Aerial Skills

Aerial Fabric

Aerial Fabric is a beautiful art form in which the aerialist is suspended from the ceiling by 2 strong fabric panels and they move with the apparatus to create fantastic shapes and movements. Also known as Silks, or Tissue.

In a beginner class, we’ll go over the fundamentals of proper technique to get the aerialist off the ground in a fun and safe manner. Emphasis is put on understanding the mechanics of what is happening within the body, and how the fabric works with you, and also on play and enjoying the experience of being up in the air! 

At the intermediate level, aerialists will begin learning drops and movement sequences, and start linking skills into choreography. We will continue expanding aerial vocabulary, and work to create understanding of wraps and drops. 
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Advanced aerialists will be challenged to go beyond a basic understanding of skills to really develop the ability to create and innovate their aerial practice both artistically and scientifically in the creation of new sequences and skills. Instructors will focus on guiding the aerialist to a pre-professional level, and on developing skills in their chosen focus of practice. Please contact The Aerial Lab to find out if this class fits your skill level and needs. In order to keep the class challenging, it is available by instructor approval only.

Lyra

The Aerial Lyra is a round metal hoop hung from the ceiling. The Lyra lends itself nicely to both grace and strength work, providing a stable framework for flexible aerialists to bend around, and a solid apparatus for strong aerialists to show their strength, while being accessible to brand new aerialists and beginners as well. This class will offer a wide range of skills in the areas of dance, momentum, spinning, strength, and improv!
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Aerial Rope

Rope is a traditional circus apparatus which is both athletically challenging and beautiful in its simplicity. The clean lines of the equipment allow the aerialist to focus on the intricacy of the wraps and endless options to demonstrate aerial prowess and strength.
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At the Lab, we have traditional Corde Lisse, Mallakhamb rope, and we’ve also created a new style of rope for you to try which improves grip and is softer in the wraps. This class is a great option for aerialists who are looking for something dynamic, skillful, and exciting.
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Aerial Hammock and Sling

The Aerial Hammock or Sling is a loop of aerial fabric which supports the aerialist. It is both beautiful and fantastically fun and challenging, while being accessible as a first piece of equipment to new aerialists. Come give it a try!
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Trapeze

The trapeze is a traditional circus apparatus which brings to mind the days of old in the circus tents! In more recent years, it has also become more accessible as a lower hung apparatus for dance and exploration. We have both double point “traditional” trapeze and single point Dance Trapeze available. You can learn on both of these in our Mixed apparatus class, or in a private lesson! Look for classes to be added soon!
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Mixed Aerial Arts

Have you wanted to try Aerial or Circus, but not known quite where to start? Are you already an Aerialist, but want to play on something new and different, or expand your Aerial vocabulary? Then this class is for you! We’ll have several different pieces of equipment available to try out. The class will be guided and directed to allow for maximum discovery and fun within the session. Come climb, play, and discover!!! 
This class may include: Fabric, Hammock/Sling, Rope, Trapeze, Lyra, Invented apparatus, and more! 
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Fitness Classes

Aerial Yoga

Aerial Yoga is an adaptive hybrid of ground based yoga and a liberating introduction to aerial flight. Utilizing an aerial sling as an assistive device to allow the participant to access positions which might be unavailable within the limits of the body tethered by gravity, this is an exciting supportive variation on traditional yoga. The aerial yoga sling allows for expansive suspended movement, which compliments and advances the yoga practice. Aerial Yoga is accessible to all ages and all bodies! No previous aerial or yoga experience is necessary prior to attending.
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Power Aerial Yoga

60 minute class with a moderately-paced flow using the aerial hammock as a prop. Safely explore new and exciting expressions of poses you know, or learn new techniques while building grip strength, a great complement to traditional yoga. Also including breathing, meditative and mobility exercises. Small class size makes exercises easily adaptable to any ability or skill level.​​
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Kids Aerial Yoga
​Aerial Yoga is a fun way to introduce yoga and mindfulness to your child! In this one hour class, we move through breath awareness and meditation to work our way up to exciting tricks!  The fabric hammocks used in the class as a prop are a great tool for building strength, focus, coordination, and confidence in your child as well as adding new dimensions for creative movement! We end in the cocoon laying down in the hammock which provides a deep sense of calm for the last bit of class.
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Acro Yoga

Blending the gentle mindful practice of yoga with the strength balance and connection of acrobatics. This is an all levels class and no prior experience is necessary. We will exlore poses, flows and drills for coordination and working together. No partner is necessary, we all work with each other. Come with a willingness to fall get back up, to fly and base and make some friends! 
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Floor Acro & Tumbling

We will train beginning tumbling elements and floor acrobatics. A great compliment for the well rounded aerilist or someone wanting to build body awareness and strength. This class will be accessible and challenging for all skill levels. We will work on technique for the handstand and individual movement in all directions, exploring range of motion, agility and strength.  This class will have a strong focus on injury prevention and give safe ways for the body to enjoy fluid movment. No prior experience necessary.
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Flexibility

Flexibility is stretch class for anyone wanting to improve their flexibility as it applies to aerial. We will work on hips, back, shoulders, toe point, and other areas. The class is led, and includes partner assistance and other tools to help you achieve your most flexible self! At the Lab, we believe that stretching shouldn’t be a scary or painful process, but that you should ENJOY it, and feel like you had a good workout when you’re done. Come get gumbyliscious bendy with us!!! ​
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Hand Balancing

Technique, Strength, Balance: these are the three main ingredients for a good handstand.

In this class you will learn drills that will develop your technique and strength, skills that help build your confidence to practice balance, and you will be supported with developing more challenging hand-balancing skills in a safe environment.
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Aerial Fitness

Believe it or not, only a very small percentage of the population is a natural born circus star. Conditioning your body with aerial-specific exercises will GREATLY improve your learning curve, and it's a unique way to get and stay fit! There is no requirement to have any aerial knowledge in order to take an aerial fitness class. We will work hard for an hour - varying our work on cardio, strength, agility and flexibility training. You will also go home with many exercises that you can do away from the Lab to either compliment your aerial training, or simply as part of your weekly fitness regime.
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Adult Modern Dance

​This is a medium to high intensity class that incorporates a variety of modern dance techniques with an emphasis on floor work.

Each student is unique and has their own artistic voice; therefore each dancer’s journey in my class is different. I encourage individuality within a dance artist in order to develop a deep connection between the self and movement and that connection to creative choice. Through various modern exercises drawn from somatic, release, and counterbalance techniques I encourage each student to expand their knowledge of their body's capabilities and its patterns or habits in order to increase an overall body-mind awareness.

Private Instruction and Coaching

One-on-one instruction is the sure-fire way to be sure you're getting exactly what you need out of your training, for your body and your progression. Our instructors are available for private and semi-private sessions in any of the above listed disciplines. Please contact us directly to arrange your private session!

Privates are also available for......
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Aerial Bungee

Do you sometimes wish you weren’t tethered by gravity? Have you ever wondered how it would feel to be up in space, bouncing on the moon? Do you remember the days of bouncing and flipping on a trampoline with no fear? The aerial bungee revisits these concepts in a new and dynamic way! There are several rigging options with bungee which allow the aerialist to dance, fly, bounce, and be free, while safely in a supportive harness. Bungee gives you wings and opens the doors to creativity! 

Spanish Web

The Spanish Web is a thrilling adventure in spinning! The aerialist is spun by a “setter” on the floor while up in the rope in a variety of holds, including hand loops, foot loops, and tied in rope movements. It is both beautiful and exhilarating to spin freely above the ground.