What Are Aerial Arts?
Aerial arts is the umbrella term for circus disciplines performed on apparatus suspended from height — typically from a rigging point in a studio ceiling, tent, or outdoor structure. Performers use strength, flexibility, coordination, and artistry to create breathtaking shapes and sequences in the air.
Aerial training has exploded in popularity over the past two decades, and dedicated aerial studios now exist in most major cities. Whether you're drawn to the flowing drama of silks or the athletic precision of static trapeze, there's an aerial discipline to suit nearly every body and temperament.
The Main Aerial Disciplines
Aerial Silks (Tissu)
Two long lengths of fabric hang from a single rigging point. Performers climb, wrap themselves, drop through sequences, and create elegant poses. Silks reward flexibility and upper-body strength, and the visual effect — flowing fabric, dramatic drops — is among the most striking in all of circus.
Static Trapeze
A horizontal bar suspended by two ropes. Unlike flying trapeze, the apparatus stays largely still while the performer moves around and through it. It's often considered one of the more accessible entry points into aerial — you can build skills progressively and it requires less initial upper-body strength than silks.
Aerial Hoop (Lyra)
A steel ring (or hoop) suspended from a single point. Performers work inside and outside the hoop, creating geometric shapes and fluid transitions. Lyra is visually distinctive and extremely popular in contemporary circus.
Spanish Web
A single rope with a loop at the bottom for the performer's wrist or foot. Often performed with a "catcher" at the base who spins the performer. A classic circus discipline with a long competitive tradition.
Flying Trapeze
The iconic circus image — two trapeze bars, a catcher, and mid-air releases and catches. Flying trapeze is typically learned in group classes and requires building up progressively from basic swings to releases, somersaults, and catches.
Getting Started: What to Expect
Most people begin aerial training in a beginner drop-in or introductory course at a dedicated aerial studio. Here's what a typical first experience looks like:
- Warm-up and conditioning: Aerial is demanding on shoulders, core, and hands. Every class starts with targeted conditioning
- Low-level technique: First sessions keep you close to the ground to learn basic wraps, climbs, and positions safely
- Conditioning exercises: Pull-up progressions, core work, and grip strength are woven into training
- Gradual height increase: You go higher only when the basics are solid
Safety First: Non-Negotiable Principles
- Always train with qualified instruction — never attempt aerial work alone or in unverified rigging
- Rigging inspection matters: Equipment should be rated well above the load it will bear
- Crash mats are essential below any aerial work
- Listen to your body: Shoulder and wrist injuries are common when people push too hard too fast
How Fit Do You Need to Be to Start?
This is the most common question beginners ask, and the honest answer is: you don't need to be fit to start, but you will need to build fitness. Most aerial schools welcome complete beginners of various fitness levels. The training itself builds the strength you need over time. What matters most at the beginning is a willingness to work consistently and listen to your instructor.
Finding a School
Look for studios affiliated with national circus arts organisations or those whose instructors hold recognised coaching qualifications. Read up on their safety policies before your first class. A good school will be transparent about their rigging standards and instructor credentials.
Aerial arts are challenging, sometimes humbling, and genuinely transformative. Many people who walk into a first silks class for curiosity find themselves building a practice that shapes their life for years to come.