Sunday, September 16, 2007

My ever expanding Circus Family

Jaded New Yorker that I am, few things ever surprise me anymore, but then I found Circus...I continue to be completely floored by the true sincerity, the tremendous kindness and the welcoming closeness that is the tight knit Aerial Arts world.

Last week found me in Newport Beach and Los Angeles for business. Never one to miss an opportunity to fly, on my only free night (and then again before my flight home) I stopped by Hollywood Aerial Arts and met owners Ray & Tania P. Upon hearing that I train out East on our little rig in Brooklyn as well as along the Hudson...I was welcomed with open arms and immediately made to feel at home. (And they say it's hard to find true friends in the "Land of Make Believe".) Meeting up with my best friend from Boston for a quick chat sure helps too!

It's always different flying on a new rig with a new instructor but it's also the best way to learn our art. A few things that were new to me...

- Carrying the safety lines up the ladder
- Ready, Set, HEP! (I'm accustomed to just Ready, HEP!)
- A Catch Cradle instead of a Catch Trap
- Catchers don't move out of the way of flyers. I had to straddle my force out to prevent a collision
- Person on lines calls the "HEP" for catches

The first time I threw my Split to Catcher Scott, distracted by the shadows beneath me, I totally blew the catch. Second time, I reached out and rather than a solid forearm lock, I had his biceps and slid down to a wrist catch. As mentioned, it takes a while for a catcher and flyer to sync up but Scott was a sweetheart and a lot of fun to fly with.

Ray worked the lines and gave me great insight into the various "spot" points of each trick.

I had the great fortune of taking two static classes with Eric N. an incredible talent as well as Cirque du Soleil alum. While I've worked a few positions on the static bar, I've only ever had one real lesson before. Eric is an amazing instructor and whenever I got overconfident and sassy (as I'm prone to do)...he'd throw a tougher position at me. I still have huge bruises from learning my back balance (i.e. balancing from my lower back on the static bar...very painful but VERY COOL!)

Eric choreographed a routine for me and we taped it at the very end of class, which was also the first time we put everything together. After 2 hours of flying and an hour of static, you can see my strength (couldn't get into my extreme rock-n-roll & had to slide into position) and form (on my split and tempos) failing me near the end.

It also didn't help that Eric kept changing and adding choreography throughout. I was thrown when we switched sides for Gazelle, Mermaid and rope turn. (It was ugly but I stayed on the Bar and offer up some hysterical & creative derriere shots as Eric tries to spot and film at the same time.) Then he added a front balance off the ropes immediately following my back balance (REALLY HARD to do). The one knee pose and finally ending with ankle balance. Sheeesh!

But we had an awesome time together! He tested how far he could push me and well, I love to be pushed! While there is so much I do that lacks grace...if you look closely, there are one or two moments of beauty. Maybe, just maybe, the Kid's got potential. I'm going to keep practicing...

I couldn't load the whole routine as a single video (it runs 10 minutes) but here it is in three parts. A huge "Thank You" to my wonderful "Tech Savvy" friends who helped me edit this video into smaller pieces.







10 Minutes!!! A marathon for an experienced aerialist and here I am a novice - always up for a challenge. In reality, I should be able to get the timing down to about 7 minutes. I'll continue to practice...smooth out my transitions and make the program my own.

If you get a chance, check out E! channel for their program "Sexiest Jobs in Hollywood". Hollywood Aerial Arts is featured as the #2 sexiest job in Hollywood for their Aerial acts performed weekly on the LA club scene. Or you can see the clip on their website http://www.hollywoodaerialarts.com

Here is my parting pearl of wisdom from Eric - applicable to life both on and off the static bar...

"Always save enough energy to get yourself out of...whatever you get yourself into!"

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