Aerial Dance is now, not only part of a circus act but a growing trend in the fitness industry as it offers a total body workout and is recognized as a dance form in its own right. If you want something different to help you obtain a well-conditioned body all over which is done by improving your balance, strength, flexibility, agility and you can overcome your fear of heights, I would strongly recommend you trying this dance style out. There are no age, gender or fitness restrictions, it is a style all can enjoy while getting strong and fit using your own body weight.
Elena Gatilova Aerial Hoop / Contortion
Aerial/Vertical dance is where the performer is suspended while thy explore space in 3 dimensions through movement, using a harness like rope or cable which is usually attached to the ceiling. This dance form like all others requires grace, skill, strength, stamina and determination. There are no safety lines, so the performer relies only on their own strength and skill which they gain through plenty hours of rigorous practices and training. The most popular apparatuses used for this dance style are: the trapeze, lyra (hoop), tissue (using fabric like silk, straps, chiffon and ribbon), hammock, robe and cube. This dance style integrates both floor and air movements together, using improvisation, expression and emotion. It can be done solo or with two or more partners.
Amazing Chinese 2015 - Tim & Taisia Straps Aerial Acroba
In the “Aerial tissue” they use climbs, drops and wraps during their acrobatic dance performance in the air. With “Aerial lyra” the performer uses a metal hoop which can spin and swing while gracefully positioning their bodies in different flowing movements. When using the “Aerial hammock”, the performer uses cradle actions within the fabric of the hammock without support of hand grip and foot hold.
Tango In The Air
Some say that Trisha Brown was the first choreographer using this technique, pulling dancers into the air since 1968 but other recons Terry Sendgraff, were the first to discover this style of dance, introducing it in San Francisco on the eve of her 42nd birthday, 1975. Now you can take part in Festivals and championships held all over the world: In Brittany, France they have the “Les Rencountres Dance Aeriennea”, Aerial dance festival which was founded by Fred Deb in 2008; In Brighton, England they have the European Aerial Dance Festival every year; The International Aerial Dance Festival, in Boulder, Colorado is held in August every year; and many more.
Aerial yoga, incorporate both floor and air postures. In yoga, you will stay close to the floor while using the aerial apparatus with movements that are very much the same as the floor movements, still with the focus on breath and intention.
Hope this will inspire you to go out and try this dance form.
