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Aerial Hoop also known as "Aro" "Circeaux" and "Lyra", is an apparatus made of
Most Aerial hoops you will see usually have a single cable eyelet (Mostly used for
people that want a Aerial Hoop that spins in slow circles) or a double cable eyelet
many people like the dual cables on a hoop as it offers more variety to figures and
tricks you can do inside and also gives you an backup cable option. The act itself
usually combines static and swinging trapeze skills with held poses and postures
There are now Aerial Hoops available that spin not just vertically but also
horizontally.
Aerial Silks also known as "Tissues", "Telas" or "Fabrics", is an apparatus made of
a long piece of material, the material is usually grabbed at halfway with a special
rigging device so that it has two sections of cloth hanging down. The act itself
involves one or more aerial performers performing typical contortion style
postures, strength poses like a planch, and with wraps, knots and drops
Cloud Swing also known as "Onda" is an aerial apparatus that resembles a Spanish
Web but at each end of the rope it has loops to hook it up like a swing, the swing
itself hanging in a U-shape. Loops are typically attached to secure hand and foot
dives. The act is usually made up of swinging and static trapeze skills, drops,
twists, dives, holds and rebound lifts.
"Mexican Cloud Swing" is a variation of the cloud swing, but without the hand and
foot loops. Instead, the performer uses their bodies to tie knots in the swing.
They normally come in two types of material, traditional rope like material, or with
a special cover slip made of cotton giving it a smoother softer feel
Corde Lisse also known as "cuerda", "Rope" or "Smooth Rope" very similar in
appearance to the Spanish Web, but instead of spinning the rope, the rope usually
stays in a static position, it resembles a vertically hanging rope, usually made from
soft cotton approx 30mm thick, with a loop on the top side of the rope. The act itself
usually combines held postures, wraps and drops.
Cradle also known as "Castinac" or "Casting Cradle" is a an aerial trapeze like
apparatus which is usually made up of a rectangular frame. You will see both static
and swinging "Cradles". The act usually involves one catcher and one flyer, I have
seen acts involving one catcher with 3 flyers though. The catcher hangs from
his/her knees, whilst the flyer usually jumps from a bar or platform above the
swinging catcher The flyer then jumps to catchers grip then performs releases
(twists etc) at the top of the swing and is re-caught in mid air.
Hair Hang also known as "Fuerza de pelo" is a very traditional circus act which
involves the performer to rig her long hair into a special knot with a metal ring or
figure of eight inside, she then hooks the metal loop weaved into her hair, onto a
clip hanging off a cable or rope from the tents cupola, she is then lifted into the air,
which she performs various poses, contortions and juggling etc
Russian Swing is an interesting apparatus which has it's base resembling a
playground swing (outside structure of a playground swing, inside the structure is a
platform, which is connected to the structure making the platform able to sway to
and fro, being pushed by one or more performer. The Russian Swing has the ability
to catapult a performer over 30 feet in the air with the flyers performing
somersaults, twists and other aerial acrobatics before landing on crash mats, nets
and most recently seen to grab a bar variation of this apparatus known as the
"Russian Hammock" involves to men on the other side of the stage grabbing the
bottom of a large cloth like material hanging from the roof, the performer lands into
the cloth and slides down to ground level
Shoot Through Ladder is a custom built aerial apparatus resembling a metal ladder
revolving around a central axle. On one half of the ladder the rungs have been
replaced with a trapeze. The act itself involves one flyer balancing the ladder, while
a second performer does static or swinging trapeze skills on the attached trapeze
bar. The name "Shoot-Through Ladder" comes from the ability of the trapeze flyer
to swing or shoot through the ladder.
Spanish Web also known as "Aerial Ballet" similar to Cord Lisse except with hand
and foot loops 3/4 of the way up. The performer then climbs up and performs
balletic and contortion like moves whilst either her hand or foot is linked in the
loops. A "Web-Sitter" is usually placed at the bottom to spin the web whilst the
performer does her tricks, and also is used to place tension for the performer above
when it is needed to perform a certain trick or to climb the web
Straps also known as "Aerial Straps", "Fajas", and "Aerial Ribbon", and apparatus
made from cotton or nylon, which is basically two flat straps which are hooked onto
a swivel or other rigging device at the top joining them. Many "Straps" have small
loops at the end which can be used to place a hand or foot inside, giving the
performer more tricks and poses range. The act involves dance, acrobatics, strength
movements, falls and poses
Sling is where the is a cloth, net or other type of fabric doubled over like a
hammock and the performer uses it to perform contortion, acrobatics, handstands,
falls and knots
Trapeze is a name used for many different types of aerial apparatus, usually a
horizontal bar with vertical cables attached at each side connecting it to a cupola or
rigging system in the roof. Variations are Single Trapeze One Bar Duo Trapeze two
bars or two people performing on one or more bars etc etc, another variation is the
classic Flying Trapeze act where a flyer jumps from a platform or bar into the
catchers grip performing a range of somersaults and other exciting tricks.
Trapezes can either be static, swinging or spinning, inside a trapeze you can
perform many things including, acrobatics, contortion like movement or ballet
Low Casting a mini like version of the flying trapeze usually a duo act
Dance Trapeze or Single Point Trapeze is similar to both the static and swinging
trapeze but the two cables are joined to one point at the end, many people perform
duo acts in this and also aerial contortion Some famous artists who perform on this
are Gemini Trapeze (USA) and Aurelia Cats (France)
Washington Trapeze is usually a single trapeze bar with a small circle like area in
the middle of the bar where the performer holds headstands which juggling,
spinning things in his hands and whilst he bar is swinging, handstands can also be
performed in the middle and various other balancing positions
Contortion There are many different types of contortion. Enterology is where the
"Contortionist" enters into a little box. Front Bending is where the contortionist
bends over front of her body. Back Bending is where the contortionist bends over
backwards using mostly the spinal flexibility. Twisting is where the contortionist
twists to face the other side she can see her feet. Usually you will see men
performing more front bending than woman, and woman performing more back
bending than men, either sex though can perform either type.
Handstand is where the performer performs a set of balancing and acrobatics on
one or two hands
Chinese Poles is where there is a vertical pole and the performer climbs up the pole
and performs a set of tricks, falls to catch before hitting the floor and balances, it
involves much strength and technique
Teeter Board also known as "Vascula" is a see saw looking apparatus where a
performer jumps from a platform onto the see saw, making the person standing on
the opposite side "Flyer" fly through the air performing a range of tricks and
somersaults. The flyers also perform this in stilts. The flyer either lands on a chair,
a persons shoulders, hands or matt
Adagio is where two people perform a range of acrobatics, strength and contortion
movements together, usually it involves one person as the base and the other as the
flyer or "flexer"
Russian Bar or Beam is where there is a horizontal beam or bar likeobject which is
held by a base person on each end, usually the bar is over one shoulder held in the
hands of the base, a flyer then stands in the middle of the bar whilst the two bases
throw him into the air to perform acrobatics, the flyer must land back onto the bar.
The bases are in charge of both lifting the flyer into the air, and also looking for the
catchers landing spot and finding him in time so that he does not fall
Chinese Rings also known as "African Rings" are where there are a set of rings or
hoops piled on top of each other on the floor and the acrobat then performs a range
of jumps and saltos flying through the rings. The rings can be static or turning and
can be a range of different sizes
Juggling is where a person performs a range of highly coordinated tricks with
various objects throwing them, mixing or leaving them in the air then catching them
again
Foot Juggling/Antipodismo is where a performer does a range or juggling and
balancing tricks with the feet
High Wire is a wire rigged up in the air where a performer balances, walks along
and performs a range of acrobatic and balletic movements
there are many types of wire acts, some with a loose swinging wire, others with a
tight wire rigged at a low point or a high point, and others rigged on a slant
Perch is where a base holds a large pole like device whilst an acrobat, dancer or
flyer climbs up and performs a range of acrobatics, balancing or dance movements
both the base and the performer at the top are responsible for the balancing of the
act
Aerial Perch is a perch like apparatus hanging from the air, usually a vertical tube,
with hand loops, foot loops on the pole,, at the base there is usually a neck loop,
used to perform spins from the neck
Tumbling also Fast Track is a range of acrobatic tricks performed on the floor,
tumbling strip, air matt or trampoline
Bungee is a fun apparatus where the acrobat or flyer free falls performing
somersaults and other tricks from a platform or trapeze bar then bounces back up
to the platform or trapeze bar again, this act can also be performed in groups where
the flyers make formations and fly throughs to catch hands with each other
Jump Rope Acrobatics is where a range of tricks are performed in a jump rope
including flips, somersaults, juggling and other tricks options are endless
Most Aerial hoops you will see usually have a single cable eyelet (Mostly used for
people that want a Aerial Hoop that spins in slow circles) or a double cable eyelet
many people like the dual cables on a hoop as it offers more variety to figures and
tricks you can do inside and also gives you an backup cable option. The act itself
usually combines static and swinging trapeze skills with held poses and postures
There are now Aerial Hoops available that spin not just vertically but also
horizontally.
Aerial Silks also known as "Tissues", "Telas" or "Fabrics", is an apparatus made of
a long piece of material, the material is usually grabbed at halfway with a special
rigging device so that it has two sections of cloth hanging down. The act itself
involves one or more aerial performers performing typical contortion style
postures, strength poses like a planch, and with wraps, knots and drops
Cloud Swing also known as "Onda" is an aerial apparatus that resembles a Spanish
Web but at each end of the rope it has loops to hook it up like a swing, the swing
itself hanging in a U-shape. Loops are typically attached to secure hand and foot
dives. The act is usually made up of swinging and static trapeze skills, drops,
twists, dives, holds and rebound lifts.
"Mexican Cloud Swing" is a variation of the cloud swing, but without the hand and
foot loops. Instead, the performer uses their bodies to tie knots in the swing.
They normally come in two types of material, traditional rope like material, or with
a special cover slip made of cotton giving it a smoother softer feel
Corde Lisse also known as "cuerda", "Rope" or "Smooth Rope" very similar in
appearance to the Spanish Web, but instead of spinning the rope, the rope usually
stays in a static position, it resembles a vertically hanging rope, usually made from
soft cotton approx 30mm thick, with a loop on the top side of the rope. The act itself
usually combines held postures, wraps and drops.
Cradle also known as "Castinac" or "Casting Cradle" is a an aerial trapeze like
apparatus which is usually made up of a rectangular frame. You will see both static
and swinging "Cradles". The act usually involves one catcher and one flyer, I have
seen acts involving one catcher with 3 flyers though. The catcher hangs from
his/her knees, whilst the flyer usually jumps from a bar or platform above the
swinging catcher The flyer then jumps to catchers grip then performs releases
(twists etc) at the top of the swing and is re-caught in mid air.
Hair Hang also known as "Fuerza de pelo" is a very traditional circus act which
involves the performer to rig her long hair into a special knot with a metal ring or
figure of eight inside, she then hooks the metal loop weaved into her hair, onto a
clip hanging off a cable or rope from the tents cupola, she is then lifted into the air,
which she performs various poses, contortions and juggling etc
Russian Swing is an interesting apparatus which has it's base resembling a
playground swing (outside structure of a playground swing, inside the structure is a
platform, which is connected to the structure making the platform able to sway to
and fro, being pushed by one or more performer. The Russian Swing has the ability
to catapult a performer over 30 feet in the air with the flyers performing
somersaults, twists and other aerial acrobatics before landing on crash mats, nets
and most recently seen to grab a bar variation of this apparatus known as the
"Russian Hammock" involves to men on the other side of the stage grabbing the
bottom of a large cloth like material hanging from the roof, the performer lands into
the cloth and slides down to ground level
Shoot Through Ladder is a custom built aerial apparatus resembling a metal ladder
revolving around a central axle. On one half of the ladder the rungs have been
replaced with a trapeze. The act itself involves one flyer balancing the ladder, while
a second performer does static or swinging trapeze skills on the attached trapeze
bar. The name "Shoot-Through Ladder" comes from the ability of the trapeze flyer
to swing or shoot through the ladder.
Spanish Web also known as "Aerial Ballet" similar to Cord Lisse except with hand
and foot loops 3/4 of the way up. The performer then climbs up and performs
balletic and contortion like moves whilst either her hand or foot is linked in the
loops. A "Web-Sitter" is usually placed at the bottom to spin the web whilst the
performer does her tricks, and also is used to place tension for the performer above
when it is needed to perform a certain trick or to climb the web
Straps also known as "Aerial Straps", "Fajas", and "Aerial Ribbon", and apparatus
made from cotton or nylon, which is basically two flat straps which are hooked onto
a swivel or other rigging device at the top joining them. Many "Straps" have small
loops at the end which can be used to place a hand or foot inside, giving the
performer more tricks and poses range. The act involves dance, acrobatics, strength
movements, falls and poses
Sling is where the is a cloth, net or other type of fabric doubled over like a
hammock and the performer uses it to perform contortion, acrobatics, handstands,
falls and knots
Trapeze is a name used for many different types of aerial apparatus, usually a
horizontal bar with vertical cables attached at each side connecting it to a cupola or
rigging system in the roof. Variations are Single Trapeze One Bar Duo Trapeze two
bars or two people performing on one or more bars etc etc, another variation is the
classic Flying Trapeze act where a flyer jumps from a platform or bar into the
catchers grip performing a range of somersaults and other exciting tricks.
Trapezes can either be static, swinging or spinning, inside a trapeze you can
perform many things including, acrobatics, contortion like movement or ballet
Low Casting a mini like version of the flying trapeze usually a duo act
Dance Trapeze or Single Point Trapeze is similar to both the static and swinging
trapeze but the two cables are joined to one point at the end, many people perform
duo acts in this and also aerial contortion Some famous artists who perform on this
are Gemini Trapeze (USA) and Aurelia Cats (France)
Washington Trapeze is usually a single trapeze bar with a small circle like area in
the middle of the bar where the performer holds headstands which juggling,
spinning things in his hands and whilst he bar is swinging, handstands can also be
performed in the middle and various other balancing positions
Contortion There are many different types of contortion. Enterology is where the
"Contortionist" enters into a little box. Front Bending is where the contortionist
bends over front of her body. Back Bending is where the contortionist bends over
backwards using mostly the spinal flexibility. Twisting is where the contortionist
twists to face the other side she can see her feet. Usually you will see men
performing more front bending than woman, and woman performing more back
bending than men, either sex though can perform either type.
Handstand is where the performer performs a set of balancing and acrobatics on
one or two hands
Chinese Poles is where there is a vertical pole and the performer climbs up the pole
and performs a set of tricks, falls to catch before hitting the floor and balances, it
involves much strength and technique
Teeter Board also known as "Vascula" is a see saw looking apparatus where a
performer jumps from a platform onto the see saw, making the person standing on
the opposite side "Flyer" fly through the air performing a range of tricks and
somersaults. The flyers also perform this in stilts. The flyer either lands on a chair,
a persons shoulders, hands or matt
Adagio is where two people perform a range of acrobatics, strength and contortion
movements together, usually it involves one person as the base and the other as the
flyer or "flexer"
Russian Bar or Beam is where there is a horizontal beam or bar likeobject which is
held by a base person on each end, usually the bar is over one shoulder held in the
hands of the base, a flyer then stands in the middle of the bar whilst the two bases
throw him into the air to perform acrobatics, the flyer must land back onto the bar.
The bases are in charge of both lifting the flyer into the air, and also looking for the
catchers landing spot and finding him in time so that he does not fall
Chinese Rings also known as "African Rings" are where there are a set of rings or
hoops piled on top of each other on the floor and the acrobat then performs a range
of jumps and saltos flying through the rings. The rings can be static or turning and
can be a range of different sizes
Juggling is where a person performs a range of highly coordinated tricks with
various objects throwing them, mixing or leaving them in the air then catching them
again
Foot Juggling/Antipodismo is where a performer does a range or juggling and
balancing tricks with the feet
High Wire is a wire rigged up in the air where a performer balances, walks along
and performs a range of acrobatic and balletic movements
there are many types of wire acts, some with a loose swinging wire, others with a
tight wire rigged at a low point or a high point, and others rigged on a slant
Perch is where a base holds a large pole like device whilst an acrobat, dancer or
flyer climbs up and performs a range of acrobatics, balancing or dance movements
both the base and the performer at the top are responsible for the balancing of the
act
Aerial Perch is a perch like apparatus hanging from the air, usually a vertical tube,
with hand loops, foot loops on the pole,, at the base there is usually a neck loop,
used to perform spins from the neck
Tumbling also Fast Track is a range of acrobatic tricks performed on the floor,
tumbling strip, air matt or trampoline
Bungee is a fun apparatus where the acrobat or flyer free falls performing
somersaults and other tricks from a platform or trapeze bar then bounces back up
to the platform or trapeze bar again, this act can also be performed in groups where
the flyers make formations and fly throughs to catch hands with each other
Jump Rope Acrobatics is where a range of tricks are performed in a jump rope
including flips, somersaults, juggling and other tricks options are endless
