no clowns allowed on the flying Trapeze

A.365 Gig: Flying the Trapeze & Circus Arts - 25th October 2008

Seen Cirque du Soleil? Think it looks easy? Well come and join A.365 and see if you've got what it takes!! Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary to come along and try your hand at a few circus skills. All you need is a desire to try something new with a great group of people (and a little co-ordination wouldn't go astray…!). We've booked our own trapeze session at Homebush, and thrown in a few extra circus skills for this exclusive A.365 gig. In 1 ½ to 2 hours of circus action, you'll learn to fly the high trapeze PLUS try your hand at the low trapeze and tightrope while you wait. With all good circuses' come good jugglers – so we're throwing in a juggling workshop too. You'll be auditioning for Cirque du Soleil before you know it! Guided by professional instructors, you'll learn techniques and the basics of circus arts, even tackling the 10m platform of the high trapeze if you are daring enough! After the gig, we will be heading down to the legendary Brewery for a couple of drinks and a few laughs. This is going to be a great fun gig and no doubt will make us all want to run away and join the circus! Numbers are limited, so make sure you book early to avoid missing out.

Catamaran Sailing On Trapeze High-Speed Adventure

You will meet with your crew and the other guests on the beautiful Catseye Beach. This is where we fit you with your purpose-made trapeze harness buoyancy vest. You are then whisked away in our RIB (rigid-inflatable boat) and delivered to the Nacra 36 performance catamaran that is waiting for you off the reef at Hamilton Island. To begin with you will be given a short safety briefing and instructions for going out on the trapeze. During the 40 minute boat trip there will be four people suspended from the trapeze at any one time. You will alternate with the other passengers and, depending on how many people are present, spend at least 20 minutes on the trapeze during the ride. While you are not on the trapeze you can sit back and relax on the huge trampoline of the catamaran and watch the action! When it is your turn on the trapeze we will hook you up and you will be soaring out over the turquoise waters below. Feel the wind in your hair and look down at the water as it glides beneath you! The freedom of flying through the air above the water, out on trapeze is a feeling usually only experienced by the sailors onboard the Sydney Harbour 18ft skiffs. However you will be sailing in far greater comfort on a 20ft-wide catamaran that is completely stable. So come and enjoy this totally unique experience onboard the only catamaran in Australia that is licensed to take guests out on trapeze. It?s a totally enchanting experience to be soaring through the air like a bird above the waves!

Circus Encounter

Roll up, Roll up! Experience the thrill-a-minute life of a circus performer with this amazing circus experience! Learn to juggle all types of objects! Perform breathtaking flips and tricks on the bungee-trampoline! Soar like an eagle with a full flyingtrapeze workshop. Enjoy a session of full-on fun as you learn the tricks of the trade in our custom-built outdoor circus school. The Big Top awaits!

Circus Encounter

Roll up, Roll up! Experience the thrill-a-minute life of a circus performer with this amazing circus experience! Learn to juggle all types of objects! Perform breathtaking flips and tricks on the bungee-trampoline! Soar like an eagle with a full flyingtrapeze workshop. Enjoy a session of full-on fun as you learn the tricks of the trade in our custom-built outdoor circus school. The Big Top awaits!

Circus Skills ? Eight Week Course - Sydney

The course runs for two hours each week on Tuesdays from 6 - 8pm for eight weeks. Each class will begin with drama games, warm up and conditioning exercises to improve strength. You will learn how to hang correctly from a trapeze bar by your hands, ankles, and knees. You will also learn aerial rope and tissue techniques and will be taught the art of acro-balance, which is creating human pyramids and basic acrobatics. Juggling techniques and hula hoop spinning is another skill we will work on together in class. This is a fun and challenging program which will leave participants energised and wanting more. We work in a friendly, skill-sharing environment and encourage all participants to support and assist their peers. This is a great opportunity to improve strength and flexibility, whilst improving trust and team building skills.

Circus Skills Eight Week Course

The circus skills course runs for two hours each week on Tuesdays from 6 - 8pm for eight weeks. Each class will begin with drama games, warm up and conditioning exercises to improve strength. You will learn how to hang correctly from a trapeze bar by your hands, ankles, and knees. You will also learn aerial rope and tissue techniques and will be taught the art of acro-balance, which is creating human pyramids and basic acrobatics. Juggling techniques and hula hoop spinning is another skill we will work on together in class. This is a fun and challenging program which will leave participants energised and wanting more. We work in a friendly, skill-sharing environment and encourage all participants to support and assist their peers. This is a great opportunity to improve strength and flexibility, whilst improving trust and team building skills.

Circus Skills Private Workshop

Who wants to join the circus? Circus skill workshops are unique and best of all, there?s a place for every kind of person in the circus ? from strong-people to nimble flyers and even a funny clown or two! On the day of your private circus skills workshop, you?ll be met by one of our experienced trainers, who will welcome you into the world of the circus. We begin the day with a warm up to get you ready for your trip to the circus! You may choose to look at some of the following circus skills, from aerials (trapeze and rope), acro-balance, tumbling and rolla bolla through to hula hooping, juggling, the tight wire, globe walking or maybe even a balancing act on the unicycle! Throughout the workshop, you will try different circus activities and finally, we finish with a warm down session. We encourage you to participate as fully as possible, however we ask that you self-monitor and will check-in with you throughout the session. Our aim is to create an environment where you?ll feel comfortable in the challenges set for you, whilst at the same time having lots of fun! (N.B. Photo courtesy of Ponch Hawkes)

Circus Skills Static Trapeze For Kids

Have your children ever wanted to run away with the circus? Then a static-trapeze lesson could be the ideal activity to keep them busy! The lesson starts with a warm-up and your children will learn to stretch their muscles so that their body is ready for action! After warming-up, your child's safety harness is fitted. (Alltrapezing moves are completed with safety-harness and they are accompanied by one-on-one instruction by our skilled trainers). Your child will learn the moves initially on the ground, step by step, and then they will be shown by their trainer. Then it?ll be their turn to take to the bar! Once they've mastered the moves, they will then link all together to perform a routine at the end of the class. This is a great opportunity for parents to take photos of their 'circus monkeys'!

Circus Skills Workshop For 4 People

You and your three friends can experience life in the circus during this 2 hour circus skills workshop. At your flying-trapeze workshop, your instructors will warm you up with specific stretches and take you to a 'ground' level practise bar. Your safety belt is fitted and you will learn, on the practice bar, the 'position' to be performed whilst swinging. You will be instructed how to 'take-off' on your first flight, with an instructor holding you at all times in your safety harness! The first trick learned is called a 'knee-hang'. Once you have mastered that in just a few swings you can also easily learn how to complete a 'back-flip' down to the net. The Bungee-Trampoline is a fantastic way to instantly learn flips and tricks high in the air. Great for aerial awareness and a really great way to gain confidence for activities such as the Flying-Trapeze. The ride is just under 10 minutes, a great way to get fit whilst having fun! You and each of your three friends will each get to try your skills on the flying trapeze and the bungee-trampoline. Please allow approximately 2 hours for the experience.

Circus Skills Workshop For Fifteen

Are you ready to runaway with the circus? The 2.5 hour circus skills workshop begins with fun and dynamic drama games to establish strong group dynamics. The group will be broken into smaller groups and you will then take part in skills development with our professional circus instructors. The skills you will learn include: 1. Arco-balance & acrobatics ? together the group will learn how to balance on one another and build human pyramids. 2. Aerials - Learning to climb a rope, hang from a trapeze, and find new ways of hanging upside down. 3. Manipulation ? Juggling, hula hoops, devil sticks and diablo. The circus is all about performing. You and your instructor will work together as a group, using the skills you have learnt to devise a performance to show fellow group members. Although a great challenge, Circus Arts is a non-confronting and enjoyable experience, designed to encourage communication and team building skills. Instructors will work with each individual?s ability to bring out the best in them and the group. Participants can choose the skills they would most like to focus on. It is ideal for company or social groups who are looking for something exciting and different.

The History of the Trapeze

One of the most exciting things at any circus is witnessing the skills of the performer dazzling the audience on the trapeze.

The trapeze has a simple beginning like many gymnastic and modern day sports.

In 1859, Jules Leotard, a Frenchman was experimenting in a gymnasium owned by his father. He figured he needed to try a new acrobat as he had mastered the common ones. He tied a bar to two ventilator cords that sat high above a swimming pool. With a leap of faith, Leotard grabbed on to the bar and in doing so became the world's first trapeze artist.

The origins of the word trapeze come from Latin word trapezium, which comes from the Greek word trapezoin that means a small table. A trapezoin then became the word for quadrilateral shapes.

Today, trapeze means any horizontal bar that is suspended by two parallel bars attached to each end of the horizontal bar. A person that uses a trapeze is known as an aerialist.

A trapeze act can be found in most modern circuses. The sport has changed substantially from Leotard's first attempt. The biggest change is probably the inclusion of safety nets and an improvement in the methods in which the bars are attached to the parallel wires.   © MAS 2007

Trapeze For Fitness

I guess this will come as no surprise to many people, but thousands are turning to the trapeze for exercise and fitness.

Many Hollywood stars and celebrities are taking lessons to become an aerialist to assist in strengthening and toning their bodies.

The treadmill, yoga and pilates are being passed over for the opportunity to learn this circus skill. Indeed it would be a circus watching people trying the trapeze for the first time but many are swearing that the physical benefits are very rewarding.

Specialist clubs in are popping up in American and England. One such place is Club Cirque in Manhattan that also specialises in juggling and tight rope walking.

Crazy or brilliant - you be the judge. Let Mad About Sports give you the experience to decide.   © MAS 2007