Dancing In The Air

Aerial is the art and practice of performing acrobatics in the air. Artistically it lies at the intersection of gymnastics, dance, and the circus arts. Aerial has captivated many through the performances of contemporary circus groups like Cirque du Soleil, which have pioneered the development of this art. Aerialists perform using a wide variety of apparatuses including the aerial silk (or tissu), hammock, static trapeze, and aerial hoop (or lyra). At Agora we offer classes that teach how to perform on all four of these apparatuses.

Aerial Is For Everyone

In recent years aerial has also gained popularity outside the circus stage as a unique hobby, fitness activity, and artistic pursuit. Aerialists enjoy the engaging alternative it provides to standard fitness options such as cardio-based activities. Practicing aerial is not a routine workout: It is the development of a beautiful performance skill and each step in the journey is a new experience. Aerial is built around a culture of support and inclusivity, so at each step of this journey new aerialists are accompanied by people who want them to succeed.

The New Circus

Aerial has a long and rich history intertwined with that of the circus. One of the earliest recorded aerial apparatuses was the trapeze, which was invented in the 19th Century by Jules Léotard. Léotard developed his act by practicing over his father’s pool, eventually performing it in the Cirque Napoléon and gaining worldwide recognition. In the 1970s the aerial arts gained massive interest as part of the contemporary circus movement, leading to the development of new apparatuses such as the aerial silk in the 1990s. Agora is a local hub for contemporary circus learning, offerings classes as well as performances in the subject year round.