Aerial Arts Classes

Flying Trapeze

Complete beginners are welcome to take any “all levels” class.

Flying Trapeze is a circus art where one person jumps off a 22 foot platform and swings on a bar while another person (the “catcher”) is across the rig swinging on a bar ready for a hand off (or catch). We’re proud to be Chicago’s only flying trapeze rig, and have a long number of tricks for you to learn, master, and catch as your skills progress. The first trick we teach is a knee hang and back flip. Don’t worry, our enthusiastic and safety-oriented coaches take you through each step. Many students get caught in their very first trapeze class!

Students wear safety lines on the trapeze and even when climbing the ladder. Flying Trapeze classes are an hour and a half for 7 people or 2 hours for 10 people. You can take one class or sign up for a series of classes that end with performing in a free show!

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Trampoline

Our Trampoline classes teach basic tricks to help supplement aerial awareness for flyers or for anyone who simply wants to enhance their skills (and fitness!) on the trampoline. As you progress, you can jump into learning Trampoline Wall where you “walk” and bounce higher and higher on the wall until you learn how to make it all the way up to the top. Trampoline classes are one hour and have a maximum of 4 people.

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Lyra

Ever wonder what that hanging hula hoop you’ve seen at the circus is called? This is called Lyra. It’s a steel or aluminum hoop hanging from 1-2 points. Student aerialists can learn positions, spins, drops, or combinations to work towards putting together a solo or doubles routine. Routines can be performed static or with spinning added in. Lyra classes are 1 hour with a maximum of 4 people.

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Silks

Those aren’t bed sheets hanging from the ceiling at el circo! These are called Silks or Fabric. Enhance your upper body strength by learning to climb, wrap, spin, or drop. Experience the beautiful movements and challenges of silks by taking one of our classes or workshops. Silks Classes classes are 1 hour with a maximum of 4 people.

This class will remain indoors during our summer season unless otherwise notified.

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Aerial Sling

Aerial Hammock is sometimes called Sling. It’s similar to Silks, except the fabric forms a loop (like a sling or hammock). Bounce, flip, wrap, and spin on this fun apparatus with so many creative moves to learn. Aerial Hammock classes are 1 hour with a maximum of 4 people.

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Muscle Engagement For Flying Trapeze Class

Not sure if you’re actually engaging your lats? Unsure why you can’t hold your straddle? Curious how to safely strengthen your rotator cuff?
In this one-hour class we focus on proper muscle engagement in order to build strength & endurance while avoiding injury during flying or conditioning.
Class is taught by James, an experienced trainer and licensed massage therapist whose practice focuses on circus bodies.

Space is limited to 2 participants at a time due to the body-specific nature of the lessons, which are based on individual student goals.

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AcroYoga

In this class we will be focusing on acroyoga and L-basing which draw from diverse practices including partner acrobatics, foot juggling, and Thai massage.

Classes will open with us basing and flying in static poses allowing us to build strength and awareness. Then we will use that strength and learn how to move between poses with lightness and ease…granted the lightness is an ease may take some time. While that is happening we will learn to spot to keep each other safe and talk about how to get out of things safely so we can expand and learn more.

We encourage everybody to work with everybody and try both basing and flying so that we can have as much knowledge as possible when we do the parts that we enjoy the most.

No partner necessary

Questions? philblaetz@gmail.com

This class will remain indoors during our summer season unless otherwise notified.

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