Class Descriptions

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Youth Aerial

We offer youth classes for ages 9-14 at our Northtowns studio and our main studio (in Lockport) as well as Southtowns location. We love to encourage kids’ playful nature, and we adjust the pacing of instruction for our younger students. We teach them lots of cool aerial skills by breaking each skills down into smaller pieces, and using repetition and memory games to help absorb the new information.

Our youth classes begin with either a 4 intro session.  We recommend completing the intro session anywhere from 2-4 times, depending on the child and their experience, before moving to Level 1 classes.  If you have a schedule conflict with the intro sessions, you can also schedule private lessons with one of our instructors.

Level Descriptions

Intro Series:

No Prerequisites

We offer 3 class Intro Series on Silks, Sling, Aerial Hoop, and Trapeze.  This series is designed for total beginners, zero prior experience needed.  These 3 classes will teach everyone the fundamentals of aerial arts, and prepare you to take our Drop-In classes.  Often aerial students who come to the Intro Series with a lot of strength and body awareness will move to Level 1 as soon as they’ve completed the series.  Others may take the Intro Series 2-3 times to prepare for Level 1.  For more info on starting your aerial journey, read  You Only Get to be a Beginner Once (Also F.A.Q. page)

Example Skills:

• Silks: Footlocks, Footlock tilt, Rebecca Splits, Flying Dutchman, Straddle in the knot, Gazelle in the knot, Hipkey in the knot, Intro to Climbing
• Sling: Horse, backpack, Arabesque, Hipkey, Front balance, Gazelle, Lion, Standing on Sling, Scissor sit
• Trapeze:  Teardrop mount, L-Sit, Star, Mermaid, Gazelle, Angel, Knee hang, Standing on the bar

• Lyra: Teardrop mount, Delilah mount, L-Sit, Man in the Moon, Secretary, Lion, Star, Splits away, Dragonfly, Standing

Level 1, Beginner:

Prerequisites: Intro Series must be completed before attending Level 1. If you have prior aerial experience outside of our studio, please contact us.

In Level 1 you continue to build strength, while also working on flexibility, and building a vocabulary of aerial skills. On silks, Level 1 is focused on learning a variety of fun poses, building climbing endurance, and learning basic inversions.

Level 1 on Aerial Sling involves getting comfortable with hanging out upside down, and building strength to wrap yourself in the sling to make tons of cool shapes.

Level 1 on the horizontal apparatuses (trapeze and lyra) introduces basic mounts and simple poses on and underneath the bar.  After just a few classes, you’ll be linking poses together, and doing sequences on the apparatus.

Example Skills:

• Silks: Wrap Climb, Russian Climb, Arabesque, Flying Dutchman variations, Knee Tangle, Rebecca Split to Bat hang, Rebecca Split Salto, Double Footlocks, Elsie cross, Footlock climb, Double Anklehang, Split Roll ups (front and back), Eiffel Tower, Footlocks in the air, Crossback Straddle, Grand L, Basic Belays, Hipkey in the knot, Dinner Roll, Hipkey/Thigh Hitch from Russian Climb, Princess Seat, Footknot, Egg Rolls, Straddle inversions from the ground, Scissor hipkey from the ground, Crochet from the ground, Double crucifix from the ground, double Leg wraps from the ground
• Sling: Catchers, Catcher’s Climb, Half catchers, Lion, Butterfly, Coffin, Skin the Cats, Scorpion, Somersaults, Leg rollups, Open rollup, Ticktock, Arabesque Slide, Leanna Slide, T-Balance, Intro to Spin Technique, Crossback Straddle, Scissor plank, Angel Roll, Dolphin, Back Balance, Back balance transitions, Around the world, Peterpan, Archer #1, Archer #2, Mermaid, Crossleg Flow Sequence

• Trapeze: Lion, Dragonfly, Star/Gazelle to Hiphang, Splits on the bar (from Gazelle), Standing Balances (to Gazelle), Arabesque, The Susan, Firepole, Birdcage, Wedge to Standing, L splits, Ilana, Dragonfly to Mermaid, Mermaid to Secretary, Half Mill, Candlestick, Basket Mount, Front balance, Front Balance to Angel, Catchers, Anklehang, Hook & Ladder, Leg block, Cuddly Lion, Seesaw, Coffin, Coffin to Secretary, Zombie lion, Gazelle Drop down, Arrow, Arrow splits, Scissor Roll, Crescent Moon, Kneehang in Ropes, Seahorse, Ferne Special, Popeye, Spiral star, Twisty star, Kneebeat, Longhang beat, Flutters

• Lyra: Basket mount, Kneehang, Outside knee hook, Inside Mermaid, Outside Mermaid, Mermaid Switches, Forward/Backward sequence, Birdcage, Anklehang, Straddleback, Dragonfly (and transitions), Amazon, Wineglass (from horse, wedge split, and straddleback), Hiphang, L-Pop, Hook & Ladder, Leg block, Half Mill, Arrow, Prow, Prow Drop-down, Standing Arabesque, Step to top, Scorpion, Knee Sliders, Clock Drop, Wrecking ball, Zebra, Hug (spanset), Shoulderstand, Cat in the moon, Twisty Star, Delilah with spin, Compass, Switcharoos, Cuddly Lion, Front balance, Back balance, Front balance threading, The King’s Pajamas

Level  2, Intermediate:

Prerequisites: completion of all Level 1 skills with good form

In level 2, we begin working moves that require holding your bodyweight in the air.  Sometimes we continue to work low to the ground, and other times we go much higher in the air.  We zero in on technique and transitions.  A goal of many students at this level is to participate in one of our student showcases.

Example Skills:

• Silks: Mermaid Climb, Bicycle Climb, Fancy Russian Climb, Spiral wrap Climb, Spiral Russian Climb, Catchers, Catchers Confusion, Catchers Princess Seat, J-Drop, Open catchers split/Catchers Roll-up, Splits Confusion, Pegasus, Half Monte, Dancer Footlocks, Mix and Match Split rollups, Vertical Crossback, Standing Split/Bat Hang, Single silk J-drop, Brazilian Drop, Double Crucifix to hipkey, Scissor Hipkey, Croissant/Mermaid, Figure 8 wrap, S-lock from Catchers, Ginger Drop, Isadora Drop, Salto Drop, Pushme Pullme (combo w Flying Dutchman), S lock from spiral climb, Belay starburst, Belay hipkey sequence, Both Rebecca Split belays, Single Ankle Hang, Ball (aka Front Balance), Pop kick to Hipkey, Single Windmill, Star, Back balance
• Sling: Coming Soon!

• Trapeze: Straddleback, Backbalance, Crucifix, Straddleback Roll, Pullover, Half Russian Roll, Mermaid Spin, Drop back to Birdcage, Scorpion roll Pop-on, Rock & Roll, Footflag, Front balance threading, Dragonfly to hiphang, Hiphang to dragonfly, Basic Marionette, Superman, Cowgirl, Catchers to Marionette, Clamshell to Standing, Side arrow, Half hiphang, Arrow sneak to ½ Russian, Alien Splits, Horse Circles, Ballerina, Vertical Gazelle, Reindeer roll, Straddle mount/ Side Straddle mount, Rock Star, Poptart, The Rewind, TTPG to dragonfly, Shoulderstand, Long beat to Basket/Arrow,  Elbow hang, Single kneehang, Russian Roll, Back hip circles, Front Hip circles, Popup beats (from Crucifix), Teddybear Slide, Slide to knees

• Lyra: Front straddle mount, Pullover, Outside knee hook to Pullover, Fang, Delilah fakeout, Leg block to arrow, Arrow mount, Lion or Arrow to Running man, Candlestick, Butterfly, Side Straddle mount, Monkey rolls, Canadian leg bounce, Rock Star, Fallen star, Melissa Roll, Twisty star to straddle over, Side arrow, Pike in the moon, Dragonfly to hiphang, Alien splits, Amazon splits, Dragonfly to Lightning, Lightning bolt, Beauty rolls, Seated roll, Clock splits, Clock split to Delilah, Sneaky MIM, Inside out splits, Front split twist, Dragon, Chest stand, Amanda’s Elbow stand, Ballerina, Motorcycle, Snake ups, Ball on top of the hoop, Spanset entries and simple poses

Level  3, Advanced:

Prerequisites: completion of all Level 2 skills with good form

At this level you should have the endurance to stay in the air for a few minutes at a time, and be able to complete multiple inversions, as well as other balances, drops, rolls, hangs, and beats. We use all of these skills to explore more complex skills, new transitions, and create a wide variety of sequences. Level 3 includes some work on dynamic skills.

Example Skills:

• Silks: Straddle Climb, Knee Climb, Teardrop climb, CASH Climb, Castle Climb, Multiple windmills, Double star, Salto star, Cartwheel star, Pencil drop, Look MNH, Moody Street sequence, Belay drop, other belay sequences, Knee belay, Philadelphia sequence, Secretary, Fancy S-lock, Other S-lock entrances, Banana splits, S-lock swoop exit, Back Salto from S-Lock, Single silk S-lock roll to double crucifix, Sailboat, Fancy catchers, Shooting Catchers, Catchers to standing split, Faith Cupid, Rapunzel drop, Pop drops, Double Brazilian, 360, Smorgasbord, Angel Drop, Spy Kids, Double Back Dive, Tornado Spin, Unwrapped Salto, Loopy Splits, Slack Drag splits, Ankle Hang Surprise, Single Leg Windmill
• Trapeze: Corkscrew pullover, Angel Roll Around, Amazon arabesque, Rebecca Splits (from inversion), Lengthwise split, Russian roll to Anklehang, Basic Handstand, Front Roll to Seated, Alligator death roll, Jamila Split, Pull over to C-balance, 50 Pretzel, Outside Kneehang, Birdcage/Superhero, Flaming Bridge of Doom, Skin the Cat to Standing, Lasso, Crossover Handstand, Gazelle handstand, Tuck handstand, Montreal entrances, Montreal to Knees or Ankles, Roll back to Straddle under, Flag, Kneeling to mermaid, Knee climb, Vine climb to Gazelle in the ropes, Sit and Spin, Entrances to & exits from Marionette, Rope Puzzle, Profile Shoulderstand, July Shoulderstand, Legwrap split, Cherry bombs, Elbow roll to Straddleback, Trapeze Salto, Flying J, STC, Pistons, Pike rocks, Long hang beats to Hiphang, Hip Circle to rope catch, Elbow circles, Pullover circles, Full Mill circle, Playground circles, Michael Phelps, Dynamic entrances to Anklehang, Pop to straddleback, Meathook, Elbow hangs, Heel hangs, Toe hangs, Penny drop
•  Lyra Flipped MIM, Martini, Reverse Prow/Russian split, Twisty Kneehang, Seatbelt spiral, Diamond drop, Pinwheel, Front hip circles, Back hip circles, Horrible splits, Lion Rolls, Superman drop, Nadine’s elbow split, Pretzel, Colleen’s resting butterfly, Lasso, Squirrel roll, Straddle up in spanset, Catchers to gazelle (top bar), Catchers to hiphang (top bar), Death star/the Resistance, Twisty meathook mount, Spinny meathook mount, Back balance to crucifix to half hiphang, Single arm twist, Straddle stand, Armbreaker sequence, Standing splits, Seated spanset entrance, Faux split, Triangle transition/Knee hang/ankle hang (in spanset), Clock drop from spanset

• Rope: Lots of hanging Beats, HipHop Climb, Scorpion, Toe Climb, Spiral Toe Climb, Monkey Climb, Back Balance (and transitions), Back Salto, Hipkey Rollup, Fancy S Lock, Fancy Catchers, Infinity Drops, Lasso, Butterfly Thread-thru, Stork Drop, Hail Mary, Faux Footlock Split, All kinds of fun stuff that Alicia makes up