Student of the Month

A while back, my BFF talked me into going to a show at the Pageant. An aerialist performed on silks to one of the songs. It was my 1st exposer to an aerial performance ever. What was this awesome performing art form?!? My curiosity led me to Joelle at the City Museum, where she was teaching at the time. Shortly after, I followed her when she opened the doors to a new beautiful studio, Bumbershoot. It's been bliss ever since.
Thank you, BFF!

Well I really only know 1 apparatus so my answer is silks. I've taken a private lesson on lyra and dabbled on trapeze a while back. Both I can see being equally addicting but a lack of time has me only able to focus on one. With aerial silks, the intricacies of getting in and out of wraps all on a few yards of brightly colored nylon tricot (silk does sound more luxurious doesn't it) is pretty amazing! To have to be both powerful and graceful is such a challenge and thrill once you figure it out.

My favorite thing is the passionate group of strong & fearless gals and guys that share the same love for aerial as I do. We all come from different backgrounds, some are mothers, artists, accountants, dancers, young, young at heart, extroverted or shy, but we become good friends based on our love of aerial, one grunt and one straddle up at a time. I think having to get "up close and personal" with each other while spotting has something to do with it too. :o
Did I forget to mention that after a few months of class at Bumbershoot, your lat muscles will be the envy of all your friends?!
I never did get to perform as a child. Here at Bumbershoot, I am able to fulfill that dream.

Antique-ing, fixing up my home, designing, creating, crafting, road tripping, eating good-for-you and not-so-good-for-you food, cuddling with my dog and ailing my aching muscles while dreaming of hanging in the air again.

I try to look at what I am struggling with from a different perspective. Everyone's body moves in a different way requiring different approaches. I go to open aerial which really helps me figure things out at my own pace. Sometimes it is good to take a step back, sleep on it and attack it another day.

So many favorites, it's been over 4 years. Maybe the wonderful ladies of Lisa Natoli's "Dong" act, Kippy and I performing together in astronaut outfits and space helmets, maybe the very first time climbing to the top of the silks and ringing the cow bell, ripping my shirt on a couple of occasions while wheeling or double-star-ing it down.

Indie rock, dream pop, 80's, folk rock, cheesy ballads

Figure out what you are good at, what tricks do you love to do and build on that. Try to express a little bit of your own style into your performance. Also, make sure you pick a song you won't totally hate after hearing it over and over and over and over again.

Silks! But hopefully in the near future:
Single point trapeze because if its fluidity, lyra for the wonderful shapes you can contort into, chains 'cuz it's downright bad @ss, corde lisse because those peeps are fun, and Yoga for Aerialist because everyone needs a little more Zen in their lives.
I can't decide!

Enjoy, Learn, Challenge, Grow, Be Considerate. Be passionate with everything you do, otherwise, rethink what you are doing. Do what you love sooner rather than later.