Aerial View
Aerial View June 21, 2006 By: Jaime Bramble - [email protected]
You've always dreamed of running off and joining the circus, but clowns kinda freak you out and sword swallowing is out of the question. Fortunately, the graceful glitz and acrobatic allure of the trapeze is well within your reach. Learn to dangle, flip and twirl - and get an outrageously toned bod while you do it - at Air Play. Shana Kennedy, who has been teaching circus skills for more than a decade and has performed all over the world, created this unique training program for students of all levels to learn the fundamentals of aerial trapeze artistry. The focus is on performance and circus tricks, with more than a little dash of daring. Working on a single piece of apparatus (as opposed to flying trapeze, where performers switch between several), Kennedy teaches Static Trapeze, which involves a variety of acrobatic moves that are performed on a stationary trapeze; Spanish Web, a rope act that's usually performed spinning on a swivel; Corde Lisse, or smooth rope, which involves all sorts of acrobatics performed along a vertical rope; Lira, or aerial hoop, a giant steel hoop for aerial performance that may also involve spinning on a swivel; and Aerial Fabric, also called Silks or Tissu, which is a variation on the Corde Lisse using swaths of fabric rather than the standard rope. Kennedy admits these moves can be particularly challenging for women, who must work especially hard to develop a strong upper body. Challenging, but hardly impossible. And incredibly fun. Pilates-based conditioning, lots of stretching, inverted sit-ups, rope climbing, pull-ups and focused abdominal work are all part of the classes, making for a workout that's both intense and enjoyable. And, other parts of your body might get a workout that you weren't expecting: the tops of the ankles and backs of the knees must be toughened to withstand the pressure from all your upside-down stunts. Safety is a top priority, and students are able to work at their own pace and gradually build their skills. Air Play offers the only training of this type in the area, and Kennedy operates out of her at-home studio in Germantown. She admits, however, that she's always on the lookout for a larger space to accommodate her fast-growing clientele. Private and group lessons, kept to a maximum of three students, are available. So maybe this is the summer to forego your usual treadmill and free-weights routine and take a twirl on the wild side? Air Play, 101 W. Harvey St., Philadelphia, 215.849.1991; www.airplaytrapeze.com
You've always dreamed of running off and joining the circus, but clowns kinda freak you out and sword swallowing is out of the question. Fortunately, the graceful glitz and acrobatic allure of the trapeze is well within your reach. Learn to dangle, flip and twirl - and get an outrageously toned bod while you do it - at Air Play. Shana Kennedy, who has been teaching circus skills for more than a decade and has performed all over the world, created this unique training program for students of all levels to learn the fundamentals of aerial trapeze artistry. The focus is on performance and circus tricks, with more than a little dash of daring. Working on a single piece of apparatus (as opposed to flying trapeze, where performers switch between several), Kennedy teaches Static Trapeze, which involves a variety of acrobatic moves that are performed on a stationary trapeze; Spanish Web, a rope act that's usually performed spinning on a swivel; Corde Lisse, or smooth rope, which involves all sorts of acrobatics performed along a vertical rope; Lira, or aerial hoop, a giant steel hoop for aerial performance that may also involve spinning on a swivel; and Aerial Fabric, also called Silks or Tissu, which is a variation on the Corde Lisse using swaths of fabric rather than the standard rope. Kennedy admits these moves can be particularly challenging for women, who must work especially hard to develop a strong upper body. Challenging, but hardly impossible. And incredibly fun. Pilates-based conditioning, lots of stretching, inverted sit-ups, rope climbing, pull-ups and focused abdominal work are all part of the classes, making for a workout that's both intense and enjoyable. And, other parts of your body might get a workout that you weren't expecting: the tops of the ankles and backs of the knees must be toughened to withstand the pressure from all your upside-down stunts. Safety is a top priority, and students are able to work at their own pace and gradually build their skills. Air Play offers the only training of this type in the area, and Kennedy operates out of her at-home studio in Germantown. She admits, however, that she's always on the lookout for a larger space to accommodate her fast-growing clientele. Private and group lessons, kept to a maximum of three students, are available. So maybe this is the summer to forego your usual treadmill and free-weights routine and take a twirl on the wild side? Air Play, 101 W. Harvey St., Philadelphia, 215.849.1991; www.airplaytrapeze.com
