock positions such as hip and catchers lock, and comfortable working at height.

Dynamic Swings (Silks & Rope)

Ready to take your verticals to the next level? This workshop teaches the four basic swings for dynamics and how to harness the momentum to go into advanced and dynamic movement. Students will learn different shoulder positions and grips that work best for starting and finishing dynamic movements in addition to learning exercises that will help prepare students for advanced dynamic movements. This class will primarily be focusing on long arm.

Prerequisites: students should be familiar with either rope or silks, have a strong grip, and be able to invert easily.

Note: due to the nature of swinging, it is recommended that students use pulley systems rather than dead rigged equipment.

Splits and Splits (Hoop, Trapeze, Silks, Rope)

Everybody loves splits! Make the audience wow with so many ways to split! Learn various entrances and exits to classics!

Silks: basic splits from foot locks, thigh splits, and stellar split, to bow and arrow variations, belay, and more!

Hoop: learn so many ways to split on the hoop, from side split, feed through split, and Russian split, to splits using the top of the hoop and the ropes!

Trapeze: splits high and splits low, splits standing, and splits upside down! Learn different ways to wrap in the rope to find splits, such as back split, angel split, and standing split!

Rope: learn more challenging unwrapped splits that require good grip and flexibility, as well as how to take these splits into swings!

Prerequisites: students should be familiar with the apparatus of their choice and have their front splits or be close to a front split position.

Intro to Spinning (Hoop, Trapeze, Silks)

This workshop is great for students who want an introduction into intense spinning as well as learn how to control the spin. Students will learn how to "read the spin" to find the most efficient ways to move and harness the spin's power.

Hoop and trapeze: students will learn pivot spinning from high, side, low. and stag, flares, flares to meat hook, and wide spinning away from the center.

Silks: students will learn how to spin using the fabric as well as positions that allow for tighter spinning movement.

Prerequisites: students should be able to invert easily.

Note: motion sickness does happen! Try not to eat too much before class!

Drops & Cut Catches (Hoop & Trapeze)

Ready to introduce drops into your bar practice? Learn release moves to spice up your hoop and trapeze work as well as tempos, swings, and how to control dynamic movements. Drops include basics such as straight and straddle tombe, armpit drops, back hip circle release and superman drop on hoop, and knee drop on trapeze, as well as straddle and pike cut catches.

Note: due to the nature of bar drops, it is recommended that students use pulley system over dead rigged equipment.

Rolling Around (Hoop & Trapeze)

This class is great for students who feel comfortable moving between sequences and want to increase their repertoire into spinning and rolls! Students will learn belly rolls, back rolls, forward and backward pike sit rolls, mills rolls, elbow rolls, lion rolls, log rolls, and more while being able to connect multiple rolls and sequence in and out of rolls!

Double Point Hoop

Love double point hoop or want to see what the fuss is all about? Learn sequences and poses that can only be done on double point versus single point hoop by using the top of the hoop to hoop, climb, slide, or stand!

Prerequisites: students should be comfortable on hoop and be able to invert easily.

As students will be working at the top of the hoop, it is strongly recommended to have minimum 4 foot long straps or ropes to allow enough room to maneuver.

Locks, Hitches, and Wraps (Silks & Rope)

This workshop is great for students who are strong and want to progress quickly into aerials. Part of being an aerialist means understanding the foundational positions that sequences are built upon. Here students will learn basic locks such as foot locks, stirrups, hip lock/hip key, tourniquet, catchers, S-lock, U-lock, and Z-lock, as well as hitches and wraps such as double and single ankle hang, crochet, belay, and Rebecca split.

10 Ways to S-Lock (Silks & Rope)

Do you know all the ways to S-lock? Need a little spice to your S-locking? Look no further, we have TEN ways to S-lock, from classics such as flamenco and tick tock, to hip locks and flares!

10/20/30/40 Ways to Belay (Silks)

Be the master of the belay! Learn 40+ ways to get into belay and belay variations such as single, double, or triple loop belay, as well as waist, neck, and leg hang variations and different belay poses, plus different types of exits to make your sequences performance worthy! This class includes information on the basic belay wraps and how and why belays work.

Note: number of belay entrances will depend on ability level and amount of time.

Prerequisites: students must be able to invert.

Add On - Working with Double Star (Silks)

Love the feeling of flying through double star? Learn how to add on! From back saltos and front saltos, to beehive, pullovers, sits, and more, add on top of your double star for longer and more exciting drops! Students will learn wraps to add on as well as how to control drops that move from different body positions.

Prerequisites: familiarity with double star and minimum ceiling height of six meters or 20 feet.

Foot Lock Sequences (Silks & Rope)

This workshop is great for beginner to intermediate students who are working with foot lock sequences and variations, from one to two foot locks to stirrups on silks. Great for both students and instructors.

Beginner: basic foot lock sequences including splits, split roll up variations, Rebecca split sequences, mermaid, and more!

Intermediate/advanced: advanced sequences including inverts, laybacks, drop to single ankle hang, drop to double ankle hang, split balance drops, and more! Students in the intermediate/advanced workshop should be able to invert.

Funky Climbs (Silks & Rope)

So, you've master Russian and French (regular or classic) climbs? Take climbing to a whole new level learning climbs such as Scottish, Polish, Scottish-Russian, half lock, candy cane, bicycle, secretary, toe, hip lock, step, crochet, open fabric, and straddle climb variations. Want to be the master of climbs? This is the workshop for you!

Getting Performance Ready!

Are you thinking of performing or getting ready to perform? Performance training is very different from classroom training and putting together an act or performance takes a lot of time and effort to showcase your skills, but also to represent a theme, character, abstract concept, or showcase musicality. Learn how to feed choreography together in ways that allow a showcase of amazing skills yet allow time to rest and breathe, while most importantly including small touches that make performances memorable.

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