Watching aerial artists is spectacular. For so many of us we look at the performers on the trapeze, silks, lyra (hoop), corde lisse (rope), acrobatics and other circus arts and it looks magic and impossible for us mere mortals.
I’ve certainly wanted to have a try and not known where to start. Plus I didn’t think I was strong or fit enough (I was never a gymnast or dancer and I’m definitely not blessed with natural upper body strength) plus I wasn’t in a position to sign up for a series of classes once I found some.
What I love about aerial and circus play is that you feel like a kid while experimenting and exploring with your own capabilities and on the apparatus. How many of us used to hula hoop at every opportunity and now we’d be lucky to have the hoop stay around our waist for more than one or two revolutions?
I connected with Carlie Page at HAPY Studio in Currumbin and we spent a Friday evening playing and collaborating. We started our session stretching and warming up specifically for the activities we were about to do. Then for our first piece of apparatus we played on the static trapeze where I learned the essentials and then putting together some moves that looked and felt like I was a real aerial artist (minus the grace). We then spent some time playing on the silks with many of the positions translating across from trapeze.
Knowing there were big squishy crash mats beneath me on everything I tried made such a difference to my head space. I could have a try of whatever Carlie and I felt comfortable with me doing and I even felt tempted to throw myself at the mats for the fun of it (I didn’t). I felt like a big kid playing with Carlie catering to all levels of capabilities. If you look closely at the photograph there is a knot in the silk so that I could play despite not having the strength or skill to do the full version of that position and others. It was so much fun!
Throughout the session I had a healthy balance of a smile and my hilarious concentration face and finished with a satisfying sense of exhaustion (in a really good way). What I enjoyed so much is that Carlie is genuinely happy that you’re having a go and has options to cater to you.
We are working on creating a workshop style experience for you to explore aerial, acro and circus play with the Pixicato Play trappings to make it a joyful supportive experience.
Let’s Play!
Not really a total beginner disclaimer; this wasn’t the first time I’d played on aerial apparatus. Being an event manager I’ve worked with a number of aerial artists over the years and have been fortunate to have some opportunities to play at an informal lesson or open day. I have done aerial yoga in hammocks a few times and at the beginning of the year I was taught how to climb a corde lisse. Previously I have had short attempts on aerial silks (15 minute demo slot) and lyra (I lasted 5 minutes – I’m naturally lean and it hurt although I now understand that diminishes once you know what you’re doing).
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