Chicago Dance Gazette Run Away and Join the Circus—Cross-training Dance and Acrobatics
by Amy Chen
Amy demonstrates the Gazelle on the static trapeze
Cross-training is a helpful way for dancers to keep their bodies in shape and to keep their mental perspective fresh. Yoga, Pilates and Gyrotonics long have topped the list as popular ways for dancers to cross-train. But have you considered acrobatics?
I have always had the proverbial desire to “run away and join the circus.” A couple years ago when I found myself descending down the road to ballet burn-out, I began taking Circus-Arts classes through the Actor’s Gymnasium. I had intended to replace ballet with acrobatics. Instead I found that by substituting one ballet class per week with circus-arts, my motivation to dance was refreshed, and I was able to apply a lot of concepts in acrobatics to improve my dancing and vice versa. Two and a half years later I’m still happily at it, training primarily with Nourbol Meirmanov.
Furthermore, acrobatics and aerial arts are also becoming increasingly called-for in dance choreography. In Chicago, acrobatic elements are often seen in the choreography of Melissa Thodos and Dancers. Aloft Aerial Dance and Ameba Acrobatic and Aerial Dance are, as their names imply, all about combining elements of dance with circus-arts.
Reasons to cross-train dance with acrobatics and circus-arts (just to name a few):
Flexibility: Dancers are always looking for ways to increase flexibility, and circus-artists have just about written the book on flexibility.
Most acrobatic classes include an extensive warm-up with stretching exercises. Meirmanov Sports-Acro (see information below) offers private lessons at a very reasonable rate, focusing on flexibility training of the legs, back and shoulders.
(Note: I have been told that dancers are concerned with the methods used to gain contortion-level flexibility and the risk of injury. As with anything, flexibility training is about patience and dedication. The key is communication with your instructor. We all know that stretching involves a certain level of discomfort, but as soon as you feel that you are entering a danger-zone for injury, let your instructor know!)
Strength: Aerial arts like flying trapeze, static trapeze, Spanish Web, Lyra, and silks, as well as hand-balancing and sports-acrobatics, are excellent ways for dancers to build upper body strength, something that is important for males dancers that do partnering, and something often overlooked by female dancers.
Flying trapeze is definitely the fast-track to building upper body and core muscle strength (see information for Flying Gaonas below).
Also, trampoline is a great way to work on jumps.
Balance and Alignment: To get a new perspective on what it means to “pull up” or be centered try hanging upside-down for extended periods of time or balancing on your hands! .
Tumbling: What break-dancer or hip-hop dancer couldn’t use a few more tumbling tricks in their arsenal? For that matter, what ballet dancer couldn’t use a few more tumbling tricks in their arsenal?!
Fun: Acrobatics is fun! Dancers are trained to have a high level of awareness and control of their bodies and a good sense of aesthetics, timing and line. These traits lend themselves well to learning acrobatics.
And the list goes on. Find your own reasons : I often have trouble mustering up the focus required for dance, and it takes forever for my back to warm up—so one of my favorite ways to prepare for class or performance is to juggle.
Juggling helps calm me down and to focus and clear my mind, like a kinetic meditation. I also drop a lot—all that bending over and chasing dropped balls helps warm up my back and shoulders!
Also, learning acrobatics routinely involves tackling fears. Every time I am able to free myself from one of those fears to learn a new acrobatic skill, that sense of liberation carries over not only into my dancing but my life in general.
For more information, contact:
Aloft Aerial Dance—offering classes in beginning through advanced trapeze and aerial dance, acrobatics and tumbling, trapeze and lyra, and rope and fabric. Private lessons available. Classes held at the Circus Factory, 4430 North Western Avenue.
Contact: Shayna at 773 507-2604 or e-mail aloftaerialdance@yahoo.com
Also visit: www.aerialgirl.com
Ameba Acrobatic and Aerial Dance—offering acrobatic and dance-aerial workshops and masterclasses for adults and children and aerial-dance performances.
Contact: 773 580-6887 or e-mail fly@amebadance.org
Also visit: www.amebadance.org
Meirmanov SportsAcro—offering group and private lessons in sports acrobatics and flexibility training for children and adults. Located in Edgewater at the Broadway Armory.
Contact: Nourbol Meirmanov 773 590-2641 or e-mail meirmanovs@aol.com
Also visit: www.meirmanovsportsacro.org
Actor’s Gymnasium—offering circus-arts classes for adult and children in a wide variety of circus skills ranging from gymnastics, aerial arts, stretching and strengthening, juggling, stage combat and clowning. Located in Evanston at the Noyes Cultural Center.
Contact: 847 328-2795 and through website form
Also visit: www.actorsgymnasium.com
The Acrofabulous Circus and Adler Danztheatre Kids Project——offering afterschool programs in circus-arts, theatre, gymnastics, visual arts and dance for children. Want us to teach a program at your studio or school? Let us know—we’ll come to you! Static trapeze apparatus also available through The Acrofabulous Circus.
Contact: Ellyzabeth at 773 486-8261 or e-mail info@danztheatre.org
Or James at 773 98805606 or e-mail trapezeflyer@hotmail.com
Also visit: www.danztheatre.org/kids.html
Flying Gaonas—offering beginning through advanced lessons in flying trapeze, for children and adults. Located in the Broadway Armory fall through spring, with outdoor location in Lincoln Park during the summer:
Contact: 773 398-9881
Also visit: www.flyinggaonastrapeze.com
Circus Factory—Home of the Midnight Circus, located near Montrose and Western, offers classes, hosts a variety of circus-programs for adults and children.
Contact: support@circusfactory.net
Also visit: www.circusfactory.net
CircEsteem—currently offering Summer Circus Camp for children at Circus Factory.
Contact: 312 593-HAHA
Also visit: www.circesteem.org
But wait…
For a great place to see many artists from companies like Aloft Aerial, Ameba Aerial Dance Company, and The Acrofabulous Circus combine acrobatics and dance in a unique performance atmosphere, check out Vaudeville Underground, now in it’s 5th Golden Anniversary Season!
Performances on the first Thursday and Friday of each month at 7:30pm from July until December at Glade Memorial Hall located in Logan Square at 2640 W. Altgeld. Ticket donations are $12 for adults, $10 for students and $6 for children. For advanced or season ticket information call 773 782-9471.