Aerial Hammock
New Class
Starts Monday 13 January
715-815pm
Great for new students and those wanting to start aerial slowly. The hammocks are low to the ground and easily accessible. They offer resting and working shapes and moves. They are made of the same fabric as our silks, so they have some stretch to them. The silks feel soft to touch, and lengthen to become taut once you are inside, standing or sitting on them.
Hammocks offer the chance to learn the moves and shapes used on other aerial equipment, while building aerial awareness and strength in a slower, more comfortable piece of equipment.
Starting Aerial for
Absolute Beginner Students
We have 2 classes for new students taking their first course of Aerial skills. ‘Starting Aerial’ or the new class ‘Aerial Hammock’.
The Starting Aerial course on Wednesdays 645pm is an absolute beginner aerial class. In this class new aerial students rotate around the skills of Hoop And Trapeze for 10 weeks.
The first 2 weeks you stay on the same skill, then the next 2 weeks move to the next skill and so it repeats for the term. There will be a possibility to stay on one skill if space allows.
You will all be new aerial students in this class, mostly all starting from a similar lack of experience. Although some students repeat this course 1 or 2 more times to build strength and confidence before moving onto to practicing their preferred aerial discipline. We try and place students together with other students of similar experience (or no experience) in the same group. While this is a beginner class it is good if students have a basic level of fitness and have done some form of exercise before.
We aim to keep it a supportive and fun class, where you will gradually improve your strength, stamina and aerial awareness.
The 2 skills; Hoop and Trapeze have 2 teachers used to working with beginner students. They are professional aerial teachers and performers who have been working in the circus industry for many years as both performers and teachers. They are safety conscious, supportive, approachable and sensitive to the needs of beginner students. There are 6 pieces of each apparatus and each student has their own apparatus for the class and will not have to share.
This class used to include silks rotations, but we felt while silks looks pretty, they are very challenging for new students and can demotivate you. We now recommend you can join the beginner silks class (or another beginner class after doing at least 6 weeks of trapeze and hoop.)
In the early classes you will learn how to get onto and off the equipment and learn the basics about working with the equipment. As time goes on, the complexity of the skills will increase. Your aerial awareness and strength should improve and your capability grows. How long this takes, is different for everyone!
Class Information
Class Structure
All classes start with the group led warm up, including core and body conditioning. We warm the body, mobilise the joints and get ready for aerial work. Bodyweight conditioning is used at the end of the warm up to strengthen and support the body for aerial work. Repeating the shapes during conditioning, first on the floor as a group and then onto the aerial equipment, will help students become familiar with the shapes needed to be performed in the air.
During the skills part of class, students first learn basic moves using the body shapes they practiced on the floor. In later classes, as skills develop, students will learn how to add more complexity to progress these first moves into more challenging skills. Eventually the students will link some of these skills and moves to create sequences and routines that may be shown to the whole class.
We conclude all classes with a cool down, focusing on flexibility and release. The flexibility training is essential for all the muscles in your body to help prevent injury, help heal and relieve tightness as well as develop long term flexibility. Increasing the range of movement can increase blood flow to the muscles, enabling them to work more effectively. Active and passive stretching exercises are used to improve the students’ range of movement. We may stretch alone and occasionally use assisted stretching techniques with a partner.
Adult Regular classes may be suitable for many levels of ability and ages 18 up. Classes are marked as Beginner, Improver, Intermediate, Advanced and general level. Improver is between being a beginner student and an intermediate student. General level is a mixed class of beginners, intermediate and improvers. General level is not absolute beginner students.
There are a maximum of 6 people in each class, 4 people in Straps class.
See the FAQs or below for information on which class may be most suitable for you.
What is Trapeze?
Also called Static Trapeze. A 50 - 55 cm long metal bar, with 2 cotton ropes attached to each end and hung from the roof. This is a non-swinging apparatus where the trapeze bar provides a seat on which moves, poses and drops can be done. The trapeze bar height is anywhere from 1.5 – 2.5 metres off the ground.
Most skill levels can be accommodated in trapeze class. New students with no previous experience, we will direct you to the Starting Aerial class on a Wednesday!.
Trapeze Class Times
Intermediate Level
Thursday 645pm - 815pm
This is a faster paced Trapeze class. Students will work on more complex moves, linking more moves together and working on higher bars. Students should feel confident to safely challenge themselves in this class.
Beginners Level
Wednesday 745-845pm
Beginner or improver students are best suited to this class. This class is for students early in their aerial training. Students will work on beginner level root moves seated, standing and hanging underneath the bar. The moves have names such as gazelle, half angel and amazon. As the students' skill grows, they will learn to link 2-3 moves together and work more confidently standing or using strength moves.
General level students are able to attend this class and will work on more complex moves and transitions.
General Level
Saturdays 1230-2pm
This is mixed level class with Beginner, improver and intermediate level students. Newer students will work the skills separately. Proficient students will work on more complex moves, linking more moves together and working on inverting and on higher bars. Students should feel confident to safely challenge themselves in this class.
What is Hoop?
Also known as Cerceau or Lyra. This is a circular shaped solid metal ring around 90-100cm wide with one (sometimes two) hanging points on it. It is suspended from the ceiling at various heights. Moves are performed around, in and on the hoop. The hoop can be static, spinning or swinging.
Hoop Class Times
Beginners Level
Monday 715-815pm
Beginner or improver students are best suited to this class. This class is for students early in their aerial training. Students will learn how to get on and off of the hoop safely.They will learn beginner level root moves which are taught inside the hoop and hanging underneath. Later moves will use the top bar too. The moves have names such as man in the moon, hox hang, mermaid and man in the moon.
General/ Intermediate Level
Thursday 645pm - 815pm or Saturday 1230 - 200pm
This class is suitable for intermediate, as well as more advanced students. Students will learn different ways on, in and around the hoop. Variations of the moves are taught for different levels of students.
More experienced students will work on developing transitions into sequences and routines. Moves will become more complex and involve a more dynamic and confident movement quality as students progress.
What are Silks?
Also known as Tissu or Fabric. The silk is a long piece of medium stretch fabric which is folded in half, thereby giving two lengths of fabric. The two halves are used to climb and wrap the silk around different body parts to make shapes and perform moves and tricks up and down the length.
Most moves require significant upper body strength and a developed aerial awareness.
What is Rope?
Also known as Corde Lisse. A single 35mm wide, 7 - 8m soft cotton or covered rope, suspended from one point in the ceiling. Moves are performed up and down the length of rope making postures, drops, wraps and tricks. Most moves require significant upper body strength and a developed aerial awareness.
Rope/Silks Class Times
Beginner Silks
Wednesday 645-745pm
This class is a follow on from the earlier ‘Introduction to Aerial for Beginners’ for those who have completed the course. Or those with a little silks experience. You may be working on inverting on the floor and in the air, a few different climbs and know a few foundation moves. We will work in a loop, learn climbs and do aerial skills and exercises in a safe, fun and comfortable environment.
Beginner Rope
Wednesday 745-845pm
While this is a beginner class it will require upper body strength and experience in another aerial discipline.This class will require stamina to be working on inverting in the air. In these early rope classes you will work on gaining strength with some of the many climbs, learning the foundation moves and making transitions between 2 moves.
Improver Silks
Thursday 645-815pm
For students who are beyond beginner not not ready for the intermediate class, which has more dynamic moves, drops and complex sequences. This class assumes silks knowledge and a couple of terms of silks class attendance. You should know 3-4 climbs, be able to invert at height (when fresh to the class), be able to link 3-4 moves together and be able to recognise and do the foundation or basic moves.
Intermediate Level Silks
Saturday 1230 - 200pm
&
Advanced/ Intermediate Rope/ Silks
Monday 715-845pm
These classes require students to have at least 1 year experience and have good aerial awareness, excellent upper body strength and be able to repeatedly invert safely at height. On Saturday Students choose either rope or silks but can do both.
In these classes we will be working with transitions, sequences and more complex and dynamic moves. This may include swings, drops and creating complex routines.
New students MUST be able to invert safely at height. They should be able to confidently link moves together and understand rope or silks skills to make their own connections.
Gift Vouchers
Give an Aerial Days class as a gift for an active or Aerial curious friend! Gift Vouchers are available for new students to come and enjoy our Aerial classes! We recommend Trapeze, Hoop or Aerial Conditioning for a brand new Aerial Student. Experienced Aerialists can also choose from Straps, Rope or Silks.
The gift vouchers can be used for any class and are valid for 6 months from date of issue. Once purchased we can email you a printable version.
4 any adult class gift voucher - £100
2 any adult class gift voucher - £58
1 any adult class gift voucher - £30
2 adult classes - Introduction to Aerial - gift voucher - £50
1 Youth class, 8-17 years, gift voucher - £20
Gift Vouchers are available for use by new clients only and valid for 6 months and are non refundable.
Private session or classes
If a group of up to 18 want to come to classes find out about your own Aerial Days Party/ Workshop on a Saturday or Sunday go to our aerial parties page for more details.
Private Classes for 1 person £70 per hour whilst another class is happening in the space on Wednesdays 745-845pm.
Or just you in the space alone Saturdays 200-300pm, £150.
Practice
We only offer individual practice time to our regular students.
Mondays 715pm - 845pm, Wednesdays 645pm - 845pm or during Adult classes where we have space. Regular Students get in touch to ask about it.
Current Aerial Days Students £10
Current Aerial Days Students must be competent to practice aerial unsupervised and have demonstrated competence and safety in the air. This includes an effective warm up and practicing only moves they have been taught and are competent with. As it is an unsupervised session we ask you not to practice unknown skills or to teach others. If you are unsure please Check with us.
Practice time is include free for all AA11 pass holders!
Check with us that there is room for you before coming to practice.
Previous Aerial Days Students £15
Usually we like you come to our classes regularly so we can get to know you before clearing you for practice time. Occasionally we do have space for students from other schools but we will always give preference to our own current students or previous students! Unknown students, we will ask you to email us with your experience, what you would like to practice and where you regularly take classes or practice.
If you have booked we retain the right to cancel you, if our own students need the space. If you are a professional aerialist we do not have the availability to offer professional circus artist practice time you may require.